A History of the Kerala School of Hindu Astronomy (in Perspective) c9.s8.1

c9.s8.1

Practically all the texts popular in Kerala, enunciating the fixation of auspicious times (*muhūrtas*) for the numerous religious and social ceremonies, are of indigenous origin. The *Muhūrtadarśana* of Vidyāmādhava of Nilamana near Gokarṇa, with six commentaries, and the *Muhūrtaratna* of Govinda Bhaṭṭatiri of Talakkulam, with its commentary by Parameśvara of Vaṭaśreṇi, are the early texts of this category. But, by far the most popular works on the subject are two *Muhūrtapadavī*-s written by two brothers of the Māttūr family in Cochin, whose names have, hitherto, remained unknown, but can, now, be identified as Puruṣottama and Subrahmaṇya. The popularity of these two *Muhūrtapadavī*-s can be judged from the profusion of manuscripts of these works available and the seven commentaries composed on them.¹