K. Ramasubramanian

Venketeswara Pai

M.S. Sriram

M.D. Srinivas

This book is an important text of the Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics, probably composed in the 16th century. In the Indian astronomical tradition, the karaṇa texts are essentially computational manuals, and they often display a high level of ingenuity in coming up with simplified algorithms for computing planetary longitudes and other related quantities. Karaṇapaddhati, however, is not a karaṇa text. Rather, it discusses the paddhati or the rationale for arriving at suitable algorithms that are needed while preparing a karaṇa text for a given epoch. Thus the work is addressed not to the almanac maker but to the manual maker. Karaṇapaddhati presents the theoretical basis for the vākya system, where the true longitudes of the planet are calculated directly by making use of certain auxiliary notions such as the khaṇḍa, maṇḍala and dhruva along with tabulated values of changes in the true longitude over certain regular intervals which are expressed in the form of vākyas or mnemonic phrases. The text also discusses the method of vallyupasaṃhāra, which is essentially a technique of continued fraction expansion for obtaining optimal approximations to the rates of motion of planets and their anomalies, involving ratios of smaller numbers. It also presents a new fast convergent series for π which is not mentioned in the earlier works of the Kerala school. As this is a unique text presenting the rationale behind the vākya system and the computational procedures used in the karaṇa texts, it would serve as a useful companion for all those interested in the history of astronomy. The authors have provided a translation of the text followed by detailed notes which explain all the computational procedures, along with their rationale, by means of diagrams and equations.

Karaṇapaddhati of Putumana Somayājī

M. S. Sriram

M. D. Srinivas

Volume II - Astronomy

Ganita-Yukti-Bhasa (Rationales Mathematical Astronomy) of Jyesthadeva

Tantrasangraha, composed by the renowned Kerala astronomer Nīlakantha Somayājī (c.1444-1545 AD) ranks along with Āryabhatīya of Āryabhata and Siddhāntaśiromani of Bhāskarācārya as one of the major works which significantly influenced further work on astronomy in India. One of the distinguishing features is the introduction of a major revision of the traditional Indian planetary model. Nīlakantha arrived at a unified theory of planetary latitudes and a better formulation of the equation of centre for the interior planets (Mercury and Venus) than was previously available. In preparing the translation and explanatory notes, K. Ramasubramanian and M. S. Sriram have used authentic Sanskrit editions of Tantrasangraha by Surand Kunjan Pillai and K V Sarma. All verses have been translated into English, which have been supplemented with detailed explanations including all necessary mathematical relations, illustrative examples, figures and tables using modern mathematical notation.

Tantrasaṅgraha of Nīlakaṇṭha Somayājī

This book includes 58 selected articles that highlight the major contributions of Professor Radha Charan Gupta—a doyen of history of mathematics—written on a variety of important topics pertaining to mathematics and astronomy in India. It is divided into ten parts. Part I presents three articles offering an overview of Professor Gupta’s oeuvre. The four articles in Part II convey the importance of studies in the history of mathematics. Parts III–VII constituting 33 articles, feature a number of articles on a variety of topics, such as geometry, trigonometry, algebra, combinatorics and spherical trigonometry, which not only reveal the breadth and depth of Professor Gupta’s work, but also highlight his deep commitment to the promotion of studies in the history of mathematics. The ten articles of part VIII, present interesting bibliographical sketches of a few veteran historians of mathematics and astronomy in India. Part IX examines the dissemination of mathematical knowledge across different civilisations. The last part presents an up-to-date bibliography of Gupta’s work. It also includes a tribute to him in Sanskrit composed in eight verses.

Selected Works of Radha Charan Gupta on History of Mathematics

Gaṇitānanda

Takao Hayashi

Clemency Montelle

This book covers the works of Bhāskara, in particular, his monumental treatise on astronomy, the Siddhāntaśiromaṇi, his astronomical handbook, the Karaṇakutūhala, and his two mathematical treatises, the Līlavatī and the Bījagaṇita, on arithmetic and algebra, respectively. It is a collection of selected papers presented at Bhāskara 900, an international conference commemorate the 900th birth anniversary of the great Indian mathematician Bhāskarācārya. Bhāskara-prabhā, the radiance of Bhāskara, presents the Indian mathematical tradition and the place of Bhāskara in it. The aim of this book is to instill a sense of pride in younger generations of one of their most celebrated thinkers, by sketching some details of his mathematical achievements and capturing their imagination through his poetic flair. It is intended to raise a greater awareness among students and teachers of India’s rich mathematical heritage.

K. Ramasubramanian

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