INDIAN MATHEMATICS AND ASTRONOMY

Abstract

Our knowledge about India's mathematical achievements before 300 BCE mainly comes from ancient Sanskrit texts, especially the Vedic and Vedanga treatises. Although these texts are not technical, the number vocabulary in them has great mathematical importance. Ancient Indian mathematics and astronomy developed as part of a connected scholarly tradition. Numbers, geometry, trigonometry, calendars, and planetary astronomy were studied together, not as separate subjects. From the Vedic period to the medieval eraIndian mathematicians such as Aryabhata, Brahmagupta, Bhaskara II and others contributed significantly to algebra, trigonometry, and astronomy. They explained celestial events like eclipses using scientific reasoning rather than mythology and created accurate methods for calculating time and planetary motion. The Kerala School further advanced these ideas by exploring infinite series and early calculus concepts. However, because ancient Indian mathematicians were not as skillful in documentation and sharing their work as their western counterparts, their contributions did not receive the recognition they deserved. Additionally, the long rule of the western world over much of the globe allowed them to assert their superiority in all fields, including knowledge. This chapter looks at the contributions of ancient Indian mathematicians and astronomers, highlighting their interdisciplinary nature and lasting impact worldwide.