The beginnings of astronomy are related to the requirements of the ritual in early cultures. Ritual was a means of securing divine approval and support for terrestrial actions. To be effective, it had to be elaborate and well-timed, so that a careful distinction could be made between auspicious and inauspicious times.
(Note that mathematical problems such as obtaining the square root of two and approximate value of pi ( circumference of a circle divided by its diameter) were taken up in the context of preparation of fire altars and are discussed in the Shrautasutras.)
Since planetary motions provided a natural means of time keeping and were seen as couriers of divine signals. Skies were therefore regularly monitored. This was the beginning of astronomy as an intellectual discipline.
Aryabhatt and his major invention and worksfathimalinsha
Aryaabhatt ,one of the most renewed scientist and mathematician indian history. this ppt is about him and his
major invention or works or discoveries in science,mathematics.this ppt contains information regarding aryabhattia,his knowledge on Place value system and zero Pi as irrational Mensuration and trigonometry Indeterminate equations Algebra
and in astronomy
Motions of the solar system Eclipses Sidereal periods Heliocentrism.
Aryabhatt and his major invention and worksfathimalinsha
Aryaabhatt ,one of the most renewed scientist and mathematician indian history. this ppt is about him and his
major invention or works or discoveries in science,mathematics.this ppt contains information regarding aryabhattia,his knowledge on Place value system and zero Pi as irrational Mensuration and trigonometry Indeterminate equations Algebra
and in astronomy
Motions of the solar system Eclipses Sidereal periods Heliocentrism.
Ancient Indian astronomical tradition: Characteristics and accomplishmentsRajesh Kochhar
We begin by commenting on the nature and limitations of the primary source material on ancient Indian astronomy.We then highlight the accomplishments of Indian astro-mathematical tradition and its place in world history.
Contributions of Mathematicians by GeetikaGeetikaWadhwa
Contributions of different mathematicians in the field of mathematics including Alan Turing (Father of Computer Science and Artificial intelligence): English Mathematician , Srinivasa Ramanujan (We celebrate National Mathematics Day on his birthday): Indian Mathematician, Dr. Neena Gupta (Youngest Scientist To Solve A 70 Year Old Mathematics Problem): Indian Mathematician, Aryabhata (Father of Mathematics in India): Indian Mathematician.
Ancient Indian astronomical tradition: Characteristics and accomplishmentsRajesh Kochhar
We begin by commenting on the nature and limitations of the primary source material on ancient Indian astronomy.We then highlight the accomplishments of Indian astro-mathematical tradition and its place in world history.
Contributions of Mathematicians by GeetikaGeetikaWadhwa
Contributions of different mathematicians in the field of mathematics including Alan Turing (Father of Computer Science and Artificial intelligence): English Mathematician , Srinivasa Ramanujan (We celebrate National Mathematics Day on his birthday): Indian Mathematician, Dr. Neena Gupta (Youngest Scientist To Solve A 70 Year Old Mathematics Problem): Indian Mathematician, Aryabhata (Father of Mathematics in India): Indian Mathematician.
Scriptures, science and mythology: An ancient Indian astronomical interplayRajesh Kochhar
We discuss how the development of mathematical astronomy has been influenced by thethe cultural baggage of sacred knowledge it carried. also, how in turn mythology modified itself to take note of scientific developments
Ancient India: Discovery, invention and usesRajesh Kochhar
Physical conquest of India by the British was relatively a simple affair even though it took 60 long years, 1757-1818.
But the colonial empire needed legitimacy and support from among the natives.
This was accomplished by developing ancient India as a colonial tool.
The same tool was utilized by the Hindus to blunt the missionary attacks on their religion and develop mild courage to look the empire in the eye.
This Lecture has been Prepared for the students of Sociology to help them diffrentiate how Tradition vs. Science. And what was the role of Isaac Newton, Emile Durkheim and James,etc.
