The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c14.41

c14.41

Now one of the oldest Hindu Fire-altars is the *Caturasra-śyenacit*. The oldest method for its construction does not presuppose a knowledge of the theorem in question. This method had been expressly taught by Āpastamba. It was undoubtedly known to Baudhāyana who hints it very briefly and gives in fact what is rather an improved form of it. Bürk ² surmises that the proof of the theorem was discovered just in the figure of the *Caturasra-śyenacit*. The square *ACFE* on the diagonal *AC* of the square *ABCD* of the four squares forming the *ātman* (or "body")