440 Representation of numbers

A.1 Kat.apayādi system

The name ‘Kat.apayādi’ for this system of representing numbers stems from the fact
that here the Sanskrit alphabets ka, .ta, pa, ya etc. are used to denote the numbers.
According to this system, the vowels standing alone, represent the number zero.
However, the same vowels in conjunction with the consonants have no numerical
significance. It is only the 33 consonants k, kh, g, gh, . . . , ś, .s, s, h that are associ-
ated with the numbers. The mapping of these consonants with different numbers is
listed in Table A.1.

Number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Consonants k kh g gh ṅ c ch j jh ñ
used .t .th d
. d
.h n
. t th d dh n
to represent p ph b bh m – – – – –
numbers 3 –
y r l v ś .s s h .l
Table A.1 The Kat.apayādi system of numeration.

The following verse found in Sadratnamālā of Śaṅkaravarman (c. 1830 CE )

succinctly summarizes the system:
ñÍ
ãaÉ ZUa;nya;a;a;na .sa;*
na;Va;a;va;. a;( É +;a;aH
Ë ù k+:f;pa;ya;a;d;yaH Á
Á

;Æa;ma;(rea tUa;pa;a;nta;h;sMa;K.ya;a na . a ;a;. a;ntya;ea h;lH .~va:=H Á Á

[The letters] n, ñ and the vowels [when standing alone] denote zeros. [The consonants]
commencing from ka, .ta, pa and ya denote the numbers [1, 2, 3, . . . ] in order. In the
case of conjunct consonants (miśre tu) only the last consonant represents the number. The
vowel suffixed to a consonant should not be counted.

It is believed that this system of using alphabets to represent numbers is as old as

4th century CE. This is because the cāndravākyā, the chronograms associated with
the Moon for reading its longitudes on different days simply from a look-up table—
beginning with ‘gı̄rn.ah. śreyah.’, ‘dhenavah. śrı̄h.’ etc.—which are based on this
system, were composed by the Kerala astronomer Vararuci, who is traditionally
ascribed to the above period. In this system, as we read the chronogram and try to
decipher the coded number, it is to be borne in mind that it is the least significant
decimal place that is given first, and the highest the last. For example, take the
word āyurārogyasaukhyam . , as indicated in the table here, represents the number

ā yu rā ro gya sau khyam

0 1 2 2 1 7 1

3 This is a special character—very rarely employed in the classical Sanskrit literature—whose

representation in Devanāgari script is L Á. However, the Kerala astronomers once in a while seem
to employ this to represent the number nine. One such example using this character is presented in
Table A.2.
A.2 Bhūtasaṅkhyā system 441

1712210. In the carnatic (south Indian) system of music, the first two letters of
the name of a mel.akartā rāga indicates the rank number of its mel.akartā in the
Kat.apayādi system.4 Table A. 2 presents a few illustrative examples from the texts
on Indian mathematics and astronomy.

Word/Words Number represented

;a;va;d
õ ;a;n,a 44
tua;Ša;ba;lH 3306
k+:va;a;Za;a;na;. a;yaH 160541
.sa;va;Ra;TRa;Za;a;l+.a;~Ta:=H
////// 2735747
ñÍ
;a;na;a;vRa:;d
Äâ ;a;*:+.
ç Å na:=e+ndÒ;+:k, 22203940
.sua;ga;a;nDa;na;ga;nu
// a;t,a 30937
ñÍ
Ba;dÒ+a;*:+.
çÅÅ Ba;v.ya;a;sa;naH 714324
x +:;‘
+:na;Da;na;k 匁U ;=e+va 42410900
ñÍ ñÍ
;Da;a;ga;a;pa;a;*:+ja;L+:a;
çÅÅ *:+.~:
çÅ a;a 23983139
na;a;na;a::℄a;a;na;ta;pa;ea;Da:=H 29160000
:he ;a;va;SNa;ea ;a;na;a;h;tMa k
ïîéå
x +:t=+: a;m,a
5 1680548
l+.[ma;a;Za;a;na;a;h;ta;Dya;a;nEaH 1680553
Table A.2 A few examples of the Kat.apayādi system of representing numbers.

