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Sankara Varman (1774–1839) was an astronomer-mathematician belonging to the Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics. He is best known as the author of Sadratnamala, a treatise on astronomy and mathematics, composed in 1819. Sankara Varman is considered as the last notable figure in the long line of illustrious astronomers and mathematicians in the Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics beginning with Madhava of Sangamagrama. Sadratnamala was composed in the traditional style followed by members of the Kerala school at a time when India had been introduced to the western style of mathematics and of writing books in mathematics. One of Varman's contributions to mathematics was his computation of the value of the mathematical constant π correct to 17 decimal places.
Varman was born as a younger prince in the principality of Katattanad, in North Malabar, Kerala, in the year 1774. He had two elder brothers, the eldest being Raja Udaya varma, the ruler of the principality, and second one being Rama Varma, the crown prince. Local people referred to Varman as Appu Thampuran. Katattanad principality was under the suzerainty of the Zamorin of Calicut. The family deity of Sankara Varman was Goddess Parvati installed in the temple of Lokamalayarkavu and he was also a devotee of Lord Krishna.[1]
Varman completed the composition of Sadratnamala in 1819. He also wrote a Malayalam commentary on Sadratnamala. Two versions of the text of Sadratnamala and their commentaries have been discovered. A critical examination of the manuscripts suggests that both are written by Varman, one being a revision of the other.[1]
During the invasion of Malabar by Tipu Sultan/Hyder Ali during 1766 - 1781, many people including members of royal families fled Malabar and took shelter in Travancore. This brought the principality of Katattanad also into close contact with the Travancore Royal Family. Varman was especially attached to Maharaja Swati Tirunal (1813–47).[1]
Varman was an astute astrologer. There is a legend that he predicted the time of his own death as being in 1839, the year in which he died.[1]
ヴァルマンは、東インド会社のマドラス支社に勤務していた公務員CMウィッシュと親しい間柄だった。ウィッシュはヴァルマンとその業績について次のように述べている。「『サドラトナマラ』の著者は、テリチェリー近郊のカダッタナダの現ラージャの弟であるサンカラ・ヴァルマで、非常に聡明で鋭敏な数学者である。この著作はヒンドゥー天文学の完全な体系であり、さまざまな尺度の211の詩で構成され、外国や他のインド諸国の著作には見られない流動的な形式や数列が豊富に含まれている。」ウィッシュは、ケーララ学派の天文学と数学の業績を西洋の数学界に初めて紹介した人物である。[ 2 ]