Varahamihira met the great astronomer and mathematician, Aryabhata during a visit to Kusumapura. He decided to take up astrology and astronomy as a lifetime pursuit.
His astrological skills came to the notice of Vikramaditya Chandragupta II, who made him one of the Nine Gems of his court. Al-Biruni, Iranian scholar and polymath, holds him in high esteem and counts him among the great Samhitakaras like Mandaya, Garga, Parasara, Balbhadra, and Divyatattva.
Varahamihira’s mathematical work included the discovery of the trigonometric formulas. He improved the accuracy of the sine tables of Aryabhata l. He defined the algebraic properties of zero as well as of negative numbers.
He composed the Pañcasiddhāntikā, dated ca. 575 CE, which gives information about older Indian texts which is a treatise on mathematical astronomy. the Pañcasiddhāntikā summarizes five earlier astronomical treatises by five authors, namely the Surya Siddhanta, Romaka Siddhanta, Paulisa Siddhanta, Vasishtha Siddhanta and Paitamaha Siddhanta.
He also composed the Brihat-Samhita, Brihadjathaka and three other smaller editions pon marriage and journey.
Varahamihira: Hindu astrologer, astronomer, and polymath
