BHASKARACHARYA II (1114-1183 CE)
GENIUS IN ALGEBRA
Born
in the obscure village of Vijjadit (Jalgaon) in Maharastra,
Bhaskaracharya's work in Algebra, Arithmetic and Geometry catapulted him
to fame and immortality. His renowned mathematical works called
"Lilavati" and "Bijaganita" are considered to be unparalled and a
memorial to his profound intelligence. Its translation in several
languages of the world bear testimony to its eminence. In his treatise "
Siddhant Shiromani " he writes on planetary positions, eclipses,
cosmography, mathematical techniques and astronomical equipment. In the "
Surya Siddhant " he makes a note on the force of gravity: "Objects fall
on earth due to a force of attraction by the earth. Therefore, the
earth, planets, constellations, moon, and sun are held in orbit due to
this attraction." Bhaskaracharya was the first to discover gravity, 500
years before Sir Isaac Newton . He was the champion among mathematicians
of ancient and medieval India . His works fired the imagination of
Persian and European scholars, who through research on his works earned
fame and popularity.
