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Śaṅkaranārāyaṇa

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This article is about an Indian astronomer. For the Diwan, see Sankaranarayana Iyen.

Sankara Narayana
Bornc. 840 CE
NationalityIndian
OccupationAstronomer-mathematician
Notable workLaghu Bhaskariya Vivarana

Sankara Narayana (c. 840 – c. 900 AD) was an Indian astronomer-mathematician in the court of Sthanu Ravi Kulasekhara (c. 844 – c. 870 AD[1], revised chronology) of the Chera Perumal kingdom of Kerala.[2][3] 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).[4][5] Sankara Narayana is known to have established an astronomical observatory at the port of Kodungallur in central Kerala.[3][6]

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).[5][2] It is also mentions that the year was the 25th regnal year of king Ravi Kulasekhara.[7] 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).[7]

Observatory

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  • There are references to an instrument called "Rashi Chakra" marked by a "Yanthra Valaya" in the vivarana. This instrument might be the same as the Gola Yanthra/Chakra Yanthra mentioned by famous polymath Aryabhata. The Chakra Yanthra was developed further and called Phalaka Yanthra by Bhaskara I.[8]

"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."[9]

  • At the directions of Sankara Narayana, in every 'katikai' (= 34 minutes), bells were sounded at different important centres of Mahodayapura to announce correct time.

Mathematical contributions

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Identification of king Ravi Kulasekhara with Sthanu

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  • The opening verse of Laghu Bhaskariya Vyakha gives an indirect invocation to the lord called "Sthanu" (carefully composed to be applicable to god Siva and the ruling king).[7]

"Sa Sthanurjayati trirupasahito lingepi lokarcitah".

— Sankara Narayana, Laghu Bhaskariya Vyakha, Chapter I (c. 870 AD)
  • Sankara Narayana also mentions that the full name of his king as "Ravi Varma Kulasekhara".[7]
  • Laghu Bhaskariya Vivarana was composed in the 25th regnal year of king Kulasekhara.[7]

Date of Laghu Bhaskariya Vivarana

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  • "Angartvambara nanda devamanubhir yate dinanam gane"
    • Anga = 6, Rtu = 6, Ambara = 0, Nanda = 9, Veda = 4, and Manu = 14
    • Order - 6609414
    • Reverse Order - 1449066
  • Kali Date - 3967 years and 86 days = 25 Mithuna, Kollam Era 41 = 870 AD
  • "Evam Sakabdah punariha candra randhramuni sankhyaya asambhiravagatah"
    • Candra = 1, Randhra = 9, and Muni = 7
    • Order - 197
    • Reverse Order - 791 (Saka Year) = 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)
  • Meeting of Guru (=Jupiter) and Sauri (=Saturn) in Capa (Dhanu) = 25th regnal year of the king = 870 AD

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Devadevan, Manu V. (2020). "Changes in Land Relations and the Changing Fortunes of the Cēra State". The 'Early Medieval' Origins of India. Cambridge University Press. p. 150. ISBN 9781108494571.
  2. ^ a b Narayanan, M. G. S. (2013) [1972]. Perumals of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks. pp. 78-79 and 390-91. ISBN 9788188765072.
  3. ^ a b Joseph, George Gheverghese (2009). A Passage to Infinity. New Delhi: SAGE Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 13. ISBN 978-81-321-0168-0.
  4. ^ Iyar, S. Venkitasubramonia; Asari, S. Kochukunju, eds. (1949). Laghubhaskariyavivarana. Vol. 162. Trivandrum: TSS.
  5. ^ a b c d O'Connor, J. J.; Robertson, E. F. (2000). "Sankara Narayana". University of St. Andrews.
  6. ^ Sharma, Virendra Nath (1995). Sawai Jai Singh and His Astronomy. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. ISBN 81-208-1256-X.
  7. ^ a b c d e Narayanan, M. G. S. (2013) [1972]. Perumals of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks. pp. 78–79. ISBN 9788188765072.
  8. ^ Narayanan, M. G. S. (2013) [1972]. Perumals of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks. pp. 390-391 and 408-409. ISBN 9788188765072.
  9. ^ Harley, J. B.; Woodward, David, eds. (1992). Cartography in the Traditional Islamic and South Asian Societies. The History of Cartography. Vol. 2 (1). University of Chicago Press. p. 360. ISBN 0-226-31635-1.
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