History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v1.c7.s10.66

v1.c7.s10.66

**Origin and Early History.** It should be noted that the arrangement of words, representing the numbers zero and one to nine, in a word chronogram is contrary to the arrangement that is followed when the same number is written with numerical signs. This fact has misled some scholars to think that the decimal notation and the word numerals were evolved at two different places. G. R. Kaye has gone so far as to suggest that the word numerals were imported into India from the east. This suggestion is incorrect for the simple reason that in no language other than Sanskrit do we find any early use of the word system. Moreover, in no country other than India do we find any trace of the use of a word system of numeration as far back as the fourth century A.D., at which period it was in common use amongst the astronomers and mathematicians of India.