Preface

It is said that Bhaskaracharya, upon seeing an astrological alignment yoga: a specific combination of planets in a horoscope for early widowhood in the birth horoscope of his daughter Lilavati, did not marry her. To ensure her name would remain famous throughout the world, he composed this book on Patiganita arithmetic: literally 'mathematics of the board' in her name. Some also say that Bhaskaracharya had no children and, being very saddened by this, he composed this work in the name of his wife, Lilavati, so her name would endure for a long time. However, from a copper plate found by Dr. Bhau Daji a famous 19th-century physician and archaeologist near the Nashik region, it appears that Bhaskaracharya had sons, grandsons, and a full lineage. A copy of that copper plate is written here for the pleasure of those interested in history.

Copy of the Copper Plate

1. Salutations to the Lord of the Ganas Ganesha. [The inscription begins with prayers for] success, the nectar of the earth, and protection... from the inhabitants of the Cherevara region.

Verse— He whose intellect is formidable in the Bhatta school the Purva Mimamsa philosophy of Kumarila Bhatta, who is expert in Sankhya philosophy, and whose mind is independent in the Tantras technical scientific treatises.
He possesses faultless knowledge of the Vedas and is highly skilled in the mechanical arts and crafts. || 1 ||

He is a master of prosody the study of poetic meters, a specialist in the Vaisheshika school of philosophy, and an expert in the Prabhakara school of philosophy, appearing like the sun Prabhakara himself; a poet among poets. || 2 ||

In the three branches of the many-virtued science of mathematics and astronomy the 'three branches' or skandhatraye are Siddhanta (theory), Samhita (omens), and Hora (horoscopy), he is like the three-eyed Lord Shiva.
Glory be to Shri Bhaskaracharya, whose feet are worshipped by the learned. || 3 ||

May there be prosperity for the illustrious Yadu dynasty, together with all its possessions, in which Vishnu himself was born as a free agent to protect the universe. || 4 ||

The King, the illustrious Bhillama, was the crest-jewel of kings—a lion against the masses of fierce elephants of the thundering Gurjara army;
He was skilled in breaking the gate-like chests of the Latas, and a thorn in the hearts of the Karnatas. After him came the illustrious Jaitrapala, who took away the happiness of the husbands of the trembling and distressed women of the Andhra city. || 5 ||