The Rig Veda is the oldest of the Vedas and contains a wealth of knowledge on a variety of subjects. So Vedic evidence is primarily indirect, and is more of an indicator of the kind of concepts that existed than a definition/explanation of those. Whether we can trace out texts is secondary, since Veda came down as an oral tradition for very long. It is unlikely that stray statements on mathematical concepts like progressions, concept of infinity and zero existed without mathematics as a study. Since the Vedas are not texts on mathematics but mention a lot of mathematical concepts, it could be construed that mathematics as a science also existed. Some of the hymns, which deal with cosmology, imply that the rishis were very familiar with geometry and the planning needed to construct complex objects. The knowledge of mathematics and geometry were all deemed important and worthy of formulations into mantra. This framework, in which knowledge is seen as one whole continuum, offers the basis for these statements to be interpreted in multiple ways in multiple contexts (astronomical, spiritual, terrestrial etc). They don't make distinctions between secular and sacred knowledge (as we define them today) because secular knowledge was thought to be a tool to be used to discover sacred knowledge. The Veda Samhitâ is composed of hymns to various deities and also hymns praising all forms of knowledge.
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