BHASKARA

 BHASKARA

Bhaskara is also known as Bhaskara II or as Bhaskaracharya, this latter name meaning "Bhaskara the Teacher". Since he is known in India as Bhaskaracharya we will refer to him throughout this article by that name.

Bhaskaracharya's father was a Brahman named Mahesvara. Mahesvara himself was famed as an astrologer. This happened frequently in Indian society with generations of a family being excellent mathematicians and often acting as teachers to other family members.

Bhaskaracharya became head of the astronomical observatory at Ujjain, the leading mathematical center in India at that time.

Outstanding mathematicians such as Varahamihira and Brahmagupta had worked there and built up a strong school of mathematical astronomy.

In many ways Bhaskaracharya represents the peak of mathematical knowledge in the 12th century. He reached an understanding of the number systems and solving equations which was not to be achieved in Europe for several centuries.

Six works by Bhaskaracharya are known but a seventh work, which is claimed to be by him, is thought by many historians to be a late forgery.

The six works are: Lilavati (The Beautiful) which is on mathematics;

Bijaganita (Seed Counting or Root Extraction) which is on algebra;

the Siddhantasiromani which is in two parts, the first on mathematical astronomy with the second part on the sphere;

the Vasanabhasya of Mitaksara which is Bhaskaracharya's own commentary on the Siddhantasiromani ;

the Karanakutuhala (Calculation of Astronomical Wonders) or Brahmatulya which is a simplified version of the Siddhantasiromani ; and the Vivarana which is a commentary on the Shishyadhividdhidatantra of Lalla.

It is the first three of these works which are the most interesting, certainly from the point of view of mathematics, and we will concentrate on the contents of these.

8

People reached

1

Engagement

–

Distribution score

Boost post

11