Consider the following statements about science in medieval South Indi

Consider the following statements about science in medieval South India :

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1. The Katapayadi system of numerals, which was invented by Vararuchi of Kerala, the author of Chandra Vakyas, was used for calculating the position of Moon on any day of the year.
2. Achyuta Pisharati (1550 – 1621) wrote Uparagakriyakrama, a text on eclipses.
3. Ravi Varma of Mahodayapuram set up an observatory and is also said to have inaugurated the Kollam era.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 and 3 only

3 only

1 and 2 only

1, 2 and 3

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-2 – 2023

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The correct answer is (D). All three statements are correct with reference to science in medieval South India, particularly concerning the Kerala School of astronomy and mathematics.

Statement 1 is correct: The Katapayadi system, associated with Vararuchi of Kerala (perhaps an early figure or a later one, depending on the specific Vararuchi referred to), was indeed used in astronomical computations, including determining planetary positions, based on mnemonic verses like the Chandra Vakyas. Statement 2 is correct: Achyuta Pisharati (1550-1621) was a key figure in the Kerala School, and *Uparagakriyakrama*, a text on eclipses, is one of his known works. Statement 3 is correct: The inauguration of the Kollam era (825 CE) is traditionally linked to the Chera rulers of Mahodayapuram (modern Kodungallur). While precise details are debated, the era’s origin in this period and region, associated with rulers like Ravi Varma, and the mention of an observatory aligns with the flourishing astronomical tradition in Kerala during the medieval period.

The Kerala School of astronomy and mathematics, which flourished from the 14th to the 17th centuries, made significant contributions to topics like infinite series, calculus, trigonometry, and astronomy, predating similar developments in Europe.

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