Chapter 30.2 - Introduction to ancient Indian Mathematics

[Full title: Scientific and Technical literature (2): Mathematics]

Mathematics evolved in India as part of Astronomy. Aryabhata was one such astronomer who dealt with mathematics in the background of Astronomy (Siddhantajyotisa). Of 108 verses in the Arya metre of his Dasagitikasutra 33 deal with nathematics, 25 with time calculation and 20 with sphere (mandala). It was he who propounded the theory that the earth is round in shape and that it moves on its circumference, a view that finds resonance with modern scientists. His views on eclipse also tally with theirs. Bhaskaracarya, the pupil of Aryabhata wrote two works the Laghubhaskariya and Mahabhaskariya. Born in 598 A.D. Brahmagupta wrote in 628 A.D. the work Brahmasphutasiddhanta. His theorum going after his name as Brahmagupta's theorum forms part of the syllabus in Mathematics course in present day schools and colleges of India. Another work of his Khandakhadyaka which he wrote in 665 A.D. derives much help from mathematical calculations in his treatment of Astronomy. In the 10 th cen. A.D. Mahaviracarya wrote the Ganitasarasangraha which is easier and simpler than Brahmagupta's work and has also something of geometry in it. The Trisati of Sridhara (991 A.D.) deals with quadratic equations.

The most prominent of the mathematicians of India was the great Bhaskaracarya of 1150 A.D. who immortalized himself with his work the Siddhantasiromani which has two sections, one the Lilavati on Arithmetic and the other Bijaganita on Algebra. About the Lilavati there is an anecdote which bears reproduction here. Bhaskaracarya had a daughter of the name Lilavati. She lost her husband shortly after her marriage. Shattered by that she would be crying all the time. Having come to know of it, Bhaskaracarya brought her to his house from that of his inlaws. There too she would remain morose and melancholy. Noticing that, Bhaskaracarya thought of diverting her mind to something constructive. He introduced her to Arithmatic in which she developed interest which grew into passion gradually so much so that she began to invent her own calculations which so pleased the father that he decided to name the section dealing with Arithmatic in his monumental work after her. The discussion on Mathematics may be closed with the mention of the work Parsiprakasa written in 1643 by Malajit wherein he had evolved a method whereby Hindu dates could be converted into Muslim ones and vice versa. The Mughal Emperor Shahjahan had honoured him with the conferment of the title 'Vedangaraya' for this feat of his. There is an impression not only among the common people but also even among scholars that the ancient Indians payed more attention to religion and philosophy, grammar and poetics, lexicography and medicine and general literature; poetry, prose, drama, campu and so on. How erroneous it is is proved by the availability of material, though scanty, about disciplines like science and technology. The first discipline being taken up for notice here under this category,wise agriculture sand gardening.