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(128) : Nandanavana
non-distinctive meditation or "trance" of Sāṁkhya-Yoga system. Here, the meaning of " Sünya" is non-distinction. It is through this form of meditation that the individual attains the highest goal of lifesalvation from the cycles of birth and death. . 2.5 Mathematics or Computational Sciences: All the above contextual meanings of " Śünya" are mostly qualitative in character. However, it has quantitative value also for mathematicians because of the development of place value notation system. It is used in botharithmetic and algebra with different indications. This has been dealt with later 3. Humanities: Literary Zero ?: The philosophical zero entered into the literary field in many drama and poetic works. The stars were said to be shining like zero dots. The zero was also referred to as to mean depth as in "the thoughts of the beloved are as deep as zero." The noted poet Bihārī points out the beautifying value of zero dots on the foreheads of women. Here, zero means dark voids or dots. 4. History of Computational Zero": Table 1 suggests that the countries of ancient cultures like Greece, Egypt, China and Mayans did not need computational zero because of their rod, dot and bar, pictographic or word numeration systems under decimal or vigesimal schemes. However, they had the mathematical zero with a symbol of varied type and of current oval-shaped zero at later periods from fourth century CE onwards when mathematics made heavy progress. The old Babylonian tablets indicate the idea of zero with symbols of blank space, punctuation mark, slanted wedge-shape and anglebracketed sign between 500-64 B. C. as is clear from Table 1. Similarly, the Indus valley seals (app. 3000 BC) have (.) and o (dot and small circle ) signs indicative of indirect concept of zero as a numeral though some scholars do not agree with this view. However, the term " Śūnya" appears in many texts starting from Vedic period onwards with large numbers up to 10 250 br more and place value notation (app. 200 BC). The word and alphabetical numerals involving zero appear from 300 BC onwards while the digital signs get improved as they are today. Many symbols for zero are found in texts of varying periods showing a long transition period for latest
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