The Heritage of Astronomical Manuscripts in Mysore B S Shubha, B S Shylaja and Annapurni Subramaniam
Indian Institute Of Astrophysics Bangalore
Jawaharlal Nehru planetarium, Bangalore
Indian Institute Of Astrophysics, Bangalore
Abstract
The Mysore region has a rich heritage of astronomical manuscripts, with a significant collection preserved at the Oriental Research Institute (ORI) and numerous private family collections. These texts, are 400 years old palm-leaf manuscripts and some 200 years old paper manuscripts, written in a variety of languages. The archaic scripts are as Tigalari, Modi, and Nandinagari.
Some notable examples include:
-Laghumansa vyakhya: A comprehensive commentary on an astronomical treatise.
-Bhugola nirnayaha: Presents straightforward translations and descriptions of the Earth and its fundamental constituents.
-Grahaganita Bhaskara: Contains solved examples of celestial events, specifically calculated for the year 1847.
- Pratibhagi tika: Serves as a practical ready reckoner for determining planetary positions.
Also, we could identify Vasistha Siddhanta, an astronomical work, previously believed to be lost. Its rediscovery emphasizes the immense academic and historical value of Mysore^s manuscript heritage.
