08-24-2007, 07:58 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-Shambhu+Aug 22 2007, 12:36 PM-->QUOTE(Shambhu @ Aug 22 2007, 12:36 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->This may be a mistake: On slide 24, though, Aryabhatta is written in as Aryabatha in
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The correct form of his name is AryabhaTa though even in Sanskrit literature we find the occasional misspelling in the form of AryabhaTTa. The meaning of the name is less clear. Arya is of course clear. But bhaTa typically means soldier or fighter. The smR^itis also mention a bhaTa guild which is supposed to be born of an admixture of a brAhmaNa man with an actress/dancer. We have no evidence what so ever for AryabhaTa having been a soldier or having the above parentage.
Western scholars often overlook the traditional commentaries of AryabhaTa. One such is of the great mathematician nilakaNTha somayAjin (gaNita-pAda 10):
chaturadhikam shatam-ashTa-guNam dvA-ShaShTi-stathA sahasrANAm
Ayuta-dvaya-vishkambhasyAsanno vritta-pariNahaH.
This gives the approximation of PI ~ 62832/20000
nIlakaNTha comments that the word Asanno means that the value <b>approaches </b> pi and is incommensurate. This means that AryabhaTa had an idea of the irrationality of PI.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The correct form of his name is AryabhaTa though even in Sanskrit literature we find the occasional misspelling in the form of AryabhaTTa. The meaning of the name is less clear. Arya is of course clear. But bhaTa typically means soldier or fighter. The smR^itis also mention a bhaTa guild which is supposed to be born of an admixture of a brAhmaNa man with an actress/dancer. We have no evidence what so ever for AryabhaTa having been a soldier or having the above parentage.
Western scholars often overlook the traditional commentaries of AryabhaTa. One such is of the great mathematician nilakaNTha somayAjin (gaNita-pAda 10):
chaturadhikam shatam-ashTa-guNam dvA-ShaShTi-stathA sahasrANAm
Ayuta-dvaya-vishkambhasyAsanno vritta-pariNahaH.
This gives the approximation of PI ~ 62832/20000
nIlakaNTha comments that the word Asanno means that the value <b>approaches </b> pi and is incommensurate. This means that AryabhaTa had an idea of the irrationality of PI.