Book revisits
Eezham Tamil astronomical heritage
[TamilNet, Friday, 18 December 2015, 14:15 GMT]
The third of the series, “Eezham and Tamil –3,” a book by Gnanam Balachandran, released in December 2015, touches on a rare topic, the astronomical heritage of Eezham Tamils. The book in Tamil brings to light a forgotten astronomical treatise “Kirakasaara E’n’nal,” produced in 1506 CE in the times of the Kingdom of Jaffna. The original Tamil text, which was based on an ancient Sanskrit text by Vararuchi and was dealing with the calculation of planetary transits, is now lost. But a summary of it, bringing out the rules and formulas, and appeared in an astronomy textbook by the American Mission in Jaffna in 1848, is reproduced by Gnanam Balachandran along with discussion on the whole astronomical heritage of Eezham Tamils.
The third of the series, “Eezham and Tamil –3,” a book by Gnanam Balachandran, released in December 2015, touches on a rare topic, the astronomical heritage of Eezham Tamils. The book in Tamil brings to light a forgotten astronomical treatise “Kirakasaara E’n’nal,” produced in 1506 CE in the times of the Kingdom of Jaffna. The original Tamil text, which was based on an ancient Sanskrit text by Vararuchi and was dealing with the calculation of planetary transits, is now lost. But a summary of it, bringing out the rules and formulas, and appeared in an astronomy textbook by the American Mission in Jaffna in 1848, is reproduced by Gnanam Balachandran along with discussion on the whole astronomical heritage of Eezham Tamils.
Kirakasaara E'n'nal by Gnanam Balachandran
Ancient South Asian Astronomy/
Astrology has three parts: Mathematics (Siddhanta Ga’nita), Horoscopy
(Horaa) and compilation of the miscellaneous such as mundane,
electional, meteorological, environmental etc. (Samhitaa).
While earlier Eezham Tamil texts starting from Sarasothimaalai of 13th century CE deals with the latter two parts, Kirakasaara E’n’nal of 1506 CE is the earliest Eezham Tamil text on the mathematical part, says Gnanam Balachandran.
Later, in the 17th century, Eezham Tamil produced another text, Parakitha Ka’nitham, on mathematical astronomy, which is available in print today.
Gnanam Balachandran has brought out the book in an admirably graphic way, easy to follow like a power point presentation, along with reproductions of authentic sources.
The book is an introduction of the topic to lay readers, but a reminder to serious academics and professionals on the need to delineate the subject matter and the knowledge system further.
For instance, how to use the Vakyas in Tamil (formulas given in phrase forms) in practically calculating the planetary transits is a unique knowledge system that should be learnt from traditional almanac makers and introduced at least in the university level teaching of Mathematics.
Jaffna College of the American Mission did that in the early 19th century, but the spirit was lost to today’s Eezham Tamils.
While earlier Eezham Tamil texts starting from Sarasothimaalai of 13th century CE deals with the latter two parts, Kirakasaara E’n’nal of 1506 CE is the earliest Eezham Tamil text on the mathematical part, says Gnanam Balachandran.
Later, in the 17th century, Eezham Tamil produced another text, Parakitha Ka’nitham, on mathematical astronomy, which is available in print today.
Gnanam Balachandran has brought out the book in an admirably graphic way, easy to follow like a power point presentation, along with reproductions of authentic sources.
The book is an introduction of the topic to lay readers, but a reminder to serious academics and professionals on the need to delineate the subject matter and the knowledge system further.
For instance, how to use the Vakyas in Tamil (formulas given in phrase forms) in practically calculating the planetary transits is a unique knowledge system that should be learnt from traditional almanac makers and introduced at least in the university level teaching of Mathematics.
Jaffna College of the American Mission did that in the early 19th century, but the spirit was lost to today’s Eezham Tamils.
Ampalavanar
alias Allen Abraham at Jaffna College studied both the traditional and
modern astronomy to excel the then world astronomical observatories in
precisely calculating the transit of Halley’s Comet in 1910.
Kirakasaara E'n'nal publication details
His success was due to his
application of traditional knowledge on the influence of the transit of
Venus close to the comet at that time. He received world recognition by
just an attic observatory built on palmyra palms and a self-made
telescope. A publication on him brought out by Jaffna College in 1985 is
produced herewith for knowing the continuity of the astronomical
heritage of Eezham Tamils.
There could be discrepancies between actual astronomical happenings and calculations based on the Vakyas, due to long-term accumulation of fractions, as well as differences in recognizing the precession (earth’s axis position). But the theory, method and system found in the Vakyas have to be learnt by Eezham Tamils for any meaningful development of the discipline of astronomy among them with a sense of ownership.
Gnanam Balachandran has brought out the book with a commitment. The 62-page book is a priced edition in print. But it is available as public domain with a note: “you can copy, modify, distribute and perform the work, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.” Interested readers may contact editor@gnanam.info
Related Articles:
22.07.15 Book on Eezham Tamil educationalist reproduced in Canada
14.04.08 Liberate Calendar
13.04.08 Tamil New Year
There could be discrepancies between actual astronomical happenings and calculations based on the Vakyas, due to long-term accumulation of fractions, as well as differences in recognizing the precession (earth’s axis position). But the theory, method and system found in the Vakyas have to be learnt by Eezham Tamils for any meaningful development of the discipline of astronomy among them with a sense of ownership.
Gnanam Balachandran has brought out the book with a commitment. The 62-page book is a priced edition in print. But it is available as public domain with a note: “you can copy, modify, distribute and perform the work, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.” Interested readers may contact editor@gnanam.info
Related Articles:
22.07.15 Book on Eezham Tamil educationalist reproduced in Canada
14.04.08 Liberate Calendar
13.04.08 Tamil New Year
கருத்துகள் இல்லை:
கருத்துரையிடுக