Aryabhaṭa
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Sages of ancient times excelled in both the spiritual and secular sciences. These included:
- Medicine
- Surgery
- Mathematics
- Astronomy
- Astrology
- Politics
- Economics
- Dramatics
- Dance
- Music
- Fine-arts
- Architecture
- Chemistry
- Alchemy
- Archery
Among those sages, Aryabhaṭa is associated with mathematics and astronomy. Historians have discovered two Aryabhaṭas in their research.
Aryabhaṭa I (5th cent. A. D.)[edit]
He was an astronomer and mathematician who lived in Kusumapura (Pāṭaliputra). His work called Āryasiddhānta (laghu) is a concise work in four chapters. The gist of all the four chapters have been mentioned below :
- Daśagītikā - The first chapter comprises of ten verses in the gītikā meter and is introductory.
- Ganitapāda - The second chapter deals with several aspects of mathematics.
- Kāla- kriyā - The third chapter is concerned with the reckoning of time.
- Gola - The fourth chapter expatiates on astronomy.
Aryabhaṭa II (10th cent. A. D.)[edit]
The work Aryasiddhānta is attributed to him. It is in 18 chapters and deals with arithmetic, algebra and astronomy. Mahābhāskarīya seems to be another title for the same treatise.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore