{"id":"sulbasutras","domain":"indian-mathematics","type":"Work","title":"Śulbasūtras","slug":"sulbasutras","url":"/mathematics/indian-mathematics/sulbasutras/","composed":"c. 800–200 BCE","language":"Sanskrit","summary":"Ancient Indian geometric manuals for constructing Vedic fire altars. Contain the earliest explicit statement of the Pythagorean theorem (Baudhāyana, c. 800 BCE), √2 accurate to 5 decimal places, and methods for combining and transforming areas.","key_texts":[{"name":"Baudhāyana Śulbasūtra","date":"c. 800–600 BCE"},{"name":"Āpastamba Śulbasūtra","date":"c. 600–450 BCE"},{"name":"Kātyāyana Śulbasūtra","date":"c. 300–200 BCE"},{"name":"Mānava Śulbasūtra","date":"c. 600–300 BCE"}],"added_to_codex":"2026-05-27","last_verified":"2026-05-27","sources":[{"tier":1,"citation":"Plofker, K. (2009). Mathematics in India. Princeton University Press.","pages":"17–39"},{"tier":1,"citation":"Sen, S.N. and Bag, A.K. (1983). The Śulbasūtras of Baudhāyana, Āpastamba, Kātyāyana and Mānava. Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi."},{"tier":2,"citation":"Hayashi, T. (2003). Indian mathematics. In Companion Encyclopedia of the History and Philosophy of the Mathematical Sciences. Johns Hopkins. pp. 118–130."},{"tier":3,"citation":"Joseph, G.G. (2011). The Crest of the Peacock. 3rd ed. Princeton University Press.","pages":"229–240"}],"relationships":[{"type":"contains","target":"pythagorean-theorem","label":"Pythagorean Theorem (stated explicitly)"},{"type":"part_of_tradition","target":"indian-mathematics-overview","label":"Indian Mathematics"}],"entry_status":"live","reading_levels_available":["curious","exploring","deep_dive"],"completeness":1.0,"codex_version":"1.2"}