History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v1.c7.s10.2

v1.c7.s10.2

The system is used in works on astronomy, mathematics and metrics, as well as in the dates of inscriptions and in manuscripts. The ancient Hindu mathematicians and astronomers wrote their works in verse. Consequently they strongly felt the need for a convenient method of expressing the large numbers that occur so often in the astronomical works and in the statement of problems in mathematics. The word numerals were invented to fulfil this need and soon became very popular. They are used even upto the present day, whenever big numbers have to be expressed in Sanskrit verse.