Color Research and Application, Vol.32, No.4, 332-333, 2007
Ancient historical scripture and color vision
Current information on the ancient historical research in color vision is not complete. We found scriptural evidence for (a) Rig-Vedic yogis having subjective experience of color during meditation with eyes closed, which was accentuated by hallucinogenic drug "soma" and "Indra" and sleep deprivation, (b) eye-balls being pressed to induce color, and (c) rainbow-colors. Rig-Vedic period was about 4000 B.C.-2000 B.C. as verified by archaeologists during the excavation in Indus-Sarasvati cities like Mohenjo Daro and Harappa, where depictions engraved on soapstone seals were found that strongly resemble yogi-like figures. We conclude that ancient historical research in color vision should be revised based on Rig-Veda. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals. Inc. Col Res Appl, 32, 332-333, 2007.
Keywords:color vision;history;psychophysics;Rig-Veda;pressure-induced retinal color phosphenes;meditation-induced cortical color phosphenes;hallucinogenic drug "soma" and "Indra";sleep deprivation;Indus-Sarasvati cities;Mohenjo Daro and Harappa