The Astronomical Observatories of Jai Singh c16.8

c16.8

³ This is a curious point in the history of science. The Hindus seemed to avoid direct angular measurements. Their mathematical works contain no theorems or rules relating to angles (see my Indian Mathematics, page 20). Whitney wrote (page 259): "Lest it seem strange that the Hindus should have derived from abroad the name (*koṇa* from *γωνία*) for so familiar and elementary a quantity as an angle, we would direct attention to the striking fact, that in that stage of their mathematical science, at least, which is represented by the *Sūrya Siddhānta*, they appear to have made no use whatever, in their calculations, of the angle."