A.2 Bhūtasaṅkhyā system

The word Bhūtasaṅkhyā is a compound word which has two constituents, namely
bhūta and saṅkhyā—referring to a ‘being’ and a ‘number’ respectively. Thus the
compound Bhūtasaṅkhyā, which can be derived as ‘bhūtānām . saṅkhyā’, means
‘the number associated with beings’. In fact this system uses words commonly em-
ployed in Sanskrit which are widely known to be associated with specific numbers
such as:
1. The physical entities such as Earth, Sun, Moon, planets, stars, ocean, mountain,
fire, sky, direction etc.

4 For example, in the names of the rāgas ;Da;a:=+Za;ñÍ*:+=+a;Ba:=+NM a and mea;. a;k+:ya;a;Na;a—popularly referred
öÅ

to as simply Za;ñÍ*:+=+a;Ba:=+NM
öÅ a and k+:ya;a;Na;a—the first two syllables represent the numbers 29 and 65

respectively.
5
This is the first quarter of the verse with which the text Tantrasaṅgraha commences. It has
been pointed out by the commentator Śaṅkara Vāriyar that this also serves the purpose of being a
chronogram—representing the Kalyahargan . a corresponding to the date of commencement of the
the work. The next example is the third quarter of the concluding verse of Tantrasaṅgraha, which
again, as per the commentator, is the Kalyahargan . a corresponding to the date of completion of
the work. This indicates that the entire work, consisting of about 432 verses, has been composed
in just five days!
442 Representation of numbers

2. The parts of a human body such as eyes, ears, jaws, knees, hands, fingers, teeth,
nails etc.
3. The animals, such as serpent, horse, elephant etc.
4. The names of the gods, such as Śiva, Indra etc. and sometimes historical figures
such as Manu, Rāma, Jina etc.
5. The season, fortnight, month, week, etc.
These are used to denote the numbers 1, 2, 3 etc. Since all the things listed above
share the common property of ‘being’ (bhūta), this system of representation of num-
bers is called the bhūtasaṅkhyā system. Table A.3 presents a few examples of num-
bers given by Bhāskarācārya in his Siddhāntaśiroman. i using this system.

Word Number represented

çÉ
Ka;a;a;dÒ;=+a;ma;a;îå
+;a;yaH 3370
ñÍ
:vea;d;vea;d;a;*:+.
öÅ . a;ndÒ+aH 1944
:vea;d;. a;ndÒ+a;d
õ ;vea;d;a;a;b.
/ /
Da;na;a;ga;aH 544214
ñÍ ñÍ æ
Bua:ja;*:+.
çÅÅ na;nd;a;d õ ;na;ga;a;*:+.ba;a;Na;Sa:
çÅÅ öxÅ +.tea;nd;vaH
*: 146567298
Ka;a;Bra;ga;ga;na;a;ma:=e+a;nd
/ /Ò +ya;[ma;a;Da:=+a;a;dÒ+a;va;Sa;ya;aH 577533000
Table A.3 Numbers specified using the Bhūtasaṅkhyā system of representation.

This system, which is quite different from the alphabetical system of representa-
tion described earlier, has its own advantages and disadvantages. One of the distinct
advantages, particularly from the viewpoint of an author of a text, would be that here
it may be a lot easier to meet the metrical compulsions of verses used in the texts
on astronomy and mathematics. As the language is extremely rich in synonyms, an
author could choose any synonym that would suit the metre to represent a given
number. However, from the viewpoint of the reader, this system may be considered
disadvantageous for at least two reasons:
1. The lack of familiarity with the connotation of a specific bhūta representing a
particular number would present difficulties in deciphering the number.
2. Even if one were somewhat familiar, the lack of knowledge of synonyms could
pose serious problems—not to mention the difficulties that could arise owing to
improper splitting of the words.
Of course, ignorance on the part of a reader is no reason to blame the system.
Notwithstanding the ‘disadvantages’ mentioned above, this system has its own ap-
peal, charm and beauty. The table below presents a list of bhūtasaṅkhyās that have
been employed by astronomers in their texts. Note that the list should only be con-
sidered as representative and not exhaustive.

