Brahmagupta is a renowned astronomer and mathematician of the seventh century. It was he who taught the Arabs astronomy before they became acquainted with Ptolemy.
Brahmagupta was born in Ujjain, India in 598 AD.
Brahmagupta worked in the great astronomical center of Hindu science, Ujjain, a town in the state o Gwalior, Central India, said to have been the vice-regal seat of Asoka during his father reign at Patna.
His famous text Brahmasphutasiddhanta (The opening of the universe). Brahmasphutasiddhanta is Brahmagupta most important work. It is a standard treatise on ancient India astronomy.
Brahmasphutasiddhanta composed in 628 Ad contains twenty five chapters including Dhyanagrahopadesadhyaya, is also observed by Al-Biruni – Muslim scholar and polymath of the 11th century.
The first 10 chapters pertain solely to astronomy, discussing the longitude of the planets, lunar and solar and solar eclipses and the timing alignments.
Chapter 7 is on mathematics. It deals with elementary arithmetic, algebra and geometry.
Brahmagupta goes on to describe the decimal place value system use in India. He permits zero as a valid number in all of his computations.
Brahmagupta genius made use of mathematics in providing better astronomical methods.
George Sarton, the founder of the disciple of historian of science called him ‘one of the greatest scientist of his race and the greatest of his time’.
He died in 665 AD
Brahmagupta
