Geometry in India

A brief history
Lecture 01
Ananda Dasgupta
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata

Spring Semester 2015

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

The beginning
Traditionally, the history of Indian mathematics has been
supposed to start with the Sulba-sutras (800-200 BCE).

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

The beginning
Traditionally, the history of Indian mathematics has been
supposed to start with the Sulba-sutras (800-200 BCE).
They deal with a set of rules for construction of ritual pyres.

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

The beginning
Traditionally, the history of Indian mathematics has been
supposed to start with the Sulba-sutras (800-200 BCE).
They deal with a set of rules for construction of ritual pyres.
The oldest slokas have been dated at 1000 BCE by F. Stahl
on the basis of some of them appearing in the earliest
Yajurveda Samhita - the Maitrayani.

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

The beginning
Traditionally, the history of Indian mathematics has been
supposed to start with the Sulba-sutras (800-200 BCE).
They deal with a set of rules for construction of ritual pyres.
The oldest slokas have been dated at 1000 BCE by F. Stahl
on the basis of some of them appearing in the earliest
Yajurveda Samhita - the Maitrayani.
The absence of any prior records has prompted speculation
that mathematics in India originated from West Asia.

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

The beginning
Traditionally, the history of Indian mathematics has been
supposed to start with the Sulba-sutras (800-200 BCE).
They deal with a set of rules for construction of ritual pyres.
The oldest slokas have been dated at 1000 BCE by F. Stahl
on the basis of some of them appearing in the earliest
Yajurveda Samhita - the Maitrayani.
The absence of any prior records has prompted speculation
that mathematics in India originated from West Asia.
However, discoveries in the Indus valley region has revealed
that Indians had a sophisticated idea of geometry at least
1000 years before.

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

The beginning
Traditionally, the history of Indian mathematics has been
supposed to start with the Sulba-sutras (800-200 BCE).
They deal with a set of rules for construction of ritual pyres.
The oldest slokas have been dated at 1000 BCE by F. Stahl
on the basis of some of them appearing in the earliest
Yajurveda Samhita - the Maitrayani.
The absence of any prior records has prompted speculation
that mathematics in India originated from West Asia.
However, discoveries in the Indus valley region has revealed
that Indians had a sophisticated idea of geometry at least
1000 years before.
It is not clear whether there was some continuity of ideas
between the geometric notions of the Indus valley civilization
and the Sulba-sutras.
Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

Part I
Indus Valley Civilization

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

The Indus Valley Civilization, circa 2500-1900 BCE

The Indus Valley Civilization,

also called the Mature
Harappan Civilization was
spread over what is now Pakistan
and North-western India.

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

The Indus Valley Civilization, circa 2500-1900 BCE

It covered about a million square

kilometers.

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

The Indus Valley Civilization, circa 2500-1900 BCE

It was contemporaneous with

Old Kingdom Egypt, the Early
Dynastic period of Sumeria and
the ancient Akkadian civilization.

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

The Indus Valley Civilization, circa 2500-1900 BCE

It was contemporaneous with

Old Kingdom Egypt, the Early
Dynastic period of Sumeria and
the ancient Akkadian civilization.

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

The Indus Valley Civilization, circa 2500-1900 BCE

It was contemporaneous with

Old Kingdom Egypt, the Early
Dynastic period of Sumeria and
the ancient Akkadian civilization.

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

The Indus Valley Civilization, circa 2500-1900 BCE

Excavations have led to the

discovery of a wide variety of
relics.

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

The Indus Valley Civilization, circa 2500-1900 BCE

The Indus Valley Civilization

was characterized by its extensive
urbanization.

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

The Indus Valley Civilization, circa 2500-1900 BCE

The well laid out street plans

of Mohen-jo-daro, Harappa and
other cities, as well as the
orientation of the streets along
the cardinal directions show a
working understanding of
geometry.

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

The Indus Valley Civilization, circa 2500-1900 BCE

There is extensive evidence

of a standardized system of
weights and measures that was
used in different urban centers.

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

The Indus Valley Civilization, circa 2500-1900 BCE

There is extensive evidence

of geometrical ideas in the seals
and pottery recovered from this
era.

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

The Indus Valley Civilization, circa 2500-1900 BCE

There is extensive evidence

of geometrical ideas in the seals
and pottery recovered from this
era.

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

The Indus Valley Civilization, circa 2500-1900 BCE

Concentric circles are a

common motif.

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

The Indus Valley Civilization, circa 2500-1900 BCE

So are squares, rectangles,

triangle pairs joined at the apex.

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

Symmetry in Harappan seals

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

Symmetry in Harappan seals

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

Symmetry in Harappan seals

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

Symmetry in Harappan seals

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

Symmetry in Harappan seals

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

Symmetry in Harappan seals

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

A space filling motif

Seal number M-1261A shows an intricate space filling pattern.

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

A space filling motif

The basic motif is made out of four fan shaped structures, where
the fans are formed out of two intersecting lattice of circles.

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

A space filling motif

The motif tessellates space.

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

A modern day surprise

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

Precursors of things to come ???

This common shape is reminiscent of the Mahavedi altar described

in the Sulba-sutra!

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

Part II
Numbers in the Vedas

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

Numbers in the Vedas

Krishna-Yajur-Veda, Taittareya Aranyakam

O fire, salutations unto you once.

