Personal research on

Brahmasphutasiddhanta
Sudhakara Dvivedl in his Ganaka Tarangini, a small book on
biographical skethes of astronomers and astrologers of this
country gives a brief account of Brahmagupta thus :
Brahmagupta was born in 520 Saka (655 Vikrami or 589
A.D.) in the reign of King Vyaghramukha, belonging to the Capa
family ; his father was Jispugupta ; and at the age of 30, he wrote
in 550 8aka (628 A. D.) his well-known treatise on Astronomy
known as the Brahmasphutasiddhanta, which is corroborated by
the statement in the Vismudharmottara Purana, (Chapter on the
Brahma-siddlonta), His other treatise, entitled the Khavda-
Khadyaka, which is a karana book, was completed in 587 8aka (665 A.
D.). According to some authorities, Brahmagupta was the
grandson of Visnugupta, and the family suffix (Gupta) indicated
that he belonged to the Vaigya family, and he was in the service of
the King of Rewah, known as Vyaghrabhata.

Brahmagupta was a great critic ; he did not spare any of his

predecessors like Aryabhata, Varahamihira, risena, Visnucandra
and others. Later on, his influence on the writing of the succeeding
generations has been immense. Bhaskaracarya II in his Bijagaztita
has acknowledged him as a great authority on algebra and has
given him as the first place amongst the galaxy consisting of
Brahmagupta, 8tidhara, Padmanabha etc. The Eighteenth Chapter
of the Brahmasphutasiddhanta, known as Kuttaka Chapter (on
Pulveriser) has been translated by H. T. Colebrooke in English
in. 1817. The English translation of the Twelfth Chapter on
Ganita, or Calculations from the Brahmasphutasiddhanta is also
available in English. (See Colebrook's Algebra with Arithmetic and
Mensuration from the Sanskrit of Brahmagupta and Bhaskara,
London, 1817)1

The Vasana Commentary on the Brahmasphutasiddhanta by

Prthudakasvami (E60 A. D.) is also available though with difficulty
(as indicated by Sudhakara Dvivedi) ; its incorrect manus-
-cript is available in the Library of the King of Banaras
which has the colophony at the end as :

Bhaskara II has written the famous treaties Siddhantaaromatti

(1150), which is almost based on the Brahmasphutasiddhanta. It
has been edited by the author's own gloss (Vasanablia5ya) by
Bapu Deva astri (Varanasi) ; by Murlidhar jha with the com-
mentaries, V asczn -avarttika of Ntsithha (1621) and Marici of
MUniivara (1635), vol. I (containing chapter 1 of the Gemitiidhy-
aya) (Varanasi, 1917); by Girija Prasad Dvivedi with original
commentaries in Sanskrit and Hindi, vols. I and II (Lucknow,
1911, 1926); English translation of the text only by Bapu Deva
Sastri and Wilkinson (Calcutta, 1861).
In the very first Chapter (verse 2), Brahmagupta writes
The old calculations dealing with planets (i.e. the old astronomy),
based on the system of Brahma have become erroneous in course
of past ages and therefore, I, the son of jisnugupta would like to
clarify them.
Brahmagupta was not a mere theorist, he based his calcula-
tions on direct observations with the help of instruments or
devices (nalikadi vantra); he was in favour of making correc-
tions on the basis of these observations. He was himself an
expert observer. In his Khazglakhadyaka also he has emphasized
the need of direct observation.
At many places, Brahmagupta has severely criticized the
Romaka and Pauliga systems of astronomy which were introduced
in this country by Latadeva and 8risep.a, there are many
passages where this criticism would be available with vehe-
mance.
Brhamagupta was opposed to the system of Aryabhata I.
He never spares the school of Aryabhata which was regarded as
the most authoritative then. Sudhakara Dvivedi says that as
Brahmagupta was opposed to the system of Aryabhata, so the
Vateivara Siddhanta was opposed to that of Brahmagupta, The
Institute has already published the V ateivara Siddhanta and now
'it has the privilege of publishing the Brahmasphutasicicliteinta.