[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932) › c6.24 # The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c6.24 The Science of the Śulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c6.24 - **Language:** English ### [c6.24](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.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 - [Previous: c6.23](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c6.23) - [Next: c6.25](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c6.25) - [Up: c6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c6) ## Linked texts (4) - [Āpastambaśrautasūtra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.vedanga.kalpa.srauta.apastamba-school.apastamba) — Āpastamba, Sanskrit - [Baudhāyanaśulbasūtra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.vedanga.kalpa.sulba.baudhayana) — Baudhāyana, Sanskrit - [Āpastambaśulbasūtra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.vedanga.kalpa.sulba.apastamba) — Āpastamba, Sanskrit - [Kātyāyanaśulbasūtra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.vedanga.kalpa.sulba.katyayana) — Kātyāyana (Vājasaneyi sūtrakāra), Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c6.24](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c6.24) · Pramāṇa