A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c34.s2.2

v2.c34.s2.2

Experiments were of course conducted for purposes of chemical operations in relation to the arts and manufactures, e.g., metallurgy, dyeing, pharmacy, perfumery, cosmetics, horticulture, and the making of glass (lenses and mirrors of various kinds are mentioned, the spherical, oval—वृत्त and वर्त्तुल, being well-known—Pliny indeed mentions that the best glass ever made was Indian glass). But of Experiment as a Scientific method of Proof or Discovery, the instances are rare. I may note one interesting example in Udayana's Kiranávalí, relating to the weight of air. Udayana argues that air must be a distinct and independent Bhúta, for if air were made of the Earth-Bhúta, it would have weight, and it has none. To prove the absence of weight, he refers to an experiment. A small bladder made of a thin membrane, filled with air, will not cause a greater descent in the scale than the same bladder weighed empty. Hence the air possesses no weight. Then Udayana makes an interesting statement. It may be objected, he says by one who accepts the weight of air—that this argument is inconclusive. For a counter-experiment may be suggested. The balloon filled with smoke (or gas, धूम) rises in the air, whereas air-filled balloon comes down. This would go to show that air has weight. Udayana replies that this would only show that both smoke (gas, धूम) and air have no weight. The Hindus appear to have been ignorant of the principle of Archimedes, at least as applied to gases. Vallabhácháryya in the Lilávatí speaks of a peculiar resistance to sinking (or gravity) exercised by water, which explains the tendency in certain objects to float or to come up to the surface of the water but the description shows that he had no clear ideas on the subject. Cf. Udayana, Kiranávalí, वायुनिरूपणम्। Cf. also Vallabhácháryya, Lilávatí.