ब्राह्मस्फुटसिद्धान्त (ब्रह्मगुप्त - शून्य, कुट्टक, बीजगणित एवं सम्पूर्ण २१ अध्याय सान्वय सटीक)

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 23rd
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 know-
ledge 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’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 refer-
rred 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 progr-
ammes were finalised. His passing away has been a big and irreparable
loss to us The Institute will keep his memories always alive by follow-
ing his ideals and by executing with zeal the programmes inspired by
him.