The world of numbers is fascinating. Mathematics, with its theories and principles, transcends far beyond arithmetic. Its influence extends into physics, chemistry, sociology, geography, and even music, art, and design. Its ideas branch out like intricate networks, connecting and enriching other fields of study. Many famous Indian mathematicians have studied these complex concepts, making groundbreaking discoveries that strengthened existing theories and paved the way for new ones.

In this article, we will introduce you to some of the most famous Indian mathematicians and their contributions. Here, you will read about the ancient pioneers like Aryabhata to modern prodigies such as Shakuntala Devi.

Famous Indian Mathematicians

Scroll down to find the list of famous Indian mathematicians who lived across ages:

1. Aryabhata

Lifespan: 476 AD to 550 AD

Aryabhata earned the title of “Father of Indian Mathematics”. His achievements in mathematics and astronomy are remarkable. He contributed to the development of the place-value system and worked with the approximation of pi.

He proposed that our planet Earth rotates on its axis. These remarkable discoveries laid a solid groundwork for future discoveries in these subjects.

To this day, his work continues to fascinate learners.

2. Brahmagupta

Lifespan: 598 AD to 668 AD

Brahmagupta’s accomplishments in mathematics are humongous. He made a significant contribution to the development of the modern-day number system by acknowledging zero as a number with its own properties.

Brahmagupta set the rules for arithmetic operations using zero, described the quadratic formula, and gave algorithms for square roots. He studied gravity and quoted it as an attractive force.

Furthermore, he wrote Brahmasphutasiddhanta, a mathematical and astronomical treatise, and Khandakhadyaka, an astronomical treatise in Sanskrit.

3. Bhaskara I

Lifespan: 600 AD to 680 AD

Bhaskara I wrote a commentary on the Aryabhatiya in 629 CE, explaining the concepts present in Aryabhata’s book. It is considered the oldest work on mathematics and astronomy in Sanskrit.

Among his many achievements, the invention of approximation formulas for the sine function, easy methods for finding squares, square roots, cubes, and cube roots of large numbers, and methods for solving linear equations are the most celebrated.

He was the first mathematician to use the Hindu-Arabic decimal method to write numbers and to discuss quadrilaterals with non-parallel and unequal sides.

4. Mahavira

Lifespan: Around 800 AD to 870 AD

Also known as Mahaviracharya, Mahavira was one of the most famous Indian mathematicians. Born in Karnataka, in the present-day city of Gulbarga, he distinguished mathematics from astrology.

He authored Ganitasarasangraha, the first book dedicated entirely to arithmetic. It contains several topics and questions that no book had covered during that time.

The book provides a detailed account of the process for finding the LCM (Lowest Common Multiple), along with basic operations, mixed problems, linear and quadratic equations, the proportion-based rule of 3, reduction of fractions, and geometric calculations.

Apart from this book, he is also known for introducing terminologies for geometric shapes, including equilateral triangle, isosceles triangle, rhombus, and semicircle.

5. Bhaskara II

Lifespan: 1114 AD to 1185 AD

Bhaskara II was a medieval Indian mathematician and astronomer renowned for his discoveries in both fields. He made several contributions in arithmetic, algebra, and trigonometry.

Bhaskara II discovered principles of differential calculus and the systematic use of the decimal system. He also defined astronomical quantities, such as the equation of the moon and the length of a sidereal year.

Lilavati and Bijaganita are his two notable works on algebra and trigonometry.

6. Madhava of Sangamgrama

Lifespan: 1340 AD to 1425 AD

The founder of the Kerala School of Astronomy and Mathematics, Madhava of Sangamgrama, was one of the most famous Indian mathematicians of medieval India.

The author of Golavada, Madhyamanayanaprakara, Lagnaprakarana, Mahajyanayanaprakara, and other noted works, he created the groundwork for calculus in his Madhava series.

He is also known for expansions of the trigonometric sine, cosine, and arctangent functions, the discovery of power series, and infinite series summation formulae for pi.

7. Srinivasa Ramanujan

Lifespan: 1887 to 1920

Srinivasa Ramanujan was a self-taught, modern-era mathematician, known for his work in number theory, mathematical analysis, continued fractions, and infinite series.

His work gained greater recognition when the British mathematician G.H. Hardy recognized his talent. He continued making significant contributions that shaped modern mathematics. He developed nearly four thousand formulas, many of which are still studied and applied today in fields such as black hole physics and string theory.

8. P.C. Mahalanobis

Lifespan: 1893 to 1972

Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis was a renowned scientist and statistician. The founder of the Indian Statistical Institute, he made several notable contributions throughout his career. He developed a key statistical measure, the Mahalanobis distance, and presented fractile graphical analysis.

Renowned as the Father of Indian Statistics, P.C. Mahalanobis used his statistical expertise to shape economic policies while serving on India’s Planning Commission (1955-1967).

To honor his contributions, India celebrates his birthday on June 29 as National Statistics Day every year.

9. C.R. Rao

Lifespan: 1920 to 2019

Prof. Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao was a renowned Indian-American mathematician and statistician. His key discoveries include Rao Distance, Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA), Rao’s Quadratic Entropy, Rao-Blackwell theorem, Fisher-Rao theorem, and Cramer-Rao bound.

A recipient of 38 honorary doctoral degrees from universities across 19 nations and several awards and honors to his credit, he wrote 50 books and over 400 journal articles during the course of his career. He also received the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan awards for his unparalleled contributions to mathematics and statistics.

10. Shakuntala Devi

Lifespan: 1929 to 2013

A mathematician, astrologer, and writer, Shakuntala Devi wore many hats. Her extraordinary mental abilities got her the title “Human Computer”.

She could solve complex mathematical problems in seconds without a calculator. She held the Guinness World Record for fast mental calculations.

Devi authored several books on mathematics, astrology, puzzles, and homosexuality.

The bottom line

These famous Indian mathematicians and their contributions have shaped modern science and mathematics. Their work established the foundations for several key concepts in algebra, arithmetic, geometry, and astronomy.

Their discoveries continue to influence contemporary research and inspire new theories across fields ranging from mathematics to physics, astronomy, cosmology, and beyond.