Another one of those emails forwards. It was a very good read with some bits I was not aware of as well. Not that I am expert on this subject but I know that Hinduism is not a religion but essentially is a set of practices for a way of life.
Siddhar Selvam Missions hindu religions Service get releave from your problems confusions by praying god. commander selvam, Dr commander Selvam, Siddhar Commander Selvam Place for Health,wealth,relationship,Excellence,Yoga,Meditation.
Rahu and Ketu in scriptures, astronomy and astrologyRajesh Kochhar
Astronomy, as a study of cosmic environment, was part of scriptures and mythology. Even when Indian astronomy developed as an intellectual discipline in its own right, it consciously sought to maintain links with the sacred literature. Mythology in turn modified itself to take note of scientific advancement.
Ketu figures in literature from Rigvedic times, and Rahu from the time of Atharvaveda. Their meaning however has not remained static. Before 499 CE, Rahu is a demon while Ketu denotes phenomena like comets and meteors. There is no connection between the two. After 499 CE, Rahu and Ketu become part of the navagraha, while in addition Ketu continues to be used in the old sense also.
This ppt is about the Indian mathematics who sacrifices there life to indian made major contribution to India to make India has top country in the world
ABSTRACT: Iran is a land which was historically attacked by alien natives during its life. The Mogul and Turk natives were always making significant developments including: their attacks and conquers which caused many Iranian people being killed. Among these natives, the Tatar led by commanders like Alagh Beig and Holaku who, unlike Genkhis Khan, were mostly regarding the cultural and scientific issues of Iran. The current research is intended to study comparatively the astronomical works of the Ilkhanian dynasty and those of the Safavid dynasty. Therefore, the astronomical works of different historical eras have been reviewed. The history of astronomy is considered as one of the most interesting scientific subjects of the Ancient Persian and Islamic eras in Iran. With entering Islam into Iran, the astrologists studied the Islamic astrology inspired by the ancient Iranian astrology. Either the astronomical works were observed by the astronomical instruments or they were discovered by them.
Kumbh and all other festivals have two distinct aspects: (i) Calenderical basis for choosing the dates, and (ii) beliefs, faith, rituals, and other practices associated with the celebration. My concern here is strictly with the first, that is the astronomical, aspect.
To sum up, I think probably the Haridwar spring equinoctial festival and certainly the Allahabad winter solstice festival did not have any Jupiter connection to begin with. Nashik, it seems, responded to Jupiter in Aquarius at Hardwar by celebrating Jupiter’s arrival in Leo. Ujjain imitated Simhasth celebrations following Nashik. The biggest congregation of all, the Prayag Kumbh, is the most recent, and Kumbh only in the sense of 12-yearly celebration.,
Curiously, in none of the Kumbh melas, no ritual seems to be associated with Jupiter in the religious/ ritual ceremonies
Meghnad Saha in international and national contextsRajesh Kochhar
Meghnad Saha (6 October 1893 – 16 February 1956), whose 125th birthday is being celebrated today, is universally recognized as one of the founders of quantitative astrophysics. His theoretical papers published in British journals during 1920-1921 showed that astronomical spectra of all kinds, notwithstanding their seeming complexity and diversity, can be rigorously explained in terms of known laws and chemical elements, by simply invoking different physical conditions. Saha’s work thus transformed the cosmos from an exotic out-field into a science lab.
He was nominated for the physics Nobel prize. Evaluation of theoretical work is far more difficult than that of experiments and observations. He may not have won the prize, but his work certainly belongs to Nobel-class. (This is true of SN Bose, of Bose-Einstein statistics 1924, also)
Ancient Indian history:What do we know and how?Rajesh Kochhar
When and where was the Rigveda composed?
How are the Vedic people related to the vast Harappan archaeological tradition?
These quintessential questions have no direct answers. At our current level of knowledge, archaeology and sacred texts constitute two distinct streams which do not intersect. We must therefore collate evidence from different sources and try to produce a synthesis.
