Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Kerala School of Astronomy and Mathematics

  • Reference work entry
Encyclopaedia of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine in Non-Western Cultures

After Bhāskara II (b. AD 1114), the most significant contributions to mathematics and astronomy in India came from Kerala, in the southwestern part of India. Kerala has had a continuous tradition of astronomy and mathematics from much earlier times. Sarma has listed nearly 750 independent works on astronomy, astrology and mathematics including minor works by 110 authors in the Kerala tradition.

Vararuci (date unconfirmed), who is credited with the authorship of 248 Candravākyas (sentences for computation of the moon's longitude) by the manuscript tradition, is considered to be the father figure in the astronomical tradition of Kerala. Āryabhaṭīya (ca. AD 499) of Āryabhaṭa which set the tone for all further work on mathematical astronomy in India, appears to have become popular in Kerala soon after its composition. In fact, out of the 20 or so available commentaries on Āryabhaṭīya, as many as 12 are from Kerala. The astronomical parameters in Āryabhaṭīyawere revised by a group of...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 609.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

Primary Sources

  • Āryabhaṭīya of Āryabhaṭa. Trans. Ed. K. S. Shukla and K. V. Sarma. New Delhi: Indian National Science Academy, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Āryabhaṭīya with the Bhāsya of Nīlakaṇṭha Somasutvan, Part I Gaṇita pāda. Trans. Ed. K. Sāmbaśiva Śāstri. Trivandrum Sanskrit Series, 101. Trivandrum: Government of Travancore, 1930.

    Google Scholar 

  • Āryabhaṭīya with the Bhāsya of Nīlakantha Somasutvan, Part II Kalakriyāpāda. Trans. Ed. K. Sāmbaśiva Śāstri. Trivandrum Sanskrit Series, 110. Trivandrum: Government of Travancore, 1931.

    Google Scholar 

  • Āryabhaṭīya with the Bhāsya of Nīlakantha Somasutvan, Part III Golapāda. Trans. Ed. S. K. Pillai. Trivandrum Sanskrit Series, 185. Trivandrum: University of Kerala, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  • Āryabhaṭīya with the Commentary Bhatadīpikā of Paramādiśvara. Trans. Ed. H. Kern, Leiden. 2nd edn. Delhi: Eastern Book Linkers, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Candracchāyāgaṇita of Nīlakantha Somāyāji. Trans. Ed. K. V. Sarma. Hoshiarpur: Vishveshvaranand Institute, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drggaṇita of Parameśvara. Ed. K. V. Sarma. Hoshiarpur: Vishveshvaranand Institute, 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaṇita yuktayah. Ed. K. V. Sarma. Hoshiarpur: Vishveshvaranand Institute, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaṇita‐Yuktibhāṣā. Trans. Ed. K. V. Sarma. and with explanatory notes by K. Ramasubramanian, M. D. Srinivas, and M. S. Sriram. 3 vols. Shimla: Indian Institute of Advanced Study, 2005 (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Goladīpikā of Parameśvara, with Autocommentary. Trans. K. V. Sarma. Madras: Adyar Library and Research Centre, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  • Golasāra of Nīlkantha Somayāji. Trans. K. V. Sarma. Hoshiarpur: Vishveshvaranand Institute, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grahacārambandhana, a Parahita Manual by Haridatta. Ed. K. V. Sarma. Madras: Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute, 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grahanamandana of Parameśvara. Trans. K. V. Sarma. Hoshiarpur: Vishveshvaranand Institute, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grahananyāyadīpikā of Parameśvara. Trans. K. V. Sarma. Hoshiarpur: Vishveshvaranand Institute, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jyotirmīmāmsa of Nīlkantha Somayāji. Ed. K. V. Sarma. Hoshiarpur: Vishveshvaranand Institute, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karanapaddhati of Putumana Somayāji. Ed. P. K. Koru. Cherp, Kerala: Astro Press, 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laghubhāskarīya with the Commentary by Śaṅkaranārāyana. Ed. P. K. Narayana Pillai. Trivandrum Sanskrit Series, 162, 1949.

