Bhaskaracharya: Astronomer and mathematician

He was a great astronomer. He was born in 1114 A.D. at Bijapur in Mysore. Bhaskara represents the height of mathematical and astronomical knowledge in India during 12^th century. His understanding of mathematics was yast and far ahead of the rest of the world by several centuries.

His main works were ‘lilavati’ (arithmetic) and ‘Bijaganita’ (algebra).  His book ‘Siddhanta Shiromani’ was written in the year 115A.D. which consist two parts: Goladhyaya (Spheres) and and Grihganita (mathematics of the Planets).

He calculated Horoscope again and again, but the answer remained the same. The death of his future son in law was imminent. He would die soon after the marriage.

But wasn’t there a way out?

Yes!

The wedding should consummate at exact auspicious date and time, sumuhurtam (most favourable date and time) and no chances to be taken. Mechanical or digital clocks were not invented then. So he built a small sand clock, in which sand would flow from the top vessel into a bottom vessel through a small aperture. The level of sand in the bottom vessel indicated the time.

To comfort his bereaved daughter, he taught arithmetic to her. He named his book after her, as ‘Lilavati’ where arithmetic flowed as poetry.

‘Lilavati is divided into 13 chapters with 278 verses. It covers almost all the branches of the mathematics such as arithmetic, algebra, geometry and trigonometry. Tables, the number system, and its operation like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, square, cube, square root, cube root, fractions, zero and interest all are dealt with thoroughly.

‘Bijaganita’ (algebra) contains 213 verses. It describes the rules to deal with calculations of zero and infinity, and the concept of positive and negative numbers.

‘’Siddhanta Shiromani’ shows his knowledge of infinitesimal calculus and mathematical analysis, trigonometry, differential calculus and integral calculus.

‘Goladhyaya’ deals with circles and spheres. It has chapters on spherical trigonometry, ellipse calculations cosmography geography and planet motion.

Bhaskaracharya also discuss solar and lunar eclipses, conjunctions of the planets with each other and with the fixed stars, mean and true longitudes and latitudes of the planets and moon’s crescent.

He served as the head of the astronomical observatory at Ujjain. It is now well known that Bhaskaracharya influenced mathematical developments in Europe and the Middle East.

Bhaskaracharya-I and Bhaskaracharya-II are the two satellites named after Bhaskarachary. There were built by the Indian space program that formed India’s first low orbit Earth Observation Satellite to collect the data on telemetry, oceanography and hydrology.