Aryabhatta was a great Indian mathematician. He was born in 476 BC in KERALA. After completing his studies at the University of Nalanda, he wrote a book, Aryabhatiya in 499 BC. the book, written in verse, was the summary of Hindu mathematics up to that time. It covered astronomy, spherical trigonometry, arithmetic, algebra and plane trigonometry. Aryabhatta gave formula for the areas of triangle and a circle correctly, but the formula for the volumes of a sphere and a pyramids given by him were wrong. His work was recognized as a masterpiece, and the then Gupta ruler, Buddhagupta made him the head of the University. Aryabhatta was the first to deduce that the earth is round and that it rotates on its own axis, creating day and night. He declared that the moon is dark and shines only because of sunlight. Aryabhatta gave the value of "pi" as 3.1416 claiming for the first time, that it was an approximation. He was the first to give what later came on to be called the 'table of the sines'.