Siddhanta Siromani. A Treatise on Astronomy by Bhaskaracharya

Bhaskara was one of the many outstanding mathematicians hailing from South India. Born in 1114 CE in Karnataka, he composed a four-part text entitled the Siddhanta Siromani. Included in this compilation is the Bijaganita, which became the standard algebra textbook in Sanskrit. It contains descriptions of advanced mathematical techniques involving both positive and negative integers as well as zero, irrational numbe It treats at length the “pulverizer” (kuttakara) method of solving indeterminate equations with continued fractions, as well as the so-called “Pell’s equation (vargaprakrti) dealing with indeterminate equations of the second degree. He also wrote on the solution to numerous kinds of linear and quadratic equations, including those involving multiple unknowns, and equations involving the product of different unknowns. In short, he wrote a highly sophisticated mathematical text that preceded by several centuries the development of such techniques in Europe, although it would be better to term this a rediscovery, since much of the Renaissance advances of mathematics in Europe was based upon the discovery of Arab mathematical texts, which were in turn highly influenced by these Indian traditions.