Meghnad Saha (1893-1955) set out his theory in a number of papers published in British journals during 1920-1921. The work was immediately recognized as laying the foundation of quantitative astrophysics.History chooses the hour; and the hour produces the hero. The only surprise was that the hour was seized not by any established research centre in the West but by a far-off Calcutta which was nowhere on the world research map.
Indian higher education under globalizationRajesh Kochhar
Higher education is now classified as an internationally tradable service. However for historical, cultural and ideological reasons it is quite unlike others. Permitting foreign education providers to operate in India is not like permitting an insurance company or a department store. Similarly collaboration in education is not as simple as in telecom.
In India, all the social divides, disconnects, tensions and feelings of discomfort and mistrust that globalization has created or accentuated have become visible factors in discussions, debates, executive decisions as well as attempted or aborted legislative initiatives on education.
To sum up in advance, India’s own education is largely decoupled from quality and employability.
Government has abdicated its responsibility while privatization has brought about crass commercialization. Clamour for education from foreign providers has grown, but since this will help only a tiny fraction of population, the requisite political support is not forthcoming.
Sky as a bridge: Astronomical interactions in Eurasia through the agesRajesh Kochhar
Sky has always been seen as the heritage of the whole humankind. People have been curious about their sky. They have also been curious about the curiosity of others. Accordingly, astronomy has advanced through pooling of intellectual resources and cross-fertilization of ideas. There is broad connectivity in the world history of astronomy. Astronomy is a multi-stage intellectual cumulus where each stage has built on the previous ones and carried the studies forward.
The growth of astronomy has not occurred in a steady manner, but in spurts, with different centres playing a pre-eminent role at different times. An interesting correlation needs to be noted. The level and quality of astronomical activity has been related to a nation’s GDP. Prosperous, self-assured, resurgent, assertive nations have tended to become patrons of astronomy. It is as if having established their superiority or supremacy over fellow human beings, they wanted to unravel the mysteries of the sky on behalf of the whole humankind.
Modern science in Bengal: Cultivation and early accomplishmentsRajesh Kochhar
Bengal placed India on the world map of modern science. In the 1890s, J.C. Bose (1858–1937) and P.C. Ray (1861-1944) became India’s (and the Non-West’s) first internationally recognized modern scientists. In the 1920s, Nobel prize-level theoretical physics research were carried out by M.N. Saha (1893-1956) and by Satyen Bose (1894-1974). Finally, in 1930, C. V. Raman (1888-1970) received the physics Nobel prize which was the first one to go out of Europe and America.
Normally, an activity begins modestly, rises slowly and stabilizes at a high level. In contrast, India began at the top and had no place to go except down. The down-hill journey has been steady and without the benefit of a plateau even at intermediate heights.
Globalization and de-nationalized Indian middle classRajesh Kochhar
The most remarkable feature of the Indian middle class (IMC) today is that it has become extremely self-absorbed. There was a time, before and immediately after independence, when the English knowing people in the country saw themselves as a bridge between their less fortunate brethren on the one hand and scientifically and economically ‑ advanced countries on the other. Not any more. Globalization has provided the IMC with an opportunity and a pretext to decouple itself from the rest of the country. The decoupling however is not complete. The onus of propelling Upper India into a global orbit still rests on the emaciated shoulders of the Lower India. As the irrepressible American film-maker Sam Goldwyn would have put it, IMC has opted to include itself out.
Modern science in the Western and Non-Western contextsRajesh Kochhar
Advent, growth and deployment of (modern) science make a complex and multi-dimensional story. However, during the ‘golden age of colonialism’, once modern science came into a full- blown form, attempts were made to decouple it from its immediate antecedents and present it as a stand-alone, purely intellectual, exercise.
Indian geography under European auspices during 16-18th centuriesRajesh Kochhar
(i) Whatever geographical information was available in pre-existing scientific and political documents was taken out and utilized.
(ii) Local people were hired as messengers to bring in intelligence on routes, roads, rivers, bridges, hills, etc.
