Kelallur Neelakandhan Somayaji

Kelallur Neelakandhan Somayaji (AD 1465–1545) was one of the foremost astronomers in Kerala. Known popularly as Kelallur Chomaathiri, he is considered an equal to Vatasseri Parameshwaran Nambudiri.

Early life

Neelakandhan Somayaji was born to Jathavedan and Arya in Nambudiri family of Kelallur Mana of Thrikkandiyur, near Tirur, and belonged to the Gaargya Gothram, Aaswalaayana Soothram of Rig vedam. He studied Vedam, Mathematics and the basics of Astronomy from Vatasseri Damodaran Namboodiri (son of the famous Parameswaran Namboodiri).

Works

His most important work is "Thanthra Samgraham" (a treatise on Mathematics and Astronomy) of eight chapters with 432 verses, written in six days from Meenam 26 of 676 ME to Medam 1 the same year. Two commentaries were written on this work, "Yukthi Bhaasha" (in Malayalam) by Paarangot Jyeshtadevan Namboodiri and "Yukthi Deepika" by Sankara Varier.

Another of his important works is a "Bhaashyam" (commentary) on "Aaryabhateeyam". His other works include "Jyorthir Meemaamsa", "Chandra Chhaayaa Ganitham" (calculations relating to moon's shadow), "Sidhhantha Darpanam" (on the Laws of Astronomy) and its Vyaakhyaa, "Golasaaram" (Essence of Spherical Astronomy), "Grahana Nirnayam", "Grahanaashtakam", "Graha Pareekshaa Kramam" and "Sundara Raaja Prasnotharam". His commentary on "Aaryabhateeyam" shows that his scholastic abilities extend beyond Jyotisham and Vedantam, to the realms of Mimamsa, Vyakaranam and Nyayam.

ee also

*Indian astronomy
*Indian mathematics

Reference

* [http://www.namboothiri.com/articles/contributions.htm http://www.namboothiri.com/articles/contributions.htm]