Nalanda Virtual University

India has a vast heritage of knowledge. It is being widely acknowledged today that many of the Revered Risis of Bharat had discovered many scientific truths and principles, centuries before Western world rediscovered them, the vast treasure of knowledge incompasses sevaral fields such as:
(a) Mathematics (aanita)
(b) Astronomy (Joythisastra)
(c) Health Science (Ayurveda)
(d) Astrology (Joythisha)
(e) Agriculture (krishi Vijyan)
(f ) Metallurgy (Dhatu Sastra)
(g) knowledge of Universe ( Prapancha Vijyan)

The finding are scattered over numerous writings from vedic period to 20th century A.D. Indian contribution probably provided the spring board for modern science. Many celebrated works of Indian authors have been translated into sevaral languages of Asia and Europe. Large number of writings were lost due to neglect, theft etc. We come to know about those works only through references in other books. Vedas and Vedangas provide us glimpses of the rich scientific heritage of India. Here, we shall attempt to make a brief survey of the developement of mathematics in India. The statements of theorems and algorithms are written in Sanskrit language which itself has undergone substantial changes in style and from over a long period of time. Wherever possible we shall quote the Sanskrit versions and try to explain their meanings for the benifit of the students.