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Introduction
Ganit (Mathematics) has been considered a very important subject since ancient times.
We find very elaborate proof of this in Vedah (which were compiled around 6000 BC).
The concept of division, addition et-cetera was used even that time. Concepts of zero and
infinite were there. We also find roots of algebra in Vedah. When Indian Beez Ganit
reached Arab, they called it Algebra. Algebra was name of the Arabic book that
described Indian concepts. This knowledge reached to Europe from there. And thus
ancient Indian Beez Ganit is currently referred to as Algebra.
The book Vedang jyotish (written 1000 BC) has mentioned the importance of Ganit as
follows-
Meaning: What is the use of much speaking. Whatever object exists in this
moving and nonmoving world, can not be understood without the base of
Ganit(Mathematics).
This fact was well known to intellectuals of India that is why they gave special
importance to the development of Mathematics, right from the beginning. When this
knowledge was negligible in Arab and Europe, India had acquired great achievements.
People from Arab and other countries used to travel to India for commerce. While doing
commerce, side by side, they also learnt easy to use calculation methods of India.
Through them this knowledge reached to Europe. From time to time many inquisitive
foreigners visited India and they delivered this matchless knowledge to their countries.
This will not be exaggeration to say that till 12th century India was the World Guru in the
area of Mathematics.
There are two main divisions in Ancient Time. Numerical Mathematics developed in
Vedic Time and Geometrical Mathematics developed in Later Vedic Time.
Numerals and decimals are cleanly mentioned in Vedah (Compiled at lease 6000 BC).
There is a Richa in Veda, which says the following-
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In the above Richa , Dwadash (12), Treeni (2), Trishat (300) numerals have
been used. This indicates the use of writing numerals based on 10.
In this age the discovery of ZERO and "10th place value method"(writing number
based on 10) is great contribution to world by India in the arena of Mathematics.
If "zero" and "10 based numbers" were not discovered, it would not have been possible
today to write big numbers.
The great scholar of America Dr. G. B. Halsteed has also praised this.
Shlegal has also accepted that this is the second greatest achievement of
human race after the discovery of Alphabets.
This is not known for certain that who invented "zero" and when. But it has been in use
right from the "vedic" time. The importance of "zero" and "10th place value method" is
manifested by their wide spread use in today's world. This discovery is the one that has
helped science to reach its current status.
In the second section of earlier portion of Narad Vishnu Puran (written by Ved Vyas)
describes "mathematics" in the context of Triskandh Jyotish. In that numbers have been
described which are ten times of each other, in a sequence (10 to the power n). Not only
that in this book, different methods of "mathematics" like Addition, Subtraction,
Multiplication, Addition, Fraction, Square, Square root, Cube root et-cetera have been
elaborately discussed. Problems based on these have also been solved.
This proves at that time various mathematical methods were not in concept stage, rather
those were getting used in a methodical and expanded manner.
"10th place value method" dispersed from India to Arab. From there it got
transferred to Western countries. This is the reason that digits from 1-9
are called "hindsa" by the people of Arab. In western countries
0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 are called Hindu-Arabic Numerals.
Vedi was very important while performing rituals. On the top of "Vedi" different type of
geomit(geometry: as you notice this word is derived from a Sanskrit word)) were made.
In that time we had three great formulators-Baudhayan, Aapstamb and Pratyayan. Apart
from them Manav, Matrayan, Varah and Bandhul are also famous mathematician of that
time.
The following excerpt from "Baudhayan Sulv Sutra (1000 BC)" is today known as
Paithogorus Theorem (amazing, isn't it ?)
In the same book Baudhayan has discussed the method of making a square equal to
difference of two squares. He has also described method of making a square shape equal
to addition of two squares. He has also mentioned the formula to find the value (upto five
decimal places) of a root (square root, cube root ...) a number, according to that the
square root of 2 can be found as below-
While Geometric Mathematics was developed for making Vedi in Yagya , in parallel
there was a need to find appropriate timing for Yagya. This need led to development of
Geotish Shastra (Astrology) In Geotish Shastra (Astrology) they calculated time,
position and motion of stars. By reading the book Vedanga Jyotish (At least 1000 BC) we
find that astrologers knew about addition, multiplication, subtraction et-cetera. For
example please read below-
Meaning: Multiply the date by 11, then add to it the "Bhansh" of "Parv" and
We find elaborated description of Mathematics in the Jain literature. In fact the clarity
and elaboration by which Mathematics is described in Jain literature, indicates the
tendency of Jain philosophy to convey the knowledge to the language and level of
common people (This is in deviation to the style of Veda which told the facts indirectly).
Surya Pragyapti and Chandra Pragyapti (At least 500 BC) are two famous scriptures of
Jain branch of Ancient India. These describe the use of Mathematics.
