Sambodhi 2000 Vol 23

Author(s): Jitendra B Shah, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 13

DR. N. M. KANSARA
SAMBODHI there are sixteen sūtras, sixteen aphorisms in all, and the general name 'ganita' mathematics is given to the subject.''12 In the same talk he said :
And then fourthly, in the Atharvaveda we have what is called the Sthāpatyaveda which is the Sanskrit term for a combination of sciences starting with mathematics and all its branches without a single exception going on to the application of mathematics in various other departments, including architecture, engineering, and so forth."'13 According to him, there are four Upavedas, viz., Ayurveda, Dhanurveda, Gandharvaveda and Sthāpatyaveda, connected with the Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda, respectively.14 Under the sub-topic "Ganita Sūtras",15 BKTM has given the following details : "One particular portion of the Athervaveda is called the Ganitasutras. They are also called the Sulba-sūtras, and there are sixteen, aphorisms in all. In this connection, he referred to Professor Colebrooke, and quoted him as having said to the effect that he was unable to understand what the contents of those sūtras are, and what connection those sūtras have with mathematics, and that he did not understand those sutras; that it was unilleligible to him, it was beyond him. He has further informed us that coming to the same passage, the same portion of the Atharvaveda, Horece Hayman Wilson remarked "this is all nonsense”, and that R. T. Griffith said it was "utter nonsense'' 16 We are further informed by BKTM that the above remarks of Colebrooke, Wilson and Griffith put him on the track, since he thought that there must be something in the subject which was being discussed with so much earnestness and which the commentators were trying to understand but could make nothing out of. So he went on with his simple idea that there was some meaning. The meaning may be all absolutely wrong, but to dismiss something off hand as nonsense because it is not understandable, was not correct.17
Sanskrit has a certain peculiarity about it, that the same passage very often deals with a different subject and is capable of yielding different meanings relating to different subjects. For example, there is a hymn of praise addressed to Sri Krsna. 18 This verse also gives the value of 1/10 to thirtytwo decimal places. The literal meaning of the verse is that in the reign of King Kamsa unsanitary conditions prevailed, which has apparently nothing to do with mathematics.