The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c6.24

c6.24

In the title *Śulba-sūtra*, the word *sūtra* means an "aphorism," "a short rule." It simply describes the style of the composition of the works and has practically no reference to their subject-matter. The science itself is really called the *Śulba*. And that is, in fact, the original title of the manuals. It is by this title that the *Śulba-sūtra* of Āpastamba has been mentioned in his *Śrautasūtra*.² The commentators are oftentimes found to speak of the *Śulba* of Baudhāyana, the *Śulba* of Āpastamba, etc. This will be further confirmed by the commonly known title of the second part of the work attributed to Kātyāyana, namely the *Śulba-pariśiṣṭa* (or "The Appendix to the *Śulba*") and also by the title *Śulbī-kriyā* (or "The Practice of the *Śulba*") given to that appendix in itself. Thus it is proved conclusively that the true name of the subject is *Śulba*. As the *Śulba* deals with the science of geometry and its application as known amongst the early Hindus, we conclude that the earliest Hindu name for geometry was *Śulba*. Geometry was then sometimes also called *Rajju*, as is evident from the opening sūtra of the *Śulba* of Kātyāyana, "I shall speak of the 'Collection of (rules regarding) the *Rajju*.'" There are many other reliable pieces of evidence leading strongly to the same conclusion.³