On the Back Cover
Tantrasa graha, composed by the renowned Kerala astronomer N laka tha Somayaji (c. 1444 1545 CE) ranks along with ryabhat ya of ryabhata and Siddh nta iromani of Bh skar c rya as one of the major works that significantly influenced further work on astronomy in India. One of the distinguishing features of this text is the introduction of a major revision of the traditional planetary models which includes a unified theory of planetary latitudes and a better formulation of the equation of centre for the interior planets (Mercury and Venus) than was previously available.
Several important innovations in mathematical technique are also to be found in Tantrasa graha, especially related to the computation of accurate sine tables, the use of series for evaluating the sine and cosine functions, and a systematic treatment of the problems related to the diurnal motion of the celestial objects. The spherical trigonometry relations presented in the text applied to a variety of problems such as the computation eclipses, elevation of the moon s cusps and so forth are also exact.
In preparing the translation and explanatory notes, the authors have used authentic Sanskrit editions of Tantrasa graha by Suranad Kunjan Pillai and K V Sarma. The text consists of eight chapters mean londitudes, true longitues, gnomonic shadow, lunar eclipse, solar eclipse, vyat p ta, reduction to observation and elevation of the moon s cusps and 432 verses. All the verses have been translated into English and are supplemented with detailed explanations including all mathematical relations, figures and tables using modern mathematical notation.
This edition of Tantrasa graha will appeal to historians of astronomy as well as those who are keen to know about the actual computational procedures employed in Indian astronomy. It is a self-contained text with several appendices included, enabling the reader to comprehend the subject matter without the need for further research."
About the Author
M. S. Sriram is Professor at the Centre for Public Policy, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore. In addition, he is currently a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute for Development of Research in Banking Technology set up by the RBI. In the past, he was the ICICI Bank Lalita D Gupte Chair Professor of Microfinance, and Chairperson Finance and Accounting Area at the IIM Ahmedabad; on the faculty of IRMA, and Vice President of Basix. He has also taught at IIM Udaipur, SP Jain Centre for Management in Dubai and Singapore, the Solvay Brussels School of Business and Economics and the Azim Premji University Bengaluru.Sriram is a coauthor of three Books Beyond Micro-credit published by SAGE-Vistaar and two books on flow of credit to small and marginal farmers.Sriram has served on several committees set up by GoI, RBI and NABARD. He was till recently on the External Advisory Committee of the RBI for granting licences to small finance banks. He is also on the board of NABFINS, NDDB Dairy Services and Centre for Budget and Policy Studies, and a Trustee of Pratham Books and Dastkar Andhra.
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