(iii) Jesuits and ex-Jesuits took modern measurements and obtained valuable primary data.
(iv) Whenever an opportunity presented itself, Company officials made surveys.
(v) Lastly, as soon as it became possible, an exhaustive systematic field survey was ordered.
The geographic and geodesic work done in India under European auspices during the 17th and 18th centuries got eclipsed by the spectacular 19th century developments (epitomized by the naming of the highest point on the earth after a surveyor-general), it was solid and extremely significant in its time.
When and where was Rigveda composed? How is it related to thee vast Harappan archaeological tradition. These are quintessential questions on ancient Indian history which do not have direct answers. I examine a large body of evidence to arrive at plausible answers.
Kodaikanal Observatory as a potential world astronomy heritage site Rajesh Kochhar
As things stand, I think the only candidate for astronomical world heritage list from India is the Solar Physics Observatory Kodaikanal ( est 1899 ), which now has solar picture data with the same instrument for the longest period in the world (since 1912), with some short interruptions due to maintenance/ upgradation.
Indian pharmaceutical industry: Policies, achievements and challengesRajesh Kochhar
Indian pharmaceutical industry is a success story from a national as well as third-world perspective. India accounts for 10% of world production and ranks third in the world in terms of volume. In value terms the share is only 1.4% and the rank 14th.
his statistic underlines the important fact that India produces world-class generic drugs at a very low cost. Indian domestic pharma market, currently evaluated at $12 bn, is largely self-sufficient with patented drugs playing a minimal role.
The making of scientific and arrogant EuropeRajesh Kochhar
In 1837 a Bengal cavalry officer, after an exploratory tour of Egypt and Arabia in connection with steam navigation, declared in his report: ‘It seems to be a law of nature that the civilized nations should conquer and possess the countries in a state of barbarianism and by such means, however unjustifiable it may appear at first, extend the blessings of knowledge, industry and commerce among people hitherto sunk in the most gloomy depths of superstitious ignorance.’
Till the early decades of the 19th century, Europe viewed Asia with respect. How the change occurred is discussed here
Rise and decline of modern science in IndiaRajesh Kochhar
Some 225 countries of the world publish more than 1.5mn research papers, with USA topping the list. Over the years however pursuit of science has become more widespread so that the US share (but not the quality) is now lower than before. From 1996 to 2012 India improved its rank from 7 to 13; and China from 9 to 2. The share of both in citations however is low.
India was the first country outside the Western world to take to modern science. I discuss why India has not been able to make any use of the early start.
The Indian economy is classified into different sectors to simplify the analysis and understanding of economic activities. For Class 10, it's essential to grasp the sectors of the Indian economy, understand their characteristics, and recognize their importance. This guide will provide detailed notes on the Sectors of the Indian Economy Class 10, using specific long-tail keywords to enhance comprehension.
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Students, digital devices and success - Andreas Schleicher - 27 May 2024..pptxEduSkills OECD
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The Roman Empire, a vast and enduring power, stands as one of history's most remarkable civilizations, leaving an indelible imprint on the world. It emerged from the Roman Republic, transitioning into an imperial powerhouse under the leadership of Augustus Caesar in 27 BCE. This transformation marked the beginning of an era defined by unprecedented territorial expansion, architectural marvels, and profound cultural influence.
The empire's roots lie in the city of Rome, founded, according to legend, by Romulus in 753 BCE. Over centuries, Rome evolved from a small settlement to a formidable republic, characterized by a complex political system with elected officials and checks on power. However, internal strife, class conflicts, and military ambitions paved the way for the end of the Republic. Julius Caesar’s dictatorship and subsequent assassination in 44 BCE created a power vacuum, leading to a civil war. Octavian, later Augustus, emerged victorious, heralding the Roman Empire’s birth.
