![]() ![]() Considering that ritualistic fire altar designs were not changed over a period of time and that the shastras were recited for several millennia before being written down, the rishis must have had a method to calculate the square root of the number two and the value of pi, without which they would not be able to determine whether the three altars had the same area or not. For example, three types of fire altars, garhapatya, ahavaniya and dakshina are mentioned in the Rig Veda but defined in the Shatapatha Brâhmana as being square, circular and semi circular, respectively, and also having the same area. #The magic circle of infinity full#The Rig Veda is full of references to words in rituals whose definitions we find in subsequent Brahmanas and in the Sulba Sutra to be pointing to geometrical figures. ![]() This also presupposes the knowledge of dividing a given angle into equal parts. The fixing of spokes of odd or even numbers require knowledge of dividing the area of the circle into the desired numbers of small parts of equal area, by drawing diameters. The proficiency in chariot building presupposes a good deal of knowledge of geometry. ![]() Who was the measurer prama? What was the model pratimâ? What were the building materials for things offered nidânam ãjyam? What is the circumference (of this universe) paridhih? What are the meters or harmonies behind the Universe chandah? What is the triangle (yoke) praugam ? Īll these Sanskrit words (ie: prama) are geometrical terms which also occur later in the Sulbasutra (where they are also defined).Ĭhariots are described in great detail in many different verses in the Rig Veda and Yajur Veda. The following verse in the Rig Veda deals with the formation of the universe. For example, descriptions of constructions were limited in precision whereas descriptions of astronomical phenomena were described in greater precision. Further, the depth of precision was based on the requirements of the task or study being described. Furthermore, the rishis had knowledge of the concept of precision, and this is evident from various descriptions of applications and use of geometry. However, unlike modern geometry, the emphasis was not on proofs but on usage. Geometry is used throughout the Rig Veda. Some of them relate to the broader field of mathematics, of which a subset is described here. ![]() The Rig Veda is the oldest of the Vedas and contains a wealth of knowledge on a variety of subjects. So Vedic evidence is primarily indirect, and is more of an indicator of the kind of concepts that existed than a definition/explanation of those. Whether we can trace out texts is secondary, since Veda came down as an oral tradition for very long. It is unlikely that stray statements on mathematical concepts like progressions, concept of infinity and zero existed without mathematics as a study. Since the Vedas are not texts on mathematics but mention a lot of mathematical concepts, it could be construed that mathematics as a science also existed. Some of the hymns, which deal with cosmology, imply that the rishis were very familiar with geometry and the planning needed to construct complex objects. The knowledge of mathematics and geometry were all deemed important and worthy of formulations into mantra. This framework, in which knowledge is seen as one whole continuum, offers the basis for these statements to be interpreted in multiple ways in multiple contexts (astronomical, spiritual, terrestrial etc). They don't make distinctions between secular and sacred knowledge (as we define them today) because secular knowledge was thought to be a tool to be used to discover sacred knowledge. The Veda Samhitâ is composed of hymns to various deities and also hymns praising all forms of knowledge. ![]()
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