Nilakantha Somayaji

Nilakantha Somayaji

Kelallur Nilakantha Somayaji (Malayalam: നീലകണ്ഠ സോമയാജി, Nīlakaṇṭa Sōmayāji ?, Sanskrit: नीलकण्ठ सोमयाजि) (1444–1544) (also referred to as Kelallur Comatiri) was a major mathematician and astronomer of the Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics. One of his most influential works was the comprehensive astronomical treatise Tantrasamgraha completed in 1501. He had also composed an elaborate commentary on Aryabhatiya called the Aryabhatiya Bhasya. In this Bhasya, Nilakantha had discussed infinite series expansions of trigonometric functions and problems of algebra and spherical geometry. Grahapareeksakrama is a manual on making observations in astronomy based on instruments of the time.