astronomy Astronomy is a natural science that studies celestial objects and the phenomena that occur in the cosmos. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and their overall evolution. Objects of interest includ ...

, Jyotirmimamsa (analysis of astronomy) is a treatise on the

methodology In its most common sense, methodology is the study of research methods. However, the term can also refer to the methods themselves or to the philosophical discussion of associated background assumptions. A method is a structured procedure for bri ...

of astronomical studies authored by

Nilakantha Somayaji Keļallur Nīlakaṇṭha Somayāji (14 June 1444 – 1544), also referred to as Keļallur Comatiri, was a mathematician and astronomer of the Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics. One of his most influential works was the comprehens ...

(1444–1544) in around 1504 CE. Nilakantha somayaji was an important

astronomer An astronomer is a scientist in the field of astronomy who focuses on a specific question or field outside the scope of Earth. Astronomers observe astronomical objects, such as stars, planets, natural satellite, moons, comets and galaxy, galax ...

mathematician A mathematician is someone who uses an extensive knowledge of mathematics in their work, typically to solve mathematical problems. Mathematicians are concerned with numbers, data, quantity, mathematical structure, structure, space, Mathematica ...

of the

Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics The Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics or the Kerala school was a school of Indian mathematics, mathematics and Indian astronomy, astronomy founded by Madhava of Sangamagrama in Kingdom of Tanur, Tirur, Malappuram district, Malappuram, K ...

and was the author of the much celebrated astronomical work titled

Tantrasamgraha Tantrasamgraha, or Tantrasangraha, (literally, ''A Compilation of the System'') is an important astronomy, astronomical treatise written by Nilakantha Somayaji, an astronomer/mathematician belonging to the Kerala school of astronomy and mathemat ...

. This book stresses the necessity and importance of astronomical observations to obtain correct parameters for computations and to develop more and more accurate theories. It even discounts the role of revealed wisdom and divine intuitions in studying astronomical phenomena. Jyotirmimamsa is sometimes cited as proof to establish that modern methodologies of scientific investigations were known to ancient and medieval Indians. Neelkantha Somayaji insisted that computational results should tally with that of observations and astronomical parameters and constants should be revised periodically. To come to more precise conclusions, Neelkantha Somayaji have discussions with the astronomer and mathematicians of other schools. The nature of the astronomical and mathematical work, the divine intuition, the experimental details of the science, corrections to the planetary parameters, reasons for the corrections for the planetary revolutions, Vedic authority for inference in astronomy, relative accuracy of different systems, and correction through

eclipse An eclipse is an astronomical event which occurs when an astronomical object or spacecraft is temporarily obscured, by passing into the shadow of another body or by having another body pass between it and the viewer. This alignment of three ...

s, true motion, position, etc., of planets are some of the topics discussed in Jyotirmimamsa.

Synopsis

The following is an outline of the various topics discussed in Jyotirmimamsa. *The necessity of revising the astronomical constants at regular intervals for correcting the parameters connected with astronomy *The meaning of ''devatha prasada'', which is manifested in the intuition of the astronomers, as a prerequisite for obtaining the accurate values and the correct approach in the astronomy *The experimental determinations of the astronomical constants and the tools used for these determinations *The need and the importance of conducting experiments in astronomical studies *Significance of the astronomical books and the base of collecting data from those books *Application of corrections, called ''bija correction'', for the astronomical figures *The corrections known as the ''Bhatta correction'' *Justification of the changes made by the astronomer Lallacharya in his book ''Sishyaddhi vruddhi tantra'' *Reasons for difference in the mean planets though the revolutions are identical *Vedic authority for inference as a means to derive the number of planetary revolutions *Different systems of astronomy *The numbers of planetary revolutions enunciated by Sripati and Brahmagupta *The numbers of revolutions of planets, apogees and nodes, number of days, in a

Kalpa Kalevan Pallo (KalPa) is a professional ice hockey team which competes in the Finnish Liiga. They play in Kuopio, Finland at the Niiralan monttu, Olvi Areena. Team history Established in 1929 as ''Sortavalan Palloseura'' in Sortavala, the club r ...

(in astronomy, a period of 14×72×4320000 years) *Zero points of the planets at the commencement of ''

Kali Yuga ''Kali Yuga'' (Devanagari: कलियुग), in Hinduism, is the fourth, shortest, and worst of the four '' yugas'' (world ages) in a '' Yuga cycle'', preceded by '' Dvapara Yuga'' and followed by the next cycle's '' Krita (Satya) Yuga''. I ...

'', corrections to planetary revolutions *Relative accuracy of the different astronomical systems *Mean planets according to the Sunrise system of

Aryabhatiya ''Aryabhatiya'' (IAST: ') or ''Aryabhatiyam'' ('), a Indian astronomy, Sanskrit astronomical treatise, is the ''Masterpiece, magnum opus'' and only known surviving work of the 5th century Indian mathematics, Indian mathematician Aryabhata. Philos ...

, mean planets, Moon's apogee and Moon's node according to ''Siddhantasekhara'' *Application of the values in the astronomical calculations, astronomical corrections given on the bases of the eclipses *Eclipses observed by Parameswaracharya *Method of corrections given by other astronomers *Demonstration of the validity of those corrections through eclipses, precision of equinoxes, calculation and the correction, correction of the periphery of the manda epicycle, discussion on the precision of the equinoxes, corrections due to the precession of the equinoxes *Sine table for ''praanakalaantara'', sine table for the ascensional differences *Derivation of the 36 Rsines *Graphic proof for the relation of the sides and hypotenuse *Reason for the reduction of the minutes of arc of the planetary orbital to the visible celestial sphere

References

{{Scientific Research in Kerala , state=collapsed Hindu astronomy History of mathematics Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics Indian astronomy texts

Synopsis

See also

References