Under Augustus, the empire experienced the Pax Romana, a 200-year period of relative peace and stability. Augustus reformed the military, established efficient administrative systems, and initiated grand construction projects. The empire's borders expanded, encompassing territories from Britain to Egypt and from Spain to the Euphrates. Roman legions, renowned for their discipline and engineering prowess, secured and maintained these vast territories, building roads, fortifications, and cities that facilitated control and integration.
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Ancient indian astronomy and mathematics
1. Ancient Indian astronomy and
mathematics
Rajesh Kochhar
Honorary professor, Mathematics Department, Panjab
University, Chandigarh 160014
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali,
Punjab
rkochhar2000@yahoo.com
Lecture delivered at SJB Institute of Technology, Bangalore, 5 May 2015
2. • Modern astronomy today is at the cutting
edge of scientific enquiry. Although we are by
definition part of the universe, we look at it as
if from the outside. In earlier times, however,
cosmic environment was seen as inseparable
from the terrestrial environment and human
affairs. The world was anthropo-centric. Earth
stood still and the whole world revolved
around it. As masters of the Earth, human
beings considered themselves to be special in
the eyes of the Almighty and worthy of his
attention.
3. • The beginnings of astronomy are related
to the requirements of the ritual in early
cultures. Ritual was a means of securing
divine approval and support for terrestrial
actions. To be effective, it had to be
elaborate and well-timed, so that a
careful distinction could be made
between auspicious and inauspicious
times.
4. • (Note that mathematical problems such
as obtaining the square root of two and
approximate value of pi ( circumference
of a circle divided by its diameter) were
taken up in the context of preparation of
fire altars and are discussed in the
Shrautasutras.)
5. • Since planetary motions provided a natural
means of time keeping and were seen as
couriers of divine signals. Skies were therefore
regularly monitored. This was the beginning of
astronomy as an intellectual discipline.
• The above considerations are general; they
would apply to any geographical area or
cultural group.
• We now come to ancient India. Before
proceeding further, let us examine the nature
and limitations of the source material
available.
6. Source material: nature and limitations
• Scripts (Kharoshthi, Brahmi) were introduced
into India about 3rd century BCE or somewhat
earlier for writing Prakrit languages derived
from Sanskrit. Script for Sanskrit itself, the
language of Hindu scriptures, was adopted
much later, the first use being for stone
inscriptions. Writing material came from plants
or trees and had a short life. Paper was not
introduced into India till about 8th century CE.
Paper in any case was not used for Brahminical
texts.
7. • Texts were in the custody of specialist caste groups
who memorized them and transmitted them to the
next generation by word of mouth. The extant texts
would have been supplemented with explanatory
“notes” to serve an immediate purpose. What was
not considered worth preserving at any point in
time was lost for ever.
• Astronomical results were seen as a revelation
rather than deduction. They were therefore
recorded in the Rigvedic format, that is, in metrical
poetry. An astronomer had to be a poet first and
then an astronomer. Because of constraints of
metre, synonyms or half-words had to be used or
allusions made. This introduced vagueness and
imprecision.
8. • These texts are not library texts. They were meant
for a select group which knew the context. Their
interpretation, out of context, is a difficult task.
• These texts are not complete. Knowledge which was
considered to be the requisite background would
not be mentioned. Absence of mention therefore
does not constitute proof of absence. More
specifically, we do not know how observational
parameters were obtained ( borrowing? actual
observations?)
• Although decimal system was invented in India, in
astronomical texts, numbers are expressed in terms
of real or artificial words or word parts, opening the
door for deliberate or inadvertent mis-
representation.
9. • Because of the sanctity of Vedic texts, elaborate
schemes were devised to preserve them as a
gramophone record. No such mechanism was
employed for astronomy, with the result that
astronomical ( and Ayurvedic) texts are like an
audio cassette.
• The Vedic corpus once created was preserved as
such. In the case of the Epics and Puranas
additions were made but no subtractions. But in
the case of scientific texts, both deletions and
additions were made. Once a new edition came,
parts of old edition would be deleted for ever.
