The Bhūtasaṃkhyā system is a method of recording numbers in Sanskrit using common nouns having connotations of numerical values. The method was introduced already in astronomical texts in antiquity, but it was expanded and developed during the medieval period.[1][2][3] A kind of rebus system, bhūtasaṃkhyā has also been called the "concrete number notation".[4]
For example, the number "two" was associated with the word "eye" as every human being has two eyes. Thus every Sanskrit word having the meaning "eye" was used to denote "two". All words synonymous with the meaning "earth" could be used to signify the number "one" as there is only one earth, etc.
In the more expansive examples of application, concepts, ideas and objects from all parts of the Sanskrit lexicon were harvested to generate number-connoting words, resulting in a kind of kenning system for numbers. Thus, every Sanskrit word indicating an "arrow" has been used to denote "five" as Kamadeva, the Hindu deity of love, is traditionally depicted as a warrior carrying five arrows of flowers. The term anuṣṭubh has been used to signify "eight" as it is the name of a meter with eight syllables in a foot.[1] Any Sanskrit word for "tooth" could be used to denote 32 as a grown-up man has a full set of 32 teeth. Terms implying "the gods" were used to indicate 33, as there is a tradition of "thirty-three gods" (trāyastriṃśadeva) in certain Hindu and Buddhist texts.[5] A potential user of the system had a multitude of words to choose from for denoting the same number. The mapping from "words" to "numbers" is many-to-one. This has facilitated the embedding of numbers in verses in Indian treatises on mathematics and astronomy. This helped in memorising large tables of numbers required by astronomers and astrologers.[1]
Single words indicating smaller numbers were strung together to form phrases and sentences for representing arbitrary large numbers. This formation of large numbers was accomplished by incorporating the decimal place value system into the scheme, where digits are named in ascending order. As an example, in an 18th-century inscription from Kalna, a year is given as bāṇa-vyoma-dharādhar-indu-gaṇite śāke which means "In the Śāka year enumerated by arrow [5], sky [0], mountain [7] and moon [1]", that is, "Śāka 5-0-7-1" = Śāka 1705 = AD 1783.[6]
The earliest evidence of this system is found in Yavanajataka, a versification of a Greek astronomical text dated to the early centuries CE.[7] Limited use of Bhutasamkhya is seen in some Puranas, for example Bhagavata Mahatmya of Padma Purana (6.66) uses the word 'nagaaha to refer to "seven days",[8] i.e. naga "mountain" is used as a synonym of "seven" (because of the "seven principal mountains" or kula-giri), an usage already found in medieval recensions of the Surya Siddhanta. It is found throughout the Indian Buddhist Kalacakra Tantra literature.
^ abcD.C. Sircar (1965). Indian Epigraphy (1 ed.). Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited. pp. 228–234. ISBN81-208-1166-6.
^David Pingree (September 22, 2003). "The logic of non-Western science: mathematical discoveries in medieval India". Daedalus. 132 (4). American Academy of Arts & Sciences: 45–53. doi:10.1162/001152603771338779. JSTOR 20027880. S2CID 57559157.
^Kim Plofker (2007). "Mathematics in India". In Victor J Katz (ed.). The mathematics of Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, India, and Islam: a sourcebook. Princeton University Press. pp. 420–421. ISBN978-0-691-11485-9.
^Beginning with Atharvaveda 10.7 ("(Skambha) in whose body are contained all three-and-thirty Deities"), with references in various Upanishadic, Puranic and Sutra texts.
^Richard Solomon (1998). Indian epigraphy: a guide to the study of inscriptions in Sanskrit, Prakrit and other Indo-Aryan languages. Oxford University Press. p. 173. ISBN978-0-19-509984-3.
^David Pingree (1978). The Yavanajātaka of Sphujidhvaja. Harvard Oriental Series. Vol. 48 (2 vols). Harvard University Press.
^Mahatmya, Bhagavata (8 July 2021). "Bhagavata Mahatmya" (PDF). (PDF) from the original on 2021-07-09.
External linksedit
Bhūtasaṅkhyā, a Bhūtasaṅkhyā encoding-decoding system
Further readingedit
For a list of words commonly used for the representation of numbers in bhūtasaṃkhyā system see:
Terdalkar, Hrishikesh. "Bhūtasaṅkhyā". Sanskrit Activities at IIT Kanpur. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
D.C. Sircar (1965). Indian Epigraphy (1 ed.). Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited. pp. 228–234. ISBN81-208-1166-6.
