A History of the Kerala School of Hindu Astronomy (in Perspective) c10.s6.30

c10.s6.30

Nīlakaṇṭha Somayājī, the centenarian astronomer of Kuṇḍapura (Mal. Tṛkkaṇṭiyūr) in South Malabar, was, perhaps, as eminent as his grand-teacher, Parameśvara of Vaṭaśreṇi. In a detailed colophon to his *Bhāṣya* on the *Aryabhaṭīya*, Gaṇitapāda, he gives full details about himself. Elsewhere also, in his works, he records particulars about his person. He was a Numpūtiri of the Garga-gotra and hailed from the family of Keḷallūr (Mal. Kerala-nal-ūr, Skt. Kerala-sadgrāma). He was the son of Jātavedas and had a younger brother named Śaṅkara. His date of birth is given in the chronogram given in his *Siddhāntadarpaṇa-vyākhya*, viz., *tyajamyajñatām tarkaḥ* (16,60,181) which falls in Dec. 1444. He is referred to as a ‘living’ authority by Mādhava of Iñcakkāzhva in his *Praśnasāra*, composed in 1542-43. Both he and his brother Śaṅkara were patronised by Kauṣitaki Āḍhya Netranārāyaṇa (Āzhvāñceri Tamprākkal), the hereditary religious head of the Nampūtiris. Nīlakaṇṭha spent his student days at the house of Parameśvara of Vaṭaśreṇi and received occasional instruction from him, his regular teacher being Parameśvara's son, Dāmodara. Nīlakaṇṭha had also another teacher by name Ravi, who is identified as the author of Ācāradarśana.