Mathematics in Ancient and Medieval India c6.s1.1

c6.s1.1

Datta in his book, *the Science of Śulba*,² has traced the growth and development of the geometry of this period. Various types of altars are described by him as available in the different *Saṃhitās*, *Brāhmaṇas* and especially in the *Śulbasūtras*. These altars are mostly brick structures of considerable size and shape. They are mainly *Āhavanīya*, *Gārhapatya*, *Dakṣināgni*, *Mahāvedi* (also called *Saumiki vedi*), *Sautramāṇi vedi*, *Prāgvaṃśa*, *Śyenacit’* *Vakrapakṣa vyastapuccha śyena*, *Kaṅka*, *Alaja*, *Prauga*, *Ubhayataprauga*, *Rathacakracit*, *Droṇa*, *Samuhya*, *Paricāyya*, *Śmaśāna*, *Kūrmacit etc.* Besides many other duties, the *Śulbakāras* had to perform several other important duties systematically viz.