National seminar at SASTRA explores Brahmagupta’s mathematical legacy

Trichy: The School of Arts, Science, Humanities and Education at SASTRA University hosted a national seminar on "Brahmasphuta Ideology – Challenges in Interpreting Astronomical and Mathematical Terms" at its Thanjavur campus, bringing together scholars to explore the contributions of ancient Indian mathematician and astronomer Brahmagupta.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr Sundareswaran, professor of Sanskrit at the University of Calicut, traced the significance of Indian mathematical traditions through a lecture titled "Overview of Works on Astronomy and Mathematics in Sanskrit with Special Reference to Brahmasphuta." He emphasized how Brahmagupta's theories, particularly the Brāhmasphuṭasiddhānta, laid the groundwork for understanding planetary motion, astronomical phenomena, and trigonometry, asserting that Indian mathematics formed the basis of several global advancements in the field.
The seminar continued with Dr G Rajarajeswari presenting a brief analysis of Brahmagupta's cosmological concepts, while Dr Sita Sundar Ram, senior researcher at the Kuppuswamy Research Centre, examined his algebraic innovation known as Bhavana, or the Rule of Composition. G Sriram, a research scholar from IIT Chennai, explored the Kuṭṭakādhyāya section of Brahmagupta's work and its interpretation by the commentator Pr̥thūdaka through the Vāsanābhāṣya.
Dr Sripada Bhat discussed the influence of Brahmagupta on later mathematicians, particularly Bhaskara II, highlighting the continuity and evolution of mathematical thought in India. Renowned Sanskrit scholar Dr S Lakshmi offered insights into Brahmagupta's contributions to number theory, algebra, and geometry. The seminar concluded with Dr Sridharan's lecture on eclipse calculation methods outlined in the Brāhmasphuṭasiddhānta, further illustrating the depth and precision of Brahmagupta's astronomical work.