Aryabhata
Awards & Honours
0
Awards Won
3
Honours
3
Records
Aryabhata's achievements are measured by the lasting impact of his ideas. His calculation of pi to four decimal places, his use of the decimal system, and his correct explanation of eclipses were centuries ahead of their time. The Aryabhatiya remains a foundational text in the history of mathematics. India's first satellite and a lunar crater bear his name, a rare honor for any scientist. He is consistently ranked among the greatest mathematicians of antiquity, and his work influenced both Islamic and European science.
Honours & Distinctions
Aryabhata satellite
India's first satellite, launched April 19, 1975, named in his honor.
Aryabhata crater
Lunar crater at 6.2°S, 35.2°E, named after him.
Commemorative stamp
Stamp issued in his honor.
Records & Feats
First to state Earth's daily rotation
Aryabhata explicitly stated that the Earth rotates on its axis, causing the apparent westward movement of the stars, a concept not widely accepted for over a millennium.
Accurate pi approximation
He calculated pi as 3.1416, remarkably accurate for the 5th century.
Youngest author of a major scientific text
He completed the Aryabhatiya at age 23, a comprehensive work covering mathematics and astronomy.