Great Astronomers and Mathematicians from India
Ancient Period
800 BC - 600 BC
Baudhayana was an ancient Indian mathematician and Vedic scholar, best known
for writing the Sulba Sutras, one of the earliest mathematical texts in India. He is
credited with an early statement of the Pythagorean theorem, centuries before
Pythagoras, describing it in geometric terms for constructing altars in Vedic rituals.
His Sulba Sutras contain rules for geometric constructions, including methods for
squaring a circle, constructing right angles, and calculating the square root of 2
with remarkable accuracy. Baudhayana provided algorithms for calculating areas
of geometric shapes, essential for ancient Indian architecture and fire altar
designs. His work also includes early forms of fractions, proportions, and basic
algebraic operations. The Sulba Sutras demonstrate an understanding of irrational
numbers and Pythagorean triples, showing advanced mathematical concepts long
before their formal discovery in the West. His contributions laid the foundation for
later Indian mathematicians, influencing works in arithmetic, algebra, and
geometry.
Classical Period
1 Jan 0500 BC
Varahamihira was a renowned Indian astronomer, mathematician, and astrologer
from Ujjain, a major center of learning in ancient India. His most famous work,
Brihat Samhita, is an encyclopedic text covering diverse subjects, including
astronomy, astrology, meteorology, architecture, gemology, and agriculture. He
was one of the first Indian scholars to propose that the Earth is round and rotates
on its axis, aligning with Aryabhata’s views. In his work Pancha Siddhantika (The
Five Astronomical Canons), he summarized and improved upon five earlier
astronomical systems, including Greek and Indian influences. Varahamihira made
significant contributions to trigonometry, improving sine and cosine tables and
introducing the concept of versine (1 - cos x). He made pioneering observations on
planetary motion, eclipses, and the accurate prediction of rainfall and weather
patterns, forming the basis of ancient Indian meteorology. His astrological
contributions influenced later Indian and Persian traditions, detailing methods for
casting horoscopes and planetary alignments. He introduced innovative methods
for calculating time, calendars, and auspicious dates, which are still followed in
Vedic astrology today. Varahamihira’s legacy influenced later scholars like
Bhaskara I and Brahmagupta, shaping medieval Indian astronomy.
Medieval Period (1200 CE – 1800 CE)
1 Oct 1340
Recognized as the pioneer of the Kerala School of Mathematics, Madhava made
groundbreaking contributions to calculus long before its formal development in
Europe. He introduced infinite series expansions for trigonometric functions like sine,
cosine, and arctangent, laying the foundation for calculus.
Madhava derived a series for π, now known as the Madhava-Leibniz series, which was
later rediscovered by European mathematicians such as James Gregory and Gottfried
Leibniz. His approximations of π were remarkably precise, reaching up to 11 decimal places.
He was also the first to formulate Taylor series expansions for trigonometric functions.
In addition to his work on infinite series, Madhava contributed to infinite continued
fractions, approximations of circular and transcendental functions, and advanced methods
for astronomical calculations. His ideas influenced later Kerala mathematicians, including
Nilakantha Somayaji, Jyeshtadeva, and Achyuta Pisharati, who further developed his calculus
concepts. Many of his findings were later compiled in works such as *Tantrasangraha* and
*Yuktibhasha*, written by his successors.
Modern Period (1800 CE – Present)
9 Sep 1800
A self-taught mathematical prodigy, Ramanujan made profound contributions to
number theory, continued fractions, modular forms, and infinite series. He
independently formulated and developed over 3,900 mathematical results, many of
which were later validated and recognized as highly significant.
His research on partition functions and modular forms led to the well-known Hardy-
Ramanujan asymptotic formula for partition numbers. He introduced several key
concepts, including the Ramanujan prime, the Ramanujan theta function, and the
mock theta functions, which have since become essential in modern mathematics.
His groundbreaking infinite series for π remain among the fastest-converging series,
playing a vital role in computational mathematics.
Despite facing health challenges and lacking formal mathematical education, Ramanujan's
brilliance was recognized by G.H. Hardy, who invited him to Cambridge University. There,
he made remarkable mathematical advancements and, in 1918, became one of the
youngest Fellows of the Royal Society of London—an esteemed recognition of his
exceptional contributions.
His "Lost Notebook," discovered after his passing, contained invaluable insights into q-
series, modular forms, and mock theta functions, which continue to be a subject of study
for mathematicians today. The famous Ramanujan-Hardy number (1729), also known as
the "taxicab number," became widely known due to his remarkable numerical intuition.
Ramanujan’s legacy continues to inspire mathematicians worldwide, and in his honor,
December 22nd is observed as National Mathematics Day in India.
