A History of the Kerala School of Hindu Astronomy (in Perspective) c8.s6.16

c8.s6.16

In modern mathematics, the irrationality of π was demonstrated, for the first time, by Lambert in a paper read before the Berlin Academy in 1671. It is interesting to note that nearly two centuries prior to this, Nīlakaṇṭha Somayājī (1444-1545) stressed the same point when he expressed himself in his *Bhāṣya* on the *Āryabhaṭīya* (Gaṇita. 10) to the effect that it is impossible to measure the circumference of a circle in exact terms of its diameter; it could be stated only approximately (*āsanna*).² What is more significant, is that, after elaborating the point further, he quotes anonymously an earlier authority to the same effect, which means that the fact had long been recognised in Indian mathematics.³