Mathematics in Ancient and Medieval India c4.s3.t1: Bakshālī Manuscript (c. 400 A.D.)
Mathematics in Ancient and Medieval India c4.s3.t1
- Language
- English
Bakshālī Manuscript (c. 400 A.D.)
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This manuscript¹ written in Sāradā script was first discovered, in course of excavation by a farmer at Bakshālī, a village near Peshwar in 1881 A.D. It attracted the attention of H. Hoernlé², G. R. Kaye³ and Datta⁴, who examined the manuscript from various aspects but failed to come to a satisfactory conclusion in ascertaining its age. Hoernlé considered it as 3rd to 4th century A.D. manuscript, which has been accepted as fair by Bühler, Cantor and Cajori. But Kaye placed it in the 12th century A.D. Datta opines that since the direct evidence is absent, there will be no better evidence than to depend on historical grounds. In this respect, the mathematical principles, symbols and terminology employed in the work would be better guides. Accordingly he examined the manuscript thoroughly and came to the conclusion that it was a work of 3rd to 4th century A.D.
c4.s3.t1.2
¹ Edited with Introduction by G. R. Kaye, Part I & II, New Imperical Series no. 43, Calcutta, 1927.
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² 'Notices under History of Asiatic Society for 1882', *Indian Antiquary*, 12, p. 89-90, 1883; 'The Bakshali Ms', *Indian Antiquary*, 17, p. 33-48, p. 275-79, 1888.
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³ p. 74-77 (vide his edition); *JASB*, 8, p. 349-61, 1912.
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⁴ Datta, B. "The Bakshali Mathematics", *Bulletin of the Calcutta Mathematical Society* (*BCMS*), 21, p.1-60, 1929.
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The work contains rules, with illustrative examples and solutions of many arithmetical, algebraic and geometrical (including mensuration) problems. The major portion deals with arithmetic e.g. fractions, square roots, progressions, income and expenditure, profit and loss, computation of gold, interest, rule of three and summation of complex series. The discussion of algebraic operations includes simple equations, simultaneous linear equations, quadratic equations, problems relating to mensuration and miscellaneous subjects.