Geometry in Ancient and Medieval India c3: Foreword

Geometry in Ancient and Medieval India c3

Language: English

Foreword

c3.1

When the author of the present Thesis came to me to do research, I did not want her to take up any subject in the overworked fields of Alaṃkāra, Vedānta or general literature and wanted to know if she was prepared, to work in fields which were neglected or in which few young scholars were inclined to put forth their efforts. On further enquiry I found that she was qualified in mathematics, having taken her first degree in physics and mathematics and decided that she should specialise in the field of Indian contribution to mathematics, algebra and geometry.

c3.2

The originality and antiquity of Indian contribution to these branches of science have been questioned by some of the historians of mathematics. For example while it is generally believed that the credit of having discovered the place value and decimal system goes to India, some distinguished modern writers do not accept this. But in the case of geometry, we are on more solid grounds. Not only are the *Śulba Sūtras* earlier in date to Pythagoras but the entire sacrificial system and the fire altars, *vedis* for which the *Śulba Sūtras* were intended, are already presupposed by the Ṛgvedic hymns.¹ The biased view of the ancient Hindu contribution, either for or against, has been aggravated, as observed by an eminent modern Indian scientist,² by the inadequate publication of the original documents. Needham says “future research on the history of science and technology in Asia, will, in fact, reveal that the achievements of these peoples contribute far more, in all pre-renaissance periods, to the development of world science than has yet been realised.”³ This study to be useful could be undertaken only by those who have scientific equipment, and if these have the additional grounding of a knowledge of Sanskrit, the best possible results could be expected. The material available should be interpreted in terms of modern knowledge in the concerned sciences. It is in this respect that work such as the one being introduced here is important.

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¹ See Macdonell, *History of Sanskrit Literature* and *India's Past* and Bibhuti Bhushan Datta, the *Science of the Śulba*..

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² See Prof. S. Chandrasekhar, *Astronomy in Science and in Human Culture*, J. Nehru Memorial Lecture, 1968, p. 11.

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³ See Dr. V. Raghavan, Presidential Address, Technical Sciences and Fine Arts Section. XXIst AIOC, New Delhi 1961.

c3.6

Dr. Sarasvati has examined ancient Indian geometry as seen in the Vedic period and its *Sulba Sūtras* and in the texts of the classical and post-classical periods of Sanskrit literature, as also in the Jain texts like the *Sūrya, Candra* and *Jambūdvīpa Prajñaptis*. The work was recommended for the Doctorate Degree by Judges who were mathematicians and its publication will be an addition to the meagre expositions available on the scientific aspects of Sanskrit literature.

c3.7

The efforts of the section of the Ministry of Education dealing with the history of Science in India and of the Association for the History of Science and their Journal have been helpful for the development of researches in this field. Special emphasis was laid by the First International Sanskrit Conference held recently by the Ministry of Education, on Sanskrit and Science and Technology and it revealed the talent available for tackling subjects in this area. However it cannot be said that, as in the case of Philosophy, Professors of the different sciences in the Indian Universities have become interested in this subject; as I have pleaded,¹ the history in India of the respective sciences should form a regular complementary part of the study of modern sciences in the Universities and should form legitimate subjects for research degrees for Science graduates.

c3.8

¹ See Dr. V. Raghavan, ‘The Orient & the West’ in *Books*, Journal of the National Book League, London, No. 286, July August 1954, pp. 130-2 and op. cit. Presidential Address to the Section on Technical Sciences and Fine Arts, Delhi Session of the AIOC.

Cites (4)

Śulbasūtra
Sūriyapannatti — Ardhamāgadhī Prakrit
Jambuddīvapannatti — Ardhamāgadhī Prakrit
Candapannatti — Ardhamāgadhī Prakrit