I wanted to get some sample steel (see Projects on Welding), and the only place I could seem to find (that wasn't on-line) was in Wembley. So I thought - lets make it a day out. I ended up at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir temple in Neasden, somewhere I'd always wanted to visit.
It was indeed impressive, and I learnt a lot about Hinduism and particularly it's contribution to science from many many moons ago, including the following:
- Invented Zero (Śūnya) – Brahmagupta (7th century) defined zero’s mathematical properties.
- Decimal Number System – Created the base-10 system (1-9 + 0), foundation of modern math.
- Calculated Pi (π) Early – Aryabhata (5th century) approximated π ≈ 3.1416.
- Pioneered Surgery – Sushruta (6th century BCE) performed cataract ops & plastic surgery.
- Discovered Gravity Concept – Brahmagupta described attraction force 1,000 years before Newton.
- Proposed Atomic Theory – Kanada (6th century BCE) theorized indivisible particles (anu).
- Predicted Heliocentrism – Aryabhata said Earth orbits Sun, pre-dating Copernicus.
- Advanced Metallurgy – Rust-proof Iron Pillar of Delhi (4th century CE) still stands.
- Mastered Astronomy – Surya Siddhanta accurately calculated planetary motions & eclipses.
- Perfected Ayurveda – Early holistic medicine with 600+ herbal remedies & anatomy studies.
Oh, and on the way back I stumbled across the Ace café.
Ace !