    Google Scholar 

  • Līlāvatī of Bhāskarācārya with Kriyākramakarī of Śaṅkara and Nārāyana. Ed. K. V. Sarma. Hoshiarpur: Vishveshwaranand Institute, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahabhāskarīyam with Govindaswamin's Vyākhyā and Siddhāntadīpikā of Parameśvara. Ed. T. S. Kuppanna Sastri. Madras Government Oriental Series, No. 130, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raśigolasphutāniti According to Acyuta. Trans. K. V. Sarma. Hoshiarpur: Vishveshwaranand Institute, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarma, K. V. A Bibliography of Kerala and Kerala‐based astronomy and astrology, Hoshiarpur: Vishveshvaranand Institute, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siddhāntadarpana. Trans. K. V. Sarma. Hoshiarpur: Vishveshwaranand Institute, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siddhāntaśiromani of Bhāskaracārya. Ed. Muralidhara Chaturvedi. Varanasi: Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sphutacandrāpti of Mādhava. Trans. K. V. Sarma. Hoshiarpur: Vishveshwaranand Institute, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sphutanirṇayatantra of Acyuta. Ed. K. V. Sarma. Hoshiarpur: Vishveshwaranand Institute, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tantrasaṅgraha of Nīlakantha Somasutvan with the Commentary Laghuvivritti of Vārier. Ed. S. K. Pillai. Trivandrum Sanskrit Series, 188, 1958.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tantrasaṅgraha of Nīlakantha with the Commentaries Yuktidīpikā and Laghuvivritti of Śaṅkara. Ed. K. V. Sarma. Hoshiarpur: Vishveshwaranand Institute, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vakyākarana. Ed. T. S. Kuppanna Śastri and K. V. Sarma. Madras: Kuppuswamy Sastri Research Institute, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  • Venvāroha of Mādhava of Sangamagrama. Ed. K. V. Sarma. Tripunitira: Sanskrit College, 1956.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuktibhāṣā (Part I). Ed. H. H. Ramavarma (Maru) Tampuran and A. R. Akhileswara Iyer (with notes in Malayalam). Thrissur: Mangalodayam Ltd, 1948.

    Google Scholar 

Secondary Sources

  • Bag, A. K. Mathematics in Ancient and Medieval India. Delhi: Chowkhambha Orientalia, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balachandra Rao, S. Indian Mathematics and Astronomy, Some Landmarks. Rev. 3rd ed. Bangalore: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayashi, T., T. Kusuba and M. Yano. The Correction of the Madhava Series for the Circumference of the Circle. Centaurus 33 (1990): 149–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joseph, G. G. The Crest of the Peacock: The Non‐European Roots of Mathematics. 2nd ed. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz, V. J. Ideas of Calculus in Islam and India. Mathematics Magazine 68 (1995): 163–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paramesvaran, S. The Golden Age of Indian Mathematics. Kerala: Swadeshi Science Movement, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mukunda Marar, K. Proof of Gregory's Series. Teacher's Magazine 15 (1940): 28–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rajagopal, C. T and M. S. Rangachari. On Medieval Kerala Mathematics. Archives for History of Exact Sciences 35.2 (1986): 91–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramasubramanian, K., M. D. Srinivas and M. S. Sriram. Modification of the Earlier Indian Planetary Theory by the Kerala Astronomers (ca. 1500 AD) and the Implied Heliocentric Picture of Planetary Motion. Current Science 66 (1994): 784–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarasvati Amma, T. A. Geometry in Ancient and Medieval India. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1999 (revised edition).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarma, K. V. A History of the Kerala School of Hindu Astronomy. Hoshiarpur: Vishveshvaranand Institute, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shukla, K. S. Acarya Jayadeva, the Mathematician. Gaṇita. Vol. 5. Lucknow: Bharat Gaṇita Parishad, 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  • Srinivas, M. D. Indian Approach to Science: The Case of Jyotihsastra. P.P.S.T. Bulletin 19 and 20: 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sriram, K. Ramasubramanian and M. D. Srinivas eds. 500 Years of Tantrasaṅgraha: A Landmark in the History of Astronomy. Shimla: Indian Institute of Advanced Study, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Subbarayappa, B. V and K. V. Sarma. Indian Astronomy: A Source‐Book. Bombay: Nehru Centre, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. M. S. Sriram
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hampshire College, 893 West Street, 01002, Amherst, MA, USA

    Helaine Selin (Editor) (Editor)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York

About this entry

Cite this entry

Sriram, M.S. (2008). Kerala School of Astronomy and Mathematics. In: Selin, H. (eds) Encyclopaedia of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine in Non-Western Cultures. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-4425-0_8683

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-4425-0_8683

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-4559-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-4425-0

  • eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and Law

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation