Aryabhata (b. 476 A.D.) occupies a prestigious position in the history of Indian astronomy and mathematics. In view of his important contributions, particularly to astronomy, he has been rightly regarded as the founder of scientific astronomy in India. His works, namely, the Aryabhatiya, which is available in its original form, and the Aryabhata-siddhanta which was epitomised by Brahmagupta in his Khanda-khadyaka, were hailed as works par excellence. The 1500th birth anniversary of the great astronomer and mathematician is being celebrated from November 2-4, 1976 under the auspices of the National Commission for the Compilation of History of Sciences in India set up by the Indian National Science Academy. The Academy is grateful to the esteemed Prime Minister of India, Shrimati Indira Gandhi, for graciously agreeing to inaugurate the celebration on November 2, 1976.
In commemoration of this occasion, the Indian National Science Academy is releasing the critical edition of the Aryabhatiya in three parts:
Part I: Text with English translation, notes and comments, along with introduction and appendices.
Part II: Text with the commentary of Bhāskara I and Somesvara, along with introduction and appendices.
Part III: Text with the commentary of Sūryadeva Yajvan, along with introduction and appendices.
It is hoped that these volumes will serve as books of reference to scholars interested in the field. On behalf of the Indian National Science Academy, I offer my sincere thanks to Drs K. S. Shukla and K.V. Sarma for their scholarly and painstaking work in preparing these volumes for the Academy.
New Delhi,
15-10-1976
