A History of the Kerala School of Hindu Astronomy (in Perspective) c9.s9: 17. Malayalam versions of Sanskrit texts

c9.s9.1

It is interesting to note that almost all *Jyotiṣa* works in Sanskrit have one or more commentaries or renderings in Malayalam, produced, obviously, with a view to introduce their study among the non-Sanskrit knowing public. This is a feature found in many other regions of India as well. The Malayalam versions are generally called the *Bhāṣa* of the works concerned. Often the author of the original work himself prepared the *Bhāṣa* and at other times, others. There have also been adaptations and abridgements of Sanskrit works. A very instructive instance of this trend is found in the works of an Āzhvāñceri Tamprākkal who, in a series of works, adapted a number of important Sanskrit texts and also provided the Malayalam renderings of these adaptations. Thus, his *Phalasāra-samuccaya*, in three parts, forms, in its Part I called *Jatakabhāga*, an adaptation of the *Hora* of Varāhamihira and the *Sārāvalī* of Kalyāṇavarman, in Part II called *Praśnabhāga*, an adaptation of the *Praśnamārga* of Panakkāṭṭu Nampūtiri, and in part III entitled *Muhūrtabhāga*, of the *Muhūrtadarśana* of Vidyāmādhva. In fact, of the ten works credited to this author, five, viz., *Jyotiśśāstrasaṅgraha*, *Saṅgrahasādhanakriyā*, *Jātakasārasaṅgraha*, *Jātakanītimārga* and *Phalasārasamuccaya*, are adaptations of standard Sanskrit works and the other five, form the *Bhāṣa-s* of these five works.