Śaṅkaranārāyaṇa Explained

Sankara Narayana
Birth Date:c. 840 CE
Nationality:Indian
Notable Works:Laghu Bhaskariya Vivarana
Occupation:Astronomer-mathematician

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 kingdom of Kerala.[1] [2] He is best known as the author of Laghu Bhaskariya Vivarana or Vyakha (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] Sankara Narayana is known to have established an astronomical observatory at the port of Kodungallur in central Kerala.[4]

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). It is also mentions that the year was the 25th regnal year of king Ravi Kulasekhara.[5] 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).[5]

Observatory

Mathematical contributions

Identification of king Ravi Kulasekhara with Sthanu

Date of Laghu Bhaskariya Vivarana

See also

Notes and References

  1. Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 78-79 and 390-91.
  2. Book: George Gheverghese Joseph. A Passage to Infinity. SAGE Publications Pvt. Ltd.. New Delhi. 2009. 13. 978-81-321-0168-0.
  3. Book: Laghubhaskariyavivarana. 1949. TSS. S. Venkitasubramonia Iyar. 162. Trivandrun. S.Kochukunju Asari.
  4. Book: Virendra Nath Sharma. Sawai Jai Singh and His Astronomy. 1995. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. Delhi. .
  5. Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 78-79.
  6. Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 390-391 and 408-409.