History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v1.c7.s10.36

v1.c7.s10.36

The earliest instances of a word being used to denote a whole number are found about 2,000 B.C., in the *Śatapatha Brâhmaṇa*⁴ and *Taittirîya Brâhmaṇa*.⁵ The *Chândogya Upaniṣad* also contains several instances. In the *Vedâṅga Jyotiṣa*¹ (1,200 B.C.) words for numerals have been used at several places. The *Śrauta-sûtras* of *Kâtyâyana*² and *Lâtyâyana*³ have the words *gâyatrî* for 24 and *jagatî* for 48.