ARYABHATA

ARYABHATA was one of the first Indian mathematicians and astrologer belonging
to the classical age. He was born in 476 BC in Tarenaga, a town in Bihar India.
Aryabhata wrote many mathematical and astronomical treatises. His chief Work
was “Aryabhatiya” which was a complication of mathematics and astronomy. A
disciple by him called the “Bhaskara” names it “Ashmakatanra” meaning treatise
from the Ashmaka. This treatise is also referred to as “Arya-shatas-ashta” which
translates to “Aryabhata’s 108”. It is a very literal name because the treatise did in
fact consist of 108 verses. It covers several branches of mathematics such as
algebra, arithmetic plane and spherical trigonometry, sine tables sum of power
series. Aryabhata worked on the place value system using letters to signify
numbers and stating qualities. He introduced the concept of sine in his work
called “Ardha-jya” which is translated as “half chord”.
Aryabhata also did a considerable amount of work in astronomy. He discovered
the position of nine planets and stated that these planets revolve around the sun.
He also stated the correct number of days in a year that is 365.
The theories that he came up with at that time present a wonder to the scientific
world today. A commentary by Bhaskara I a century later on Aryabhatiya says:
“Aryabhata is the master who, after reaching the furthest shores and plumbing
the inmost depths of the sea of ultimate knowledge of mathematics, kinematics,
and spherical, handed over the three sciences to the learned world”
Aryabhata was an immense influence to mathematics and astronomy. Many of his
works inspired Arabs more particularly. His astronomical calculations helped from
the “jalili calendar”. The first Indian satellite is named after him “Aryabhata” so is
the lunar crater. An Indian research center is called “Aryabhata Research Institute
of Observational Sciences “