Shyamalaka, Śyāmalaka: 5 definitions
Introduction:
Shyamalaka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit term Śyāmalaka can be transliterated into English as Syamalaka or Shyamalaka, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Ganitashastra (Mathematics and Algebra)
Source: archive.org: Hindu MathematicsŚyāmalaka (श्यामलक) or Śyāmala refers to the “blackish color” which were used as symbols for the unknowns, according to the principles of Bījagaṇita (“algebra” or ‘science of calculation’), according to Gaṇita-śāstra, ancient Indian mathematics and astronomy.—Āryabhaṭa I (499) very probably used coloured shots to represent unknowns. Brahmagupta (628) in the Brāhmasphuṭasiddhānta mentions varṇa as the symbols of unknowns. As he has not attempted in any way to explain this method of symbolism, it appears that the method was already very familiar. [...] In the case of more unknowns, it is usual to denote the first yāvattāvat and the remaining ones by alphabets or colours [e.g., śyāmalaka].—Cf. Pṛthūdakasvāmī (860) in his commentary on the Brāhmasphuṭasiddhānta by Brahmagupta (628) and Bhāskara II in the Bījagaṇita.
Ganitashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, gaṇitaśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science of mathematics, algebra, number theory, arithmetic, etc. Closely allied with astronomy, both were commonly taught and studied in universities, even since the 1st millennium BCE. Ganita-shastra also includes ritualistic math-books such as the Shulba-sutras.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚyāmalaka (श्यामलक).—[adjective] dark-coloured.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śyāmalaka (श्यामलक):—[from śyāma] mfn. dark-coloured, dark (as Name of the 14th unknown quantity), [Colebrooke]
2) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a man, [Pañcatantra; Dhanaṃjaya-vijaya]
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Śyāmalaka (श्यामलक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Sāmalaya.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Shyamalakacuda, Shyamalakavaca.
Full-text: Shyamala, Shyamalakacuda, Samalaya, Shyamalika, Avyaktarashi.
Relevant text
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