Dharacharya biography of michael

8th century Indian mathematician

This article is about the mathematician. For the Saka ruler, see Sridharavarman.

Śrīdhara or Śrīdharācārya (8th–9th century) was an Indian mathematician, known for two extant treatises about arithmetic and practical mathematics, Pāṭīgaṇita and Pāṭīgaṇita-sāra, and a now-lost treatise about algebra, Bījagaṇita.

Life

Very little is known about Śrīdhara's life beyond mentions of his mathematical work by later mathematicians and the content of his extant treatises, which do not contain biographical details such as his parents, teachers, or birthplace.

Various scholars have suggested he came from the Bengal region or from South India.^[2] Based on example problems in his works mentioning Shiva, and a dedication in Pāṭīgaṇita-sāra, he was probably a Shaivite Hindu.

He was mentioned by Bhāskara II (12th century), and made apparent reference to Brahmagupta (7th century).

Govindasvāmin (9th century) quoted a passage al