________________
(130) Nandanavana
zero
100 BC
100 CE
200 CE
400-500 CE
428 CE
478, 550,
650, 850 CE
Zero, Alphabet. /Digital, 0
Word Numeral
0 **
Blank space,
0
0
Jain Education International
0
0
14
Satyaprakasha has also shown his confidence on the following three points related with mathematics on the basis of tradition rather than historical or epigraphic references:
(a) The Indians were the first to give the concept of numerals based on decimal system
(b) The Indians were the first to give the concept and symbol of
ADS
Bakhshali manuscript Yativṛṣabha
Mankuar epi. inscr. Aryabhata,
Subandhu,
Brahmagupta,
Mahāvīra
(c) The Indians were the first to give the concept of place value notation and also logarithm
(d) The Indians, specially the Jainas, were the first to give the concept of logarithm to the base of 2, 3 and 4.
32
He has supported his contention on the basis of extensive calculations and large numbers found in the older texts. There are two limits of numeration varying between zero and infinity. The sign, o, for Sünya might have developed from the vowel Au in Aum pronounced with open lips whose shape represents current 0 (zero). It is also denoted by "Kha" (space) in Sanskṛta leading to its circular or elliptical shape. It represents an infinitesimal quantity almost equivalent to zero. It also represents atomic size (Parimandala). It might be guessed that zero was first given a sign of point or dot (.) changing later to a round circle. Besides, "Kha", " Aum" also stands for infinitesimal whose pronunciation might have given it a circular sign, 0.
It must be said to be a great discovery to use zero symbol for expressing the value of a numeral with its place value. It must have been thought that zero represents not only infinitesimal but infinite also as it represents Brahma or cosmic space. Hence, its value may be
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