Did Pythagoras visit india? Who else among ancient Greek scholars visited India to learn?

Question

Pythagorean theorem is said to be originated in India. Even he never claimed that he had invented it. On the other hand, he was very much influenced by the Hindu way of living and started a sect by properly initiating his followers and preached Indian philosophy in Italy and India.

Answer 1

Pythagoras, the famous mathematician and contemporary of Socrates among the Greek philosophers belonged to the 6th century B.C.(569 - 475 B.C.) Apastamba Sulba Sutra, a set of mathematical formulas and principles belonged to 8th century B.C. and was in use in India which contains a list of Pythagorian Triples. It is indicative of the fact that Pythagoras learnt it from India before teaching the Greeks. Accoding to Albert Burk, Pythagoras copied it on his visit to India. Lecky in his 'History of European Morals' quotes an old tradition in Greece that Pythagoras had learnt in India from gymnosophists.

Pythagoras was a vegetarian and believed in transformation of human soul. He believed and lived like Indians that only by purifying your body you can attain divine powers and at the end merge with divinity. Hence, he insisted that a disciple should first be formally initiated by a preceptor who himself must be pure so that he can impart knowledge to others. Hindu thought also exerted a great influence on ancient Greek thought as M.E. Pococke shows in his 'India in Greece'.It is believed that besides Pythagoras, Appolonius, Democritus, Anaxarchus and Pyrrho also visited India. According to Lucianus, the Golden Philosophy first descended upon "the Indians, the mightiest nation upon the earth".

The famous Pythagorean Theorem was not in use for five hundred years after death of Pythagoras. It was Cicero and Plutarch who attributed the theorem to Pythagoras, though according to Sir Thomas L. Heath, there is no attribution by Pythagoras himself during his lifetime.

Answer 2

Yuo seem to know this fellow better! Maybe he did after all.