pranam 3 The leap, made in India that transformed zero from a simpleplaceholder to a number in its own right indicates themathematically enlightened culture that was flourishing on thesubcontinent at a time when Europe was stuck in the dark ages.Although its reputation suffers from the Eurocentric bias, <http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/calculus-created-in-india-250-years-before-newton-study-1.632433>thesubcontinent has a strong mathematical heritage, which itcontinues into the 21st century by providing key players at the <http://m.ranker.com/list/famous-mathematicians-from-india/reference?page=1>forefront of every branch of mathematics <http://m.ranker.com/list/famous-mathematicians-from-india/reference?page=1>
. <http://m.ranker.com/list/famous-mathematicians-from-india/reference?page=1>”Christian Yates, Five Ways Ancient India Changed the World with Math. http://www.realclearscience.com/articles/2017/09/23/five_ways_ancient_india_cha <http://www.realclearscience.com/articles/2017/09/23/five_ways_ancient_india_changed_the_world_with_math_110399.html>nged_the_ world_with_math_110399.html <http://www.realclearscience.com/articles/2017/09/23/five_ways_ancient_india_changed_the_world_with_math_110399.html> *Zero and Decimals* The concept of zero is not just a numeral but also the fundamental Hindu concept of infinity or void called Shunya. The ancient Indian astronomer Brahmagupta is credited with having put forth the concept of zero and the decimal system for the first time in seventh century. The concept and symbol represented a qualitative advancement of the human capacity of abstraction which opened new dimensions in computation*Algebra* Algebra, a system of mathematics that made astronomical calculations easy was developed in India byHindu mathematicians, including Bhaskaracharya, around the 5 th century A.D. Algebra is a short-handmethod of calculation that evolved from Beej Ganita (Basic Math). Even the technique of calculation,called algorithm, which is widely used today in designing software programs (instructions) for computerswas also derived from Indian mathematics. >From the 13th century onwards, India was subject toinvasions from the Arabs and other Islamized communitieslike the Turks and Afghans. The system of mathematics theyobserved in India was adapted by them and given the name'Al-Jabr' meaning 'the reunion of broken parts'. They took itfrom an external source and amalgamated it with theirconcepts about mathematics. This is how the name Algebracame about. The technique of algebra could have passed onto the west at the time of Christian crusades. During theRenaissance in Europe, followed by the industrial revolution, the knowledge received from the east was further developed The original work of Bhaskaracharya wastranslated into English in 1816-1817. Christian Yates, Five Ways Ancient India Changed the World withMath. http://www.realclearscience.com/articles/2017/09/23/five_ways_ancient_india_changed_the_ <http://www.realclearscience.com/articles/2017/09/23/five_ways_ancient_india_changed_the_world_with_math_110399.html> world_with_math_110399.html <http://www.realclearscience.com/articles/2017/09/23/five_ways_ancient_india_changed_the_world_with_math_110399.html> *Geometry* Indian mathematicians had also developed mathematical applications called Rekha Ganita (LineComputation), later known as geometry. The Sulva Sutras , ('Rule of the Chord') provided geometricallayouts or designs, called mandalas, which were used to construct altars and temples that attractedpositive energies from nature. Later this knowledge was adapted to predict seasonal changes,astronomy, and other aspects of material life. *Algorithm* The Arab scholars studied Indian use of ratios from Rekha Ganita and adapted knowledge of algebra andother branches of Indian mathematics. These Arab adaptations later were named "Algorismi" leading to modern term "Algorithm.” As well, the ancient sage Madhava is known as the father of calculus. It’s important to note that while this diverse mathematical knowledge began with Vedic scholars seeking perfection in construction of temples and fire-alters, the knowledge went on to be used to predictseasons for agriculture, astronomy, advanced navigation and to other material applications. 4 The existence of the force of gravity is said to be known to ancient rishis for 1000s of years. Brahmagupta clearly stated that the earth attracts objects and Bhāskara even said it fixes heavenly bodies. It was much later that Newton “discovered” gravity. Physicist Fritjof Capra further explained in The Tao of Physics The Dance of Shiva symbolizes the basis of all existence. Atthe same time, Shiva reminds us that the manifold forms inthe world are not fundamental, but illusory and ever-changing. Modern physics has shown that the rhythm of creation and destruction is not only manifest in the turn of the seasons and in the birth and death of all living creatures but is also the very essence of inorganic matter. According to quantum field theory, the dance of creation and destruction is the basis of the very existence of matter. Modern physics has thus revealed that every subatomic particle not only performs an energy dance, but also is an energy dance; a pulsating process of creation and destruction. For the modern physicists then, Shiva’s dance is the dance of subatomic matter, the basis of all existence andof all natural phenomena. http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-maha-shivratri-why-cern-the-world-s-largest-particle- <http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-maha-shivratri-why-cern-the-world-s-largest-particle-physics-lab-has-a-statue-of-lord-shiva-2186655> physics-lab-has-a-statue-of-lord-shiva-2186655 <http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-maha-shivratri-why-cern-the-world-s-largest-particle-physics-lab-has-a-statue-of-lord-shiva-2186655> *CONCLUDING REMARKS* Historically, Hindu religion has been misinterpreted and misunderstood in the west because it was viewed through a western Abrahamic lens which was rooted in racism and Eurocentrism. Due to Hindu phobia (a term coined by Rajiv Malhotra, 2007, p. 63) Hindus were demonized as heathen or savage. Along with idol worship, Hindu tradition and practices were characterized as weird, immoral, erotic, or exotic. As discussed earlier, such racist ideology historically led to the genocide of Hindus, both physical and cultural. The prejudiced view of Hindu literature involved stereotyping Hindu culture along the themes of “caste, cows and curries” in western academia and media. This Hindu phobic view of Hindu religion is painful for diasporic Hindus all over the world. At the same time, Hindus have become increasingly aware of the large extent to which their cultural wealth, such as of Yoga, Ayurveda, mind sciences, math, Sanskrit, has been, and continues to be, appropriated into the western ‘vault’ of civilization, and digested as western knowledge. Hindu Heritage Month is an opportunity for everyone to become more aware of and to celebrate the enormous contribution of Hindus towards world civilization. Suggested reading: Rajiv Malhotra, 2016, Academic Hindu phobia -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZorYzQ-Cmb3ofXyAByhzPx-NagR-ZKLV42surx3oYVRJtw%40mail.gmail.com.
