The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c6.22

c6.22

As regards their importance, the available *Śulba-sūtras* can sharply be divided into two classes. The first class will include the manuals of Baudhāyana, Āpastamba and Kātyāyana. They give us an insight into the early state of Hindu geometry before the rise and advent of the Jaina Sect (500-300 B.C.).¹ The *Śulba-sūtras* of Mānava, Vārāha, Maitrāyaṇa and Vādhula add practically very little to our stock of information in this respect. So they may be considered to be of minor importance from our point of view.