Number Bhūtas used to refer to number

0 – kham . . . . synonyms of
. , ākāśa, nabha, vyoma, antariks.am
sky/space
A.2 Bhūtasaṅkhyā system 443

– bindu (a dot)

1 – indu, candra, himām . śu, mr.gāṅka, śaśāṅka, śaśadhara, . . .

all synonyms of the Moon
– pr.thvı̄, ks.iti, vasundharā, ku, dharan.i, dharā . . . synomyms
of the Earth
– nāyaka, mahı̄pāla, bhūpāla, . . . synonyms of a king, including
pitāmaha (the creator Brahmā)

2 – aks.i, caks.u, nayana, netra . . . synonyms of eyes

– bāhu, bhuja, hasta, . . . synonyms of hands
– words referring other parts of the body such as karn.a (ears),
jānu (knees) and kuca (breasts) etc.
– words like aśvinau, ratı̄putrau etc. which are known to be pairs
from the purān.ās are also used

3 – agni, anala, hutāśana, śikhin, vahni . . . synonyms of fire.

– bhuvana, jagat, loka . . . synonyms of ‘world’.
– Rāma (signifying the three Rāmas: Paraśurāma, Ayo-
dhyārāma and Balarāma)
– hotr. (signifying the three important priests of the sacrifice Ad-
hvaryu, Hotā and Udgātā)

4 – abdhi, udadhi, jaladhi, vāridhi, payodhi, arn.ava . . . syn-

onyms of ocean
– śruti, veda, āmnāya . . . synonyms of veda
– words like yuga (aeon), āśrama (stages of life), varn.a (broad
classification of humans), dik (direction) etc. that are known to
be four in number.
– the word kr.ta, being the name of the first of the group of four
yugās is also used

5 – is.u, śara, bān.a, . . . synonyms of arrow (supposed to be shot

by Cupid to arouse desire)
– indriya, aks.a . . . synonyms of the sense organs
– vis.aya (denoting the five sense objects)
– mahābhūta (denoting the five basic elements: Earth, water, fire,
air and space)
– prān.a (denoting the five types of wind in the body—prān.a,
apāna, vyāna, udāna and samāna

6 – aṅga (signifying the six subsidiary parts of Veda)

– .rtu (signifying the six seasons)
– kāraka (signifying six relatants of an action)
444 Representation of numbers

– rasa (signifying six types of tastes: madhura, āmla, lavan.a,

kat.u, kas.āya and tikta)
– ari (signifying six enemies to be conquered: kāma, krodha,
lobha, moha, mada and mātsarya)
– darśana (signifying six major philosophical systems)

7 – aga, acala, adri, giri, bhūdhara, ks.mādhara . . . synonyms of

mountains
– aśva, turaga, vājin, haya . . . synonyms of horses
– words such as .rs.i, muni (a particular group of seven sages),
svara (fundamental notes in music), dvı̄pa (major islands) and
vāra (weekdays)

8 – hastin, gaja, diggaja, kuñjara, dantin, ibha . . . synonyms of

elephants
– nāga, sarpa, taks.a, ahi . . . synonyms of serpents
– words like vasu (types of wealth), siddhi (special powers),
maṅgala (auspicious things) etc. that are known to represent
eight things.

9 – randhra, chidra . . . synonyms of holes signifying the number

of holes present in the human body (seven in the face and two
used for excretion)
– aṅka (the digit), graha (planets), durgā, go, nanda

10 – aṅguli (fingers), āśā, dik (direction), avatāra (incarnations of

Lord Vis.n.u), rāvan.aśira (heads of the demon Rāvan.a), paṅkti
(rows) etc.

11 – ı̄śa, iśvara, rudra, śaṅkara, śiva, hara . . . synonyms of Lord

Siva
– aks.auhin.ı̄ (a huge regiment of an army)

12 – sūrya, arka, bhānu, āditya, divākara . . . synonyms of Sun

– māsa (month), rāśi (zodical signs)

13 – viśva, viśvedevāh., atijagatı̄, aghos.a

14 – indra, śakra, manu, loka

15 – tithi, dina, paks.a (number of days in a fortnight)

16 – as..ti, kalā (one part of the lunar disc, which is conceived as

made up of 16 parts)
A.2 Bhūtasaṅkhyā system 445

17 – atyas..ti

23 – vikr.ti

24 – arhat, jina (generic term for a Jaina saint), gāyatrı̄ (metre hav-
ing 24 syllables)

25 – tattva (the fundamental principles that the world is constituted

of—taken to be 25 in Sāṅkhya philosophy)

27 – naks.atra, bham
. , tārā . . . synonyms of stars

32 – rada, danta . . . synonyms of teeth

33 – amara, deva, sura . . . synonyms of deities

48 – jagatı̄ (metre having 48 syllables)