History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v1.c7.s12.32

v1.c7.s12.32

The writings of Jinabhadra Gaṇi (529-589), a contemporary of Varâhamihira, offer conclusive evidence of the use of zero as a distinct numerical symbol. While mentioning large numbers containing several zeros, he often enumerates, obviously for the sake of abridgement, the number of zeros contained. For instance: 224,400,000,000 is mentioned as "twenty-two forty-four, eight zeros;"¹ 3,200,400,000,000 as "thirty-two two zeros four eight zeros."² At another place in his work