Al Biruni Kitab Ul Hind Pdf 14
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Al-Biruni, a celebrated mathematician and astronomer, came to India in the 11th century as part of the invading forces of Mahmud of Ghazni. He stayed in India for about 13 years to study the Indian sciences and philosophies. His book, Kitabul Hind (The Book of India), is an erudite and objective account of the history, character, manners and customs of India at that time.
Kitabul Hind is divided into 80 chapters, covering various topics such as geography, religion, literature, astronomy, mathematics, medicine, art and architecture. Al-Biruni was well-versed in Sanskrit and Arabic, and he quoted extensively from Indian sources, such as the Vedas, the Puranas, the Mahabharata, the Ramayana, the Surya Siddhanta and the works of Aryabhata, Brahmagupta and Varahamihira. He also compared and contrasted the Indian and Islamic views on various subjects, such as cosmology, ethics, logic and metaphysics.
Kitabul Hind is considered to be one of the most important sources of information on medieval India and its culture. It is also a testimony to the intellectual curiosity and respect that Al-Biruni had for the Indian civilization. He wrote: "I shall not produce the arguments of our antagonists in order to refute such of them as I believe to be in the wrong. My book is nothing but a simple historic record of facts. I shall place before the reader the theories of the Hindus exactly as they are."
The original Arabic version of Kitabul Hind is available online at archive.org[^1^]. An English translation by Edward Sachau was published in 1887 and can be downloaded as a PDF file from researchgate.net[^3^]. Chapter 14 of the book deals with an account of Indian astronomical, mathematical and other literature.
One of the most remarkable features of Kitabul Hind is Al-Biruni's attempt to measure the circumference of the earth using Indian methods. He described two methods: one based on the length of a degree of latitude, and the other based on the length of a degree of longitude. He also calculated the radius of the earth and compared it with the values given by other ancient and medieval scholars. He found that the Indian value was the closest to his own measurement.
Another interesting aspect of Kitabul Hind is Al-Biruni's analysis of the Indian calendar and chronology. He explained the Indian system of eras, such as the Kali Yuga, the Saka era and the Vikrama era. He also discussed the Indian methods of determining the lunar and solar eclipses, the solstices and the equinoxes. He noted that the Indians had a sophisticated knowledge of astronomy and astrology, and that they used various instruments, such as the gnomon, the astrolabe and the water clock, to observe the celestial phenomena.
Kitabul Hind is not only a valuable source of information on Indian culture and history, but also a remarkable example of intercultural dialogue and exchange. Al-Biruni showed a genuine interest and appreciation for the Indian civilization, while also being critical and rational in his approach. He wrote: "We must confess that we have learned much from them (the Indians), for they have opened to us a gate which was closed." 061ffe29dd