• Also, it is not possible to assign firm dates to any
early event or development. It is therefore not
possible to construct a connected account of any
aspect of early India.
10. Vedic astronomy (1400-BCE-5th century CE)
• There are stray astronomical references in the
Rigveda. For our purposes, Yajurveda is more
useful because it was a manual for ritual . It
thus lists 27-28 nakshatras ( bright star or star
groups) which are seen near the Moon every
night. Later, when an accurate luni-solar
calendar was introduced, Vikrami month names
were so chosen as to contain an important
piece of information. For example, the month
Vaisakha is so called because in this month, the
Moon is full near the nakshatra, Vishakha.
11. • The oldest Indian text exclusively
devoted to astronomy is the
Vedangajyotisha (VJ). Because of the
sanctity attached to the Vedic corpus, it
has been faithfully preserved down the
ages. But as a scientific text it was
overtaken by new developments and
became obsolete.No wonder then, VJ is
the least understood of all Vedic texts.
Remarkably, it remained in vogue for a
very long period, till the 6th century CE.
12. • The oldest portions of VJ could be as old as
1400 BCE.
• Week days and zodiacal signs which are now
integral part of Indian astronomy/ astrology
were not known in the Vedic astronomy period.
• Kautilya’s Arthashastra; the Ashokan edicts
(3rd cent. BCE); the Buddhist Sanskrit text,
Shardulakaranavadana ( 4th cent. CE); and the
Jain works, Surya Pannati and Chand Pannati,
all adhere to the Vedic astronomy.
13. • The Mahabharata text is a vast collection,
of about 100,000 shlokas, composed
over an extended period of time. And
yet, the Mahabharata does not know of
week days or zodiacal signs.
14. Valuable inputs were received, in stages, from
the Greco-Babylonian world to the northwest
of India.
It is surmised that the (old) Shaka [Saka]
calendar was established by the Shakas in 123
CE to commemorate their victory over the
Parthians in Bactria [Balkh in Cental Asia]. It
was used by the Shaka emperors and Satraps in
their Indian territories. In 78 CE, in Ujjain, the
accumulated 200 years were dropped and the
suitably Indianized new Shaka era was ushered
in.
15. • There is direct archaeological evidence of
the depiction of zodiacal signs at Baudha
Gaya, dated c. 100 BCE.
• Weekdays were slow in making an entry.
It has been suggested that they appeared
in 4th or 5th century CE.
16. Aryabhata
• The modernization of Indian astronomy,
by incorporating these and other inputs,
took place at the hands of Aryabhata
whose influential work, Aryabhatiyam,
appeared in 499CE. This was the
beginning of the Siddhantic astronomy,
so-called because the primary astro-
mathematical texts were called Siddhanta
[ proven in the end].
17. What was the situation before Aryabhata?
• In a significant scholarly exercise,
Varahamihira (d. 587 CE), a junior
contemporary of Aryabhata, made a
comparative study of the five extant
Siddhantas. The compendium, which came to
be known as Panchasiddhantika, is actually a
Karanagrantha; it omits all theory and provides
concise rules for quick calculations.
Varahamihira grades the texts according to
their accuracy.
18. • Surya Siddhanta is the most accurate; Romaka
and Paulisha, which are obviously of foreign
origin, slightly less so. The two older ones,
Vasishtha Siddhanta and the Paitamaha
Siddhanta, were the least accurate, the latter
more so than the former. Paitamaha
Siddhanta is based on Vedanga Jyotisha, and
like it deals only with the Sun and Moon.
While in the other cases, the epoch is 505 CE,
in this case it is 80 CE. It was obviously
included for its archival value. Note that we
learn about pre-Aryabhata works not from
their own time but from later redactions.
19. • It is not surprising that of the five,
Surya Siddhanta was the most
accurate; it was an old text only in
name; it was recast in the light of
Aryabhata’s work, not the
Aryabhatiya, but another one since
lost.