Deergha Vritt (ellipse) is clearly described in the book titled Surya Pragyapti. "Deergha
Vritt" means the outer circle (Vritta) on a rectangle(Deergha), that was also known as
Parimandal.
This is clear that Indians had discovered this at least 150 years before Minmax (150 BC).
As this history was not known to the West so they consider Minmax as the first time
founder of ellipse.
This is worth mentioning that in the book Bhagvati Sutra (Before 300 BC) the word
Parimandal has been used for Deergha Vritt (ellipse). It has been described to have two
types 1) Pratarparimandal and 2)Ghanpratarparimandal.
Jain Aacharyas contributed a lot in the development of Mathematics. These gurus have
described different branches of mathematics in a very through and interesting manner.
They are examples too.
They have described fractions, algebraic equations, series, set theory, logarithm, and
exponents .... Under the set theory they have described with examples- finite, infinite,
single sets. For logarithm they have used terms like Ardh Aached , Trik Aached, Chatur
Aached. These terms mean log base 2, log base 3 and log base 4 respectively. Well before
Joan Napier (1550-1617 AD), logarithm had been invented and used in India which is a
universal truth.
Buddha literature has also given due importance to Mathematics. They have divided
Mathematics under two categories- 1) Garna (Simple Mathematics) and 2)Sankhyan
(Higher Mathematics). They have described numbers under three categories-
1)Sankheya(countable),2)Asankheya(uncountable) and 3)Anant(infinite). Which clearly
indicates that Indian Intellectuals knew "infinite number" very well.
Sathanang Sutra, Bhagvati Sutra and Anoyogdwar Sutra are famous books of this time.
Apart from these the book titled Tatvarthaadigyam Sutra Bhashya of Jain philosopher
Omaswati (135 BC) and the book titled Tiloyapannati of Aacharya (Guru) Yativrisham
(176 BC) are famous writings of this time.
The book titled Vaychali Ganit discusses in detail the following -the basic calculations of
mathematics, the numbers based on 10, fraction, square, cube, rule of false position,
interest methods, questions on purchase and sale... The book has given the answers of the
problems and also described testing methods. Vachali Ganit is a proof of the fact that
even at that time (300 BC) India was using various methods of the current Numerical
Mathematics. This is noticeable that this book is the only written Hindu Ganit book of
this time that was found as a few survived pages in village Vaychat Gram (Peshawar) in
1000 AD.
Sathanang Sutra has mentioned five types of infinite and Anoyogdwar Sutra has
mentioned four types of Pramaan (Measure). This Granth(book) has also described
permutations and combinations which are termed as Bhang and Vikalp .
This is worth mentioning that in the book Bhagvati Sutra describes the following. From n
types taking 1-1,2-2 types together the combinations such made are termed as Akak, Dwik
Sanyog and the value of such combinations is mentioned as n(n-1)/2 which is used even
today.
Roots of the Modern Trignometry lie in the book titled Surya Siddhanta . It mentions
Zya(Sine), Otkram Zya(Versesine), and Kotizya(Cosine). Please remember that the same
word (Zia) changed to "Jaib" in Arab. The translation of Jaib in Latin was done as
"Sinus". And this "Sinus" became "Sine" later on.
This is worth mentioning that Trikonmiti word is pure Indian and with the time it changed
to Trignometry. Indians used Trignometry in deciding the position , motion et-cetera of
the spatial planets.
In this time the expansion of Beezganit (When this knowledge reached Arab from India it
became Algebra)was revolutionary. The roots of Modern Algebra lie in the book
Vaychali Ganit. In this book while describing Isht KarmaIsht Karm "Rule of False" as
the origin of expansion of Algebra. Thus Algebra is also gifted to world by Indians
Indians developed rules of addition, subtraction, multiplication with these signs (+,-,x).
In this context we can not forget the contribution of great mathematician Brahmgupt (628
AD). He said-
Indians used notations for squares, cube and other exponents of numbers. Those
notations are used even today in the mathematics. They gave shape to Beezganit
Samikaran(Algebraic Equations). They made rules for transferring the quantities from
left to right or right to left in an equation. Right from the 5th century AD, Indians majorly
used aforementioned rules.
In the book titled Anoyogdwar Sutra has described some rules of exponents in Beez Ganit
(Later the name Algebra became more popular). Please find below a few examples.
Thus it proves that Beez Ganit (Later the name Algebra became more popular) was well
expanded by the mathematicians of Pre-middle Time. This was more expanded in the
Middle Time.
As for as other countries are concerned we find that in the golden time of
Greece Mathematics there was no sign of Algebra with respect to modern
concept of Algebra. In classical period Greece people had ability to solve
tough questions of Beez Ganit (Later the name Algebra became more
popular) but there all solutions were based on Geometrical Mathematics. For
the first time in Greece world, the concept of Beez Ganit (Later the name
Algebra became more popular) is described in a books of Diofantus (275 AD).