Salutations twice.
Salutations thrice . . .
Salutations ten times.
Salutations hundred times.
Salutations a thousand times.
Salutations unto you unlimited
times.
My venerations to you, never
ever hurt me.
Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

Numbers in the Vedas

Krishna-Yajur-Veda, Taittareya Samhita

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

Numbers in the Vedas

Krishna-Yajur-Veda, Taittareya Samhita

The powers of ten:

Hail to hundred, . . . hail to hundred thousand . . .
hail to hundred million . . . hail to trillion.

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

Numbers in the Vedas

Krishna-Yajur-Veda, Taittareya Samhita

The powers of ten:

Hail to hundred, . . . hail to hundred thousand . . .
hail to hundred million . . . hail to trillion.

Odd numbers!

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

Numbers in the Vedas

Krishna-Yajur-Veda, Taittareya Samhita

The powers of ten:

Hail to hundred, . . . hail to hundred thousand . . .
hail to hundred million . . . hail to trillion.

Odd numbers!

Multiples of four!
Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

The powers of ten

Yajurveda Samhita

Ekha
Dasa
Sata
Sahasra
Ayuta
Niyuta
Prayuta
Arbuda
Nyarbuda
Samudra
Madhya
Anta
Parardha

1
10
100
1000
10000
100000
1000000
10000000
100000000
1000000000
10000000000
100000000000
1000000000000

100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
1010
1011
1012

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

A spys tale from the Ramayana

1 Koti = 100 Lakhs = 107

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

A spys tale from the Ramayana

1 Koti = 100 Lakhs = 107
1 Sankha = 105 Koti = 1012

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

A spys tale from the Ramayana

1 Koti = 100 Lakhs = 107
1 Sankha = 105 Koti = 1012
1 Mahasankha = 105 Sankha = 1017

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

A spys tale from the Ramayana

1 Koti = 100 Lakhs = 107
1 Sankha = 105 Koti = 1012
1 Mahasankha = 105 Sankha = 1017
1 Vrinda = 105 Mahasankha = 1022

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

A spys tale from the Ramayana

1 Koti = 100 Lakhs = 107
1 Sankha = 105 Koti = 1012
1 Mahasankha = 105 Sankha = 1017
1 Vrinda = 105 Mahasankha = 1022
1 Mahavrinda = 105 Vrinda = 1027

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

A spys tale from the Ramayana

1 Koti = 100 Lakhs = 107
1 Sankha = 105 Koti = 1012
1 Mahasankha = 105 Sankha = 1017
1 Vrinda = 105 Mahasankha = 1022
1 Mahavrinda = 105 Vrinda = 1027
1 Padma = 105 Mahavrinda = 1032

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

A spys tale from the Ramayana

1 Koti = 100 Lakhs = 107
1 Sankha = 105 Koti = 1012
1 Mahasankha = 105 Sankha = 1017
1 Vrinda = 105 Mahasankha = 1022
1 Mahavrinda = 105 Vrinda = 1027
1 Padma = 105 Mahavrinda = 1032
1 Mahapadma = 105 Padma = 1037

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

A spys tale from the Ramayana

1 Koti = 100 Lakhs = 107
1 Sankha = 105 Koti = 1012
1 Mahasankha = 105 Sankha = 1017
1 Vrinda = 105 Mahasankha = 1022
1 Mahavrinda = 105 Vrinda = 1027
1 Padma = 105 Mahavrinda = 1032
1 Mahapadma = 105 Padma = 1037
1 Kharva = 105 Mahapadma = 1042

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

A spys tale from the Ramayana

1 Koti = 100 Lakhs = 107
1 Sankha = 105 Koti = 1012
1 Mahasankha = 105 Sankha = 1017
1 Vrinda = 105 Mahasankha = 1022
1 Mahavrinda = 105 Vrinda = 1027
1 Padma = 105 Mahavrinda = 1032
1 Mahapadma = 105 Padma = 1037
1 Kharva = 105 Mahapadma = 1042
1 Mahakharva = 105 Kharva = 1047

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

A spys tale from the Ramayana

1 Koti = 100 Lakhs = 107
1 Sankha = 105 Koti = 1012
1 Mahasankha = 105 Sankha = 1017
1 Vrinda = 105 Mahasankha = 1022
1 Mahavrinda = 105 Vrinda = 1027
1 Padma = 105 Mahavrinda = 1032
1 Mahapadma = 105 Padma = 1037
1 Kharva = 105 Mahapadma = 1042
1 Mahakharva = 105 Kharva = 1047
1 Samudra = 103 Mahakharva = 1050

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

A spys tale from the Ramayana

1 Koti = 100 Lakhs = 107
1 Sankha = 105 Koti = 1012
1 Mahasankha = 105 Sankha = 1017
1 Vrinda = 105 Mahasankha = 1022
1 Mahavrinda = 105 Vrinda = 1027
1 Padma = 105 Mahavrinda = 1032
1 Mahapadma = 105 Padma = 1037
1 Kharva = 105 Mahapadma = 1042
1 Mahakharva = 105 Kharva = 1047
1 Samudra = 103 Mahakharva = 1050
1 Mahaugha = 105 Samudra = 1055

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India

Concept of the infinite

Isha Upanishada

Ananda Dasgupta

Geometry in India