Publisher’s Note

It is with pride and pleasure that the Indian Institute of Astronomical & Sanskrit Research brings out its second monumental work ‘Brāhma Sphuṭa Siddhānta’. The Institute, set up on the 22nd November, 1957, with the object of promoting research into ancient Indian manuscripts on Astronomy and allied Sciences, started its programme of publication with the preparation of a critical edition of Vateshwara Siddhānta running into more than 700 pages. It was far back in early forties that the idea of reviving the treasures of knowledge hidden in ancient manuscripts came to my mind. In 1945 I could succeed in editing and publishing ‘Trailokya Prakāśa’ of Acharya Hema Prabha Sūri.

Ālbruni Persian scholar (973–1050 AD)’s Travel Accounts of India contain a reference to Vateshwara Siddhānta and this fact was responsible for prompting me to arrange publication of Vateshwar Siddhanta. It was rather difficult to search out this manuscript and the clue given by Mahamahopadhyaya Sudhākar Dwivedi (a great Mathematician and Astronomer of 19th century) that the manuscript was available in Gwalior did not lead me to any results. I kept my search on and found a copy of this text in the collection of manuscripts inherited by a Brahman widow of Gujranwala District in west Pakistan. The same style of copy was later seen by me in the Panjab University Library at Lahore.

Vateshwarāchārya, the great writer of Vateshwara Siddhānta, has criticised Brāhma Sphuṭa Siddhānta of Brahma Gupta, in his work. This naturally aroused my curiosity to procure and publish Brahma Sphuṭa Siddhānta so as to provide right perspective to the students of ancient Indian Scientific literature. Moreover, in one of my discussions with the late Dr. K. S. Krishnan, Director, National Physical Laboratories, New Delhi, he referred to Dr. Colebrook (a German Writer) as having translated into English two chapters of ‘Brāhma Sphuṭa Siddhānta’, namely, Vyakta (Arithmetic) and Ayakta (Algebra). The late Dr. Krishnan showed keen interest in this manuscript and encouraged me in taking up preparation of a critical edition of this text. The Institute is grateful to the Govt. of India (Department of Cultural Affairs) for meeting part of the expenditure on this publication and thereby enabling us to complete our task.

I shall be failing in my duty if I do not mention the great and invaluable contribution made for the success of the Institute by its founder President the late Shri Brijlal Nehru. It was under his able guidance that the Institute started functioning and its various programmes were finalised. His passing away has been a big and irreparable loss to us. The Institute will keep his memories always alive by following his ideals and by executing with zeal the programmes inspired by him.