A History of the Kerala School of Hindu Astronomy (in Perspective) c9.s8.4

c9.s8.4

The branch of astrology called *Praśna* has been very popular in Kerala where many a new technique and practice has been evolved. The classical work on the subject which was popular in the land was the *Praśnaṣatpañcaśikā* of Pṛthuvaśas, son of Varāhamihira, which claims two good Kerala commentaries. There has, however, been substantial literary production, in consonance with the high popularity of its practice. Here too, several treatises comprehending all aspects of *Praśna* and many others which dealt with special items therein have come to be composed. The most important work of the former category is the *Praśnamārga* by a Nampūtiri of the Panakkāṭṭu family, possibly named Parameśvara. Numerous manuscripts of this work and of the four commentaries on it have been recorded. A good number of later works have been based on it or take it as their chief authority. Other full-fledged works on *Praśna* include three treatises with the identical title *Praśnasāra*, one by Śaṅkara, the second by a Somayāji of Bhūtanāthapura and the third by Mādhava of Iñcakkāzhvā family, two works of the name *Praśnānuṣṭhanapaddhati*, both anonymous, *Praśnāmṛta* of Śrīkumāra, *Praśnāyana* of Puruṣottama with auto-commentary, *Praśnamālā*, possibly by Śaṅkaran Nampūtiri of Mahiṣamaṅgalam, with commentary, two works entitled *Praśnarīti*, one by Dāmodaran Nampūtiri of Maṅgalaśśeri and the other by Iṭakkāṭṭu Kukkaṇiyāl and three different works of the name *Praśnalakṣaṇa*, all anonymous. Among works dealing with individual subjects, there are a large number devoted to topics like *Akṣara*, *Aṣṭamaṅgala*, *Āyus*, *Āyudha*, *Pakiṭa*, *Tambula*, *Roga* etc.