By that time Indians were far ahead. This is worth noting that the shape and
form of current Beez Ganit (Later the name Algebra became more popular)
is originally Indian.
This period is called golden age of Indian Mathematics. In this time great
mathematicians like Aryabhatt, Brahmgupt, Mahaveeracharya, Bhaskaracharya who
gave a broad and clear shape to almost all the branches of mathematics which we are
using today. The principles and methods which are in form of Sutra(formulae) in Vedas
were brought forward with their full potential, in front of the common masses. To respect
this time India gave the name "Aryabhatt" to its first space satellite.
The following is the description about great mathematicians and their creations.
He was a resident of Patna in India. He has described, in a very crisp and concise
manner, the important fundamental principles of Mathematics only in 332 Shlokas. His
book is titled Aryabhattiya. In the first two sections of Aryabhattiya, Mathematics is
described. In the last two sections of Aryabhattiya, Jyotish (Astrology) is described. In
the first section of the book, he has described the method of denoting big decimal
numbers by the alphabets.
In the second section of the book Aryabhattiya we find difficult questions from topics such
as Numerical Mathematics, Geometrical Mathematics, Trignometry and Beezganit
(Algebra). He also worked on indeterminate equations of Beezganit (Later in West it was
called Algebra). He was the first to use Vyutkram Zia (Which was later known as
Versesine in the West) in Trignometry. He calculated the value of pi correct upto four
decimal places.
He was first to find that the sun is stationary and the earth revolves around it. 1100 years
later, this fact was accepted by Coppernix of West in 16th century. Galileo was hanged
for accepting this.
His famous work is his book titled Brahm-sfut. This book has 25 chapters. In two
chapters of the book, he has elaborately described the mathematical principles and
methods. He threw light on around 20 processes and behavior of Mathematics. He
described the rules of the solving equations of Beezganit (Algebra). He also told the
solution of indeterminate equations with two exponent. Later Ailer in 1764 AD and
Langrez in 1768 described the same.
Brahmgupt told the method of calculating the volume of Prism and Cone. He also
described how to sum a GP Series. He was the first to tell that when we divide any
positive or negative number by zero it becomes infinite.
He wrote the book titled "Ganit Saar Sangraha". This book is on Numerical
Mathematics. He has described the currently used method of calculating Least Common
Multiple (LCM) of given numbers. The same method was used in Europe later in 1500
AD. He derived formulae to calculate the area of ellipse and quadrilateral inside a circle.
He wrote books titled "Nav Shatika", "Tri Shatika", "Pati Ganit". These books are on
Numerical Mathematics. His books on Beez Ganit (Algebra) are lost now, but his method
of solving quadratic equations is still used. This is method is also called
"Shridharacharya Niyam". The great thing is that currently we use the same formula as
told by him. His book titled "Pati Ganit" has been translated into Arabic by the name
"Hisabul Tarapt".
He wrote the books titled Siddhanta Shekhar and Ganit Tilak. He worked mainly on
permutations and combinations. Only first section of his book Ganit Tilak is available.
His famous book is titled Gome-mat Saar. It has two sections. The first section is Karma
Kaand and the second section is titled Jeev Kaand. He worked on Set Theory. He
described universal sets, all types of mapping, Well Ordering Theorems et-cetera.One to
One Mapping was used by Gailileo and George Kanter(1845-1918) after many centuries.
The concepts which were in the form of formulae in Vedah. He has also described 20
methods and 8 behaviors of Brahamgupt.
In his book Siddhanta Shiromani, he has described in length the concepts of Trignometry.
He has described Sine, Cosine, Versesine,... Infinitesimal Calculus and Integration. He
wrote that earth has gravitational force.
Not much original work was done after Bhaskaracharya Second. Comments on ancient
texts are the main contribution of this period.
In his book (1500 AD), the mathematician Neel Kantha of Kerla has given the following
formula to calculate Sine r -
The same formula is given in the Malyalam book Mookti Bhaas. These days this series is
called Greygeries Series. The following is a descriptions of the famous mathematicians of
this period.
He wrote the book titled Ganit Kaumidi. This book deals with Permutations and
Combinations, Partition of Numbers, Magic Squares.
He wrote the book titled Tagikani Kanti. This book deals with Zeotish Ganit(Astrological
Mathematics).
He wrote two books titled Samraat Siddhanta and Rekha Ganit (Line Mathematics)
Apart from the above-mentioned mathematicians we have a few more worth mentioning
mathematicians. From Kerla we have Madhav (1350-1410 AD). Jyeshta Deva (1500-
1610 AD) wrote a book titled Ukti Bhasha. Shankar Paarshav (1500-1560 AD) wrote a
book titled Kriya Kramkari.