Aryabhata: One of the greatest figures in ancient Indian mathematics and astronomy

Around 476 AD, the Gupta rule was going on in ancient India. At that time, there came to the world a wise man, whose light of knowledge blossomed the special branches of mathematics and astronomy at that time. His name is Aryabhata. Aryabhata’s name is bound to appear directly or indirectly in ancient scriptures when discussing astronomy or mathematics. Various mathematical rules and formulas discovered by Aryabhata are being used since ancient times and even today.

Early Life

Not much information is available about Aryabhata’s personal life. There are many disagreements about his birthplace. Some claim Aryabhata’s birthplace as Patliputra, others Kusumpur. According to one of Aryabhata’s commentators Pratham Bhaskar, Aryabhata was born in a place called Ashmaka. Today it is identified as a place around South Gujarat and North Maharashtra. However, many researchers agree that he was born somewhere in present-day Kerala. The time of birth is fixed in one of his writings. He wrote that he was 23 years old during the three Yugapadas and Shatayugas. According to astrology, he was born in 476 AD.