Radhakrishnan
Kuttoor
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A scientist says the great astronomer's place of observation can
be identified from the astronomical and geographical information
mentioned in Aryabhatiyam.
Stellar
science: An artist's depiction of Aryabhata
PATHANAMTHITTA: Was Aryabhata, a 6th Century astronomer and mathematician,
born in Kerala?
"Aryabhata
lived in Ponnani in the northern coastal belt of Kerala,"
says K. Chandra Hari, senior geoscientist at the Institute of
Reservoir Studies of Oil and Natural Gas Commission, Ahmedabad.
The
birthplace of Aryabhata has been a topic of debate, with scholars
arguing over the belief that he was born at Kusumapura, near modern
Patna, in present-day Bihar. However, Mr. Hari, who claims to
have done considerable research on the topic, is all out to establish
that the familiarity to Aryabhata's name, his tradition and works
convey that he lived in Kerala.
Mr.
Hari told The Hindu that publications of scientific bodies, such
as the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), and web sites had
been giving "ambiguous information with no conclusive evidence"
to establish whether t he great astronomer lived in Bihar or Kerala.
"While
Aryabhatiyam published by INSA speaks of Kusumapura as the birthplace
of Aryabhata, another INSA publication, A Concise History of Science
in India, mentions Kerala as his birthplace," he said. Citing
what the called evidences, Mr. Hari said Aryabhata lived precisely
in the modern Ponnani-Chamravattom area (latitude 10N51 and longitude
75E45) in Kerala in 6th Century AD.
According
to him, Aryabhata's place of observation can be identified from
the astronomical and geographical information contained in Aryabhatiyam,
a work noted for its brevity of expression and excellent organisation
of astron omical and mathematical contents. Two values of Earth's
circumference at the equator given by Aryabhata suggest that his
latitude of observation was 10N51, where the Bharathapuzha merges
with the sea and the prime meridian of Ujjaini touches the coastline
of Kerala, he said.
Aryabhata
had his astronomical observations from Kerala. His adherence to
the theory of Earth's rotation and apparent revolution of the
starry canopy might have its genesis from the experience of apparent
motion of the shore during his sea voyage along the Kerala coast.
Mr.
Hari has published over 20 papers in the Journal of Indian National
Science Academy.
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