The Ancient Science and Technology of the Meitei ethnicity describes scientific knowledge, practices, devices and technologies, invented or used in Ancient Manipur (Antique Kangleipak). The Meitei ethnicity invented and used many simple machines. They also invented many advanced scientific methods in the field of medicine, astronomy. Most of the ancient knowledge are recorded in the manuscripts, which are popularly known as the Puya (Meitei texts).[1][2]
Astronomy[edit | edit source]
The Ancient Meitei astronomers had developed the knowledge of the planets, stars and other heavenly bodies. They believed in the nine planets, which includes the sun and the moon, and excludes the Earth and Pluto.
Nine planet system[edit | edit source]
| Sl. No. | Ancient Meitei | Latin-Roman transliteration | Modern Meitei | Latin-Roman transliteration | Literal meaning | English translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ꯅꯣꯡꯃꯥꯢꯆꯤꯡ ꯊꯄꯤ | Nongmaiching Thapee | ꯅꯣꯡꯃꯥꯢꯖꯤꯡ | Nongmaijing Thabee | Sunday planet | Sun |
| 2 | ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯀꯥꯄ ꯊꯄꯤ | Ningthoukaapa Thapee | ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧꯀꯥꯕ ꯊꯕꯤ | Ningthoukaaba Thabee | Monday planet | Moon |
| 3 | ꯂꯩꯄꯥꯛꯄꯣꯛꯄ ꯊꯄꯤ | Leipaakpokpa Thapee | ꯂꯩꯕꯥꯛꯄꯣꯛꯄ ꯊꯕꯤ | Leibaakpokpa Thabee | Tuesday planet | Mars |
| 4 | ꯌꯨꯝꯁꯥꯀꯩꯁꯥ ꯊꯄꯤ | Yumsakeisa Thapee | ꯌꯨꯝꯁꯀꯩꯁ ꯊꯕꯤ | Yumsakeisa Thabee | Wednesday planet | Mercury |
| 5 | ꯁꯥꯀꯣꯜꯁꯦꯟ ꯊꯄꯤ | Sakolsen Thapee | ꯁꯒꯣꯜꯁꯦꯟ ꯊꯕꯤ | Sagolsen Thabee | Thursday planet | Jupiter |
| 6 | ꯏꯂꯥꯢ ꯊꯄꯤ | Eelai Thapee | ꯏꯔꯥꯢ ꯊꯕꯤ | Eerai Thabee | Friday planet | Venus |
| 7 | ꯊꯥꯡꯆ ꯊꯄꯤ | Thaangcha Thapee | ꯊꯥꯡꯖ ꯊꯕꯤ | Thaangja Thabee | Saturday planet | Saturn |
| 8 | ꯁꯥꯀꯣꯛ ꯊꯄꯤ | Shaakok Thapee | ꯁꯥꯀꯣꯛ ꯊꯕꯤ | Shaakok Thabee | Head of Taoroinai dragon | Uranus |
| 9 | ꯁꯥꯃꯩ ꯊꯄꯤ | Shaamei Thapee | ꯁꯥꯃꯩ ꯊꯕꯤ | Shaamei Thabee | Tail of Taoroinai dragon | Neptune |
Medicine[edit | edit source]
Hidaklon[edit | edit source]
The "Hidaklon" is an early work on the various medicinal herbs and their usage of curing the ailments.[3]
Leiron[edit | edit source]
The "Leiron" is an old work on the different species of flowering plants (angiosperms).[4]
Technology[edit | edit source]
Metallurgy[edit | edit source]
The development of metallurgy was well advanced in the Kakching region in Ancient Manipur. It used various techniques and methods to extract iron ores and convert them into usable forms.[5]
Sources[edit | edit source]
- https://www.imphaltimes.com/it-articles/item/13601-scientific-knowledge-as-reflected-in-the-manipuri-manuscript
- https://filmfreeway.com/403965
- https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/translation-of-ancient-manipur-texts-begin/cid/1452394
Bibliography[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Science_and_Technology.Scientific_Knowledge_as_Reflected_in_the_Manipuri_Manuscript_By_N_Debendra
- ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=UZbgAAAAMAAJ&q=meitei+architecture&dq=meitei+architecture&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj46Pq677zvAhXHb30KHffFA7gQ6AEwB3oECAkQAw
- ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=noCHVvu0P8oC&pg=PA354&lpg=PA354&dq=hidaklon&source=bl&ots=IFhj-UwcA1&sig=ACfU3U202HGRvLmO3n737xUMSJNNEEHrTQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwja0puvqcjvAhWO8XMBHdO7D0EQ6AEwDXoECAoQAg#v=onepage&q=hidaklon&f=false
- ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=noCHVvu0P8oC&pg=PA354&lpg=PA354&dq=hidaklon&source=bl&ots=IFhj-UwcA1&sig=ACfU3U202HGRvLmO3n737xUMSJNNEEHrTQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwja0puvqcjvAhWO8XMBHdO7D0EQ6AEwDXoECAoQAg#v=onepage&q=Leiron%20flower%20language&f=false
- ↑ https://indianculture.gov.in/images/iron-smelting-technique-manipur