Sankara Narayana
| |
---|---|
Born | c. 840 CE |
Nationality | Indian |
Occupation | Astronomer-mathematician |
Notable work | Laghu Bhaskariya Vivarana |
Sankara Narayana (c. 840 – c. 900 AD) was an Indian astronomer-mathematician in the court of Ravi Kulasekhara (c. 844 – c. 883 AD) of the Chera Perumal kingdomofKerala.[1][2] He is best known as the author of Laghu Bhaskariya VivaranaorVyakha (869/870 AD), a detailed commentary on treatise Laghu Bhaskariya by 7th century mathematician Bhaskara I (which in turn was based on the works of the 5th century polymath Aryabhata).[3][4] Sankara Narayana is known to have established an astronomical observatory at the port of Kodungallur in central Kerala.[2][5]
Laghu Bhaskariya Vivarana (Chapter VII), produced in the court of king Ravi Kulasekhara at Kodungallur, explicitly states that it was composed in Saka Year 791 (=869/70 AD).[4][1] It is also mentions that the year was the 25th regnal year of king Ravi Kulasekhara.[6] In the second verse of the vivarana Narayana remembers five major precessors in the field of mathematics (Aryabhata, Varahamihira, Bhaskara I, Govinda and Haridatta), including his possible master Govinda (c. 800 – c. 860 AD).[6]
"Oh [king] Ravi Varma Deva, now deign to tell us quickly, reading off from the armillary sphere installed [at the observatory] in Mahodayapura, duly fitted with all the relevant circles and with the sign (degree-minute) markings, the time of the rising point of the ecliptic (lagna) when the Sun is at 10° in the sign of Capricorn, and also when the Sun is at the end of the sign Libra, which I have noted."[8]
"Sa Sthanurjayati trirupasahito lingepi lokarcitah".
— Sankara Narayana, Laghu Bhaskariya Vyakha, Chapter I (c. 870 AD)
"Angartvambara nanda devamanubhir yate dinanam gane
Graste tigma mayukhamalinitamobhute parahne divi
Prsta praggrahanad dvitiyaghatika grasa pramanam raver
Bharta sri Kulasekharena vilasad velavrtaya bhuva".— Sankara Narayana, Laghu Bhaskariya Vyakha, Chapter IV (c. 870 AD)
"Evam Sakabdah punariha candra randhramuni sankhyaya asambhiravagatah".
— Sankara Narayana, Laghu Bhaskariya Vyakha, Chapter 1 (c. 870 AD)
"Capapravista guru sauri samatva kalam
Yamyottaram gamanamantaratah pramanam
Acaksvya sarvamavagamya bhatoktamargad
Ityuktavan ravirasena nrpabhivandya".
"Tada pancavimsati Varsanyatitani devasya".— Sankara Narayana, Laghu Bhaskariya Vyakha, Chapter VII (c. 870 AD)
Scientific Research in Kerala
| |
---|---|
Pre 19th Century |
|
Organizations |
|
Institutions |
|
Scientists |
|
Assorted articles |
|
|
International |
|
---|---|
National |
|
Other |
|