The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c6.2

c6.2

The *Śulbas*, or as they are more commonly known at present amongst oriental scholars, the *Śulba-sūtras*, are manuals for the construction of altars which are necessary in connexion with the sacrifices of the Vedic Hindus. They are sections of the *Kalpa-sūtras*, more particularly¹ of the *Śrauta-sūtras*, which form one of the six *Vedāṅgas* (or "The Members of the Veda") and deal specially with rituals or ceremonials. Each *Śrauta-sūtra* seems to have its own *Śulba* section. So there were, very likely, several such works in ancient times.² At present we know, however, of only seven *Śulba-sūtras*, those belonging to the *Śrauta-sūtra* of Baudhāyana, Āpastamba, Kātyāyana,