Āryabhaṭa

Āryabhaṭa (476–550 CE) was born in Pataliputra (Patna). He was an Indian mathematician and astronomer of the classical age

of Indian mathematics and Indian astronomy. He flourished in the Gupta Era and produced works such as the Āryabhaṭīya (which mentions that in 3600 Kali Yuga, 499 CE, he was 23 years old) and the Ārya-siddhānta.

[ His pure mathematics discusses topics such as determination of square roots and cube roots, geometrical figures with their properties and mensuration, arithmetic progression problems on the shadow of the gnomon, quadratic equations, linear and indeterminate equations. Āryabhaṭa calculated the value of pi (π) 3.1416 to the fourth decimal digit. Scholars consider him to be one of the pillars of Indian astronomy and mathematics. ]

Āryabhaṭīya deals with both mathematics and astronomy. It contains 121 stanzas and the subject matter is divided into 4 chapters, called Pāda (section).

Pāda -1 (Gītikā-pāda):Consists of 13 stanzas sets forth the basic definitions and important astronomical parameters and tables. It gives the definitions of

- Kalpa, Manu and Yuga which are the larger units of time

- Sign, degree and minute which are the circular units

- Linear units yojana, hasta, aṅgula

Pāda - 2 (Gaṇita-pāda) :Consists of 33 stanzas talks about Mathematics. The topics covered are Geometrical figures, their properties and mensuration ; problems on the shadow of the gnomon ; simple, simulatenous, quadratic and linear indeterminate equations. Methods to extract square root and cube root.

Pāda - 3 (Kālakriyā-pāda) :Consists of 25 stanzas dealing with various unit of time and the determination of true positions of the Sun, Moon and the planets. Methods to compute the true longitudes of the Sun, Moon and the planets.

Pāda - 4 (Gola-pāda) :Consists of 50 stanzas dealing with motion of Sun, Moon and the planets on the celestial sphere. Calculation and graphical representation of the eclipses and visibility of the planets.

Āryabhaṭīya is generally supposed to be a collection of two compositions : 1.Daśagītikā-sūtra: consists of  pāda -1 stating the astronomical  parameters in 10 stanzas in gītikā metre and 2.Āryāṣṭaśata : consist of second, third and fourth pādas having 108 stanzas in  āryā metre).

Here are the notable features of Āryabhaṭīya :


 * 1) Alphabetical system of numeral notation defined by Āryabhaṭa  is different from Kaṭapayādi system but much more effective in expressing number briefly in verse.
 * 2) Circumference to diameter ratio π = 3.1416.
 * 3) The table of sine differences