20. • Around 1000 CE, Surya Siddhanta was
again recast; it is this version which is still
in use for making panchangas, or
traditional almanacs ,which depend on it
except for timings of eclipses which they
take from modern sources. Interestingly
astronomical works as text books were
known by their author. But when their
elements were incorporated into
astrology-oriented texts, they were given
divine names to enhance their market
value.
21. Siddhantic astronomy
• Siddhantic astronomy focused on the
calculation of mean and true position of the
(geo-centric) planets, (arranged in order of
increasing orbital period, they are the Moon,
Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter , and
Saturn. ; time of rise and setting of planets;
conjunction of planets; conjunction of a planet
and a star; heliacal rising and setting of stars;
instrumentation; etc. A notable achievement
of it was the calculation of lunar and solar
eclipses.
22. • Illustrious names in Indian astronomy
following Aryabhata include Latadeva (505 CE)
who was Aryabhata’s direct pupil;
Varahamihira (already mentioned ) a compiler
and integrator rather than an original scholar,
and an expert on omens; Bhaskara I (c. 574);
Brahmagupta (b. 598) whose works were very
influential and were later translated into
Arabic; Lalla (c. 638 or c. 768); Manjula or
Munjala (932); Shripati (1039); and the
celebrated Bhaskara II (b. 1114).
23. • Indian astronomy and mathematics received a
new lease of life with Madhava (c. 1340-1425),
who founded what has come to be known as
the Kerala School of Astronomy. His own
mathematical works have been lost. We know
of them from the reports of others such as
Nilkantha who lived 100 years later. Madhava’s
pupil Parameshvara (1360-1455), in a career
spanning more than half a century , timed
many eclipses and planetary conjunctions. He
then set out to devise mathematical means to
bring calculated times closer to observations.
24. • His singular contribution is the construction of
Drgganita ( Drk system of computations). The
unbroken tradition of eclipse calculation was
alive till as recently as early 19th century. A
Tamil astronomer computed for John Warren ,
a French astronomer in the service of British
East India Company, the lunar eclipse of 1825
May 31-June 1 with an error of +4 minutes for
the beginning,-23 minutes for the middle, and
-52 minutes for the end.
25. Development of mathematics
• The most remarkable feature of ancient Indian
astronomical tradition from Aryabhata to the Kerala
school has been the development of mathematical
tools for astronomical calculations. The 19th and early
20th century Western historiography viewed
mathematics as a triumph of pure thought and
accepted ancient Greek as standard for judging the
rest of the world. In such a framework, Indian
contribution came to be belittled. There is now greater
appreciation of cultural plurality and the realization
that historical developments should be examined in
their own framework.
26. • The earliest known systematic
treatment of linear Diophantine
equations in two variables was given
by Aryabhata who proposed a
continued-fraction like solution of
ax+by=-c. Subsequently,
Brahmagupta, Bhaskara I, Bhaskara II
and Parameshvara also considered
special types of system of two linear
Diophantine equations.
27. • Brahmagupta found integer solution
of many Pell equations x2-Ny2=1, but
was not able to apply it uniformly to
all values of N. The general solution
was obtained by Bhaskara II.
28. • Madhava discovered infinite series
for sine, cosine and arctangent
functions and for as early as 14th
century. The European names
associated with these ‘discoveries’,
made more than 200 years later, are
Colin Maclaurin, Isaac Newton, James
Gregory and Gottfried Wilhelm
Leibniz.
29. • Mathematics was developed as a tool
for planetary calculations. There was
very little work on mathematics for its
own sake. A notable full-time
mathematician is Mahavira (9th
century CE). He for example worked
out how a number can be cubed using
an arithmetical progression.
30. • Western scholarship especially during the
colonial period tended to deny antiquity or
originality to ancient India. As a backlash,
many researchers have tended to unduly
stretch the chronology backwards. Also,
receipt of inputs from others is an
important ingredient of intellectual
development. There should not be any
self-consciousness while discussing this.