ALGORITHMIC APPROACH IN ANCIENT INDIAN MATHEMATICS AND ASTRONOMY

Abstract

Ganita (Indian Mathematics) is the science of computation. Indian Mathematical Texts are compendium of rules for effective methods of computation. These methods are encoded in the form of verses which are predominantly algorithmic in nature. A couple of fascinating algorithms that are representative of Indian mathematical traditions are discussed in this article. Beginning from the algorithm to find the square, square root, cube roots devised by Aryabhata, Bhaskara and Brahmagupta. Then we have a look at algorithm for finding the time from shadow of an instrument called “sanku” and algorithms to find the cardinal directions using the same instrument sanku.