An Appraisal of Vākyakaraṇa of Parameśvara

Abstract

Vaṭaśśeri Parameśvaran Nambūdiri popularly known as Parameśvara (1380–1460) was a mathematical astronomer of the Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics founded by Mādhava of Saṅgamagrāma. He has authored several works including Dr̥ggaṇita which is composed by revising the parameters based on observations. The text Vākyakaraṇa of Parameśvara is unique in the sense that it gives algorithm for constructing the vākyas. It is mentioned in the second half of the first verse of text that: djksfr okD;dj.ka okD;ko;ofl¼;s The text Vākyakaraṇa is composed for obtaining the vākyas. The Vākyakaraṇa contains sixty-six verses and gives algorithm for obtaining the vākyas such as gīrṇaśreyādi-vākyas, saṅkrānti-vākyas and so on. In this paper having given an overview of the text, we would proceed to explain some of the algorithm for obtaining the vākyas. We have used the paper manuscript (MS KVS 242) for our study. This manuscript was collected from K.V. Sarma Research Foundation where it is preserved. Sarma transcribed this from the manuscript (MS Triv. C. 133A.) which is preserved in Travancore University Manuscripts Library, Trivandrum. In this article, we shall have a brief overview of the text.