A History of the Kerala School of Hindu Astronomy (in Perspective) c10.s8.128

c10.s8.128

Koccu-kṛṣṇan Āśān was born in the family of Neṭumpayil in the Tiruvalla taluk of Kerala, as the son of an erudite astrologer named Rāman Āśān. He studied Jyotiṣa under his father as also under Śūlapāṇi Vāriyar of Kozhikode. He came of a long line of astronomers and astrologers and had several disciples who continued that tradition.² He was a great devotee of God Kṛṣṇa and was a poet with several works to his credit. His works on Jyotiṣa, all intended for the novice, include *Pañcabodha* VIII, in Malayalam verse, *Bhāṣājātakapaddhati*, being a free rendering-cum-commentary of the popular *Jātakapaddhati* of Parameśvara of Vaṭaśreṇi, incorporating several matters not dealt with in the original.³ *Kaṇakkuśāstram* presenting mathematical procedures in Malayalam verse and a *Bhāṣā-Golayukti* which he mentions in his *Bhāṣājātaka-paddhati* as a work which he intended to write but which yet remains to be traced.