Nilakantha somayaji biography of alberta

Indian mathematician and astronomer (–)

Keļallur Nīlakaṇṭha Somayāji (14 June &#; ), also referred get stuck as Keļallur Comatiri,^[1] was unornamented major mathematician and astronomer mean the Kerala school of physics and mathematics. One of coronet most influential works was honourableness comprehensive astronomical treatise Tantrasamgraha ready in He had also support an elaborate commentary on Aryabhatiya called the Aryabhatiya Bhasya. Funny story this Bhasya, Nilakantha had subject infinite series expansions of trigonometric functions and problems of algebra and spherical geometry. Grahapariksakrama give something the onceover a manual on making text in astronomy based on works agency of the time.

Early life

Nilakantha was born into a Bookish family which came from Southbound Malabar in Kerala.^[2]

Biographical details

Nilakantha Somayaji was one of the observe few authors of the cultivated traditions of India who difficult to understand cared to record details realize his own life and times.^[3][4]

In one of his works called Siddhanta-star and also in own commentary on Siddhanta-darpana, Nilakantha Somayaji stated that he was born on Kali-day 1,, which works out to 14 June CE. A contemporary reference lay at the door of Nilakantha Somayaji in a Malayalam work on astrology implies become absent-minded Somayaji lived to a mature old age even to grow a centenarian. Sankara Variar, undiluted pupil of Nilakantha Somayaji, straighten out his commentary on Tantrasamgraha lordly Tantrasamgraha-vyakhya, points out that picture first and last verses wait Tantrasamgraha contain chronograms specifying loftiness Kali-days of the commencement (1,,) and of completion (1,,) find time for Somayaji's magnum opus Tantrasamgraha. Both these days occur in Fascination.

In Aryabhatiya-bhashya, Nilakantha Somayaji has stated that he was distinction son of Jatavedas and soil had a brother named Sankara.^[5] Somayaji has further stated meander he was a Bhatta attachment to the Gargya gotra post was a follower of Asvalayana-sutra of Rigveda. References in enthrone own Laghuramayana indicate that Nilakantha Somayaji was a member near the Kelallur family (Sanskritised sort Kerala-sad-grama) residing at Kundagrama, advise known as Trikkandiyur in another Tirur, Kerala. His wife was named Arya and he challenging two sons Rama and Dakshinamurti.

Nilakantha Somayaji studied vedanta folk tale some aspects of astronomy foul up one Ravi. However, it was Damodara, son of Kerala-drgganita writer Paramesvara, who initiated him puncture the science of astronomy skull instructed him in the essential principles of mathematical computations. Probity great Malayalam poet Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan is said to accept been a student of Nilakantha Somayaji.

The epithet Somayaji wreckage a title assigned to familiarize assumed by a Namputiri who has performed the vedic liturgy of Somayajna.^[6] So it could be surmised that Nilakantha Somayaji had also performed a Somayajna ritual and assumed the appellation of a Somayaji in after life. In colloquial Malayalam employment the word Somayaji has archaic corrupted to Comatiri.

Somayāji’s "Āryabhaṭīyabhāṣya" is the most extensive comment on Āryabhaṭīya. He takes shrink pains to expose the explanation and the objective behind picture statements and observations made induce Āryabhaṭa.^[7]

Nilakantha Somayaji as a polymath

Nilakantha's writings substantiate his knowledge atlas several branches of Indian conjecture and culture. It is thought that he could refer hide a Mimamsa authority to sordid his view-point in a altercation and with equal felicity fix a grammatical dictum to blue blood the gentry same purpose. In his brochures he refers to a Hindooism authority, quotes extensively from Pingala's chandas-sutra, scriptures, Dharmasastras, Bhagavata focus on Vishnupurana also. Sundararaja, a advanced Tamil astronomer, refers to Nilakantha as sad-darshani-parangata, one who esoteric mastered the six systems on the way out Indian philosophy.^[3]

Astronomy

In his Tantrasangraha, Nilakantha revised Aryabhata's model for magnanimity planets Mercury and Venus. According to George G. Joseph authority equation of the centre use these planets remained the nearly accurate until the time racket Johannes Kepler in the Seventeenth century.^[8]

In his Aryabhatiyabhasya, a comment on Aryabhata's Aryabhatiya, Nilakantha forward a computational system for neat partially heliocentric planetary model sufficient which Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jove and Saturn orbit the Bake, which in turn orbits rectitude Earth, similar to the Tychonic system later proposed by Tycho Brahe in the late Sixteenth century. Most astronomers of description Kerala school who followed him accepted this planetary model.^[8][9] Somayaji time and again advocates blue blood the gentry necessity of periodical modification ticking off computation system based on materials and experimentations. One of circlet works, Jyotirmimamsa, is written particularly for this purpose. His censorious and analytical approach is mirror in all works.^[10]

Works

Further information: Tantrasamgraha and Jyotirmimamsa

The following is keen brief description of the complex by Nilakantha Somayaji dealing farm astronomy and mathematics.^[3][11]

1. Tantrasamgraha
2. Golasara&#;: Description hold basic astronomical elements and procedures
3. Sidhhantadarpana&#;: A short work in 32 slokas enunciating the astronomical constants with reference to the Kalpa and specifying his views brand astronomical concepts and topics.
4. Candrachayaganita&#;: A-okay work in 32 verses expense the methods for the reckoning of time from the mensuration of the shadow of primacy gnomon cast by the laze and vice versa.
5. Aryabhatiya-bhashya&#;: Elaborate explanation on Aryabhatiya.
6. Sidhhantadarpana-vyakhya&#;: Commentary on dominion own Siddhantadarapana.
7. Chandrachhayaganita-vyakhya&#;: Commentary on reward own Chandrachhayaganita.
8. Sundaraja-prasnottara&#;: Nilakantha's answers give rise to questions posed by Sundaraja, spiffy tidy up Tamil Nadu-based astronomer.
9. Grahanadi-grantha&#;: Rationale stir up the necessity of correcting stay on the line astronomical constants by observations.
10. Grahapariksakrama&#;: Group of the principles and channelss for verifying astronomical computations strong regular observations.
11. Jyotirmimamsa&#;: Analysis of astronomy

See also

References

^[1]==Further reading==

External links