P. V. Kane (1968). History of Dharmaśāstra Volume 5 part 1. pp. 701–703.
C. P. Brown (1869). Sanskrit Prosody and Numerical Symbols Explained. pp. 49–54.
bhutasamkhya, system, bhūtasaṃkhyā, system, method, recording, numbers, sanskrit, using, common, nouns, having, connotations, numerical, values, method, introduced, already, astronomical, texts, antiquity, expanded, developed, during, medieval, period, kind, r. The Bhutasaṃkhya system is a method of recording numbers in Sanskrit using common nouns having connotations of numerical values The method was introduced already in astronomical texts in antiquity but it was expanded and developed during the medieval period 1 2 3 A kind of rebus system bhutasaṃkhya has also been called the concrete number notation 4 For example the number two was associated with the word eye as every human being has two eyes Thus every Sanskrit word having the meaning eye was used to denote two All words synonymous with the meaning earth could be used to signify the number one as there is only one earth etc In the more expansive examples of application concepts ideas and objects from all parts of the Sanskrit lexicon were harvested to generate number connoting words resulting in a kind of kenning system for numbers Thus every Sanskrit word indicating an arrow has been used to denote five as Kamadeva the Hindu deity of love is traditionally depicted as a warrior carrying five arrows of flowers The term anuṣṭubh has been used to signify eight as it is the name of a meter with eight syllables in a foot 1 Any Sanskrit word for tooth could be used to denote 32 as a grown up man has a full set of 32 teeth Terms implying the gods were used to indicate 33 as there is a tradition of thirty three gods trayastriṃsadeva in certain Hindu and Buddhist texts 5 A potential user of the system had a multitude of words to choose from for denoting the same number The mapping from words to numbers is many to one This has facilitated the embedding of numbers in verses in Indian treatises on mathematics and astronomy This helped in memorising large tables of numbers required by astronomers and astrologers 1 Single words indicating smaller numbers were strung together to form phrases and sentences for representing arbitrary large numbers This formation of large numbers was accomplished by incorporating the decimal place value system into the scheme where digits are named in ascending order As an example in an 18th century inscription from Kalna a year is given as baṇa vyoma dharadhar indu gaṇite sake which means In the Saka year enumerated by arrow 5 sky 0 mountain 7 and moon 1 that is Saka 5 0 7 1 Saka 1705 AD 1783 6 The earliest evidence of this system is found in Yavanajataka a versification of a Greek astronomical text dated to the early centuries CE 7 Limited use of Bhutasamkhya is seen in some Puranas for example Bhagavata Mahatmya of Padma Purana 6 66 uses the word nagaaha to refer to seven days 8 i e naga mountain is used as a synonym of seven because of the seven principal mountains or kula giri an usage already found in medieval recensions of the Surya Siddhanta It is found throughout the Indian Buddhist Kalacakra Tantra literature Contents 1 See also 2 References 3 External links 4 Further readingSee also editAksharapalli Aryabhaṭa numeration Katapayadi systemReferences edit a b c D C Sircar 1965 Indian Epigraphy 1 ed Delhi Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited pp 228 234 ISBN 81 208 1166 6 David Pingree September 22 2003 The logic of non Western science mathematical discoveries in medieval India Daedalus 132 4 American Academy of Arts amp Sciences 45 53 doi 10 1162 001152603771338779 JSTOR 20027880 S2CID 57559157 Kim Plofker 2009 Mathematics in India 500 BCE 1800 CE Princeton NJ Princeton University Press pp 47 48 ISBN 978 0 691 12067 6 Kim Plofker 2007 Mathematics in India In Victor J Katz ed The mathematics of Egypt Mesopotamia China India and Islam a sourcebook Princeton University Press pp 420 421 ISBN 978 0 691 11485 9 Beginning with Atharvaveda 10 7 Skambha in whose body are contained all three and thirty Deities with references in various Upanishadic Puranic and Sutra texts Richard Solomon 1998 Indian epigraphy a guide to the study of inscriptions in Sanskrit Prakrit and other Indo Aryan languages Oxford University Press p 173 ISBN 978 0 19 509984 3 David Pingree 1978 The Yavanajataka of Sphujidhvaja Harvard Oriental Series Vol 48 2 vols Harvard University Press Mahatmya Bhagavata 8 July 2021 Bhagavata Mahatmya PDF Archived PDF from the original on 2021 07 09 External links editBhutasaṅkhya a Bhutasaṅkhya encoding decoding systemFurther reading editFor a list of words commonly used for the representation of numbers in bhutasaṃkhya system see Terdalkar Hrishikesh Bhutasaṅkhya Sanskrit Activities at IIT Kanpur Retrieved January 2 2023 D C Sircar 1965 Indian Epigraphy 1 ed Delhi Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited pp 228 234 ISBN 81 208 1166 6 P V Kane 1968 History of Dharmasastra Volume 5 part 1 pp 701 703 C P Brown 1869 Sanskrit Prosody and Numerical Symbols Explained pp 49 54 Related Video 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bhutasamkhya system amp oldid 1197824939, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
