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Govindasvāmi

800 – 860

Indian mathematician

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About Govindasvāmi

Lived 800 – 860. Govindasvāmi was an astronomer and mathematician.

Govindasvāmi (or Govindasvāmin, Govindaswami) (c. 800 – c. 860) was an Indian mathematical astronomer most famous for his Bhashya, a commentary on the Mahābhāskarīya of Bhāskara I, written around 830. The commentary contains many examples illustrating the use of a Sanskrit place-value system and the construction of a sine table.

His works have been quoted extensively by Sankaranarayana (fl. 869), Udayadivakara (fl. 1073) and Nilakantha Somayaji (c. 1444-1544). Sankaranarayana was the director of the observatory founded in Mahodayapuram, the capital of the Chera kingdom, and is believed to be the student of Govindasvami. In his book, Sankaranarayana gives explanations to the insightful questions of the king Ravi Varma, then ruler of Mahodayapuram and from these references the period of Sankaranarayana is known.

His work Govindakriti was a sequel to Āryabhaṭīya and is lost. Other works attributed to Govindasvami includeGovinda-paddhati (on astrology) and Ganita-mukha (on mathematics). Like Govinda-kriti, these are lost, and known only from mentions and quotations by later writers such as Sankaranarayana and Udayadivakara.

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Important facts

Born
800, Kerala
Birth century
Died
860, Kerala
Also known as
Govinda Svāmī

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Govindasvāmi's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Govindasvāmi?

Indian mathematician

When was Govindasvāmi born?

Govindasvāmi was born in 800 in Kerala.

When did Govindasvāmi die?

Govindasvāmi died in 860 in Kerala.

What was Govindasvāmi's occupation?

Govindasvāmi was an astronomer and mathematician.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Govindasvāmi

· Wikidata: Q5589914

· DBpedia: Govindasvāmi

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Govindasvāmi. https://biography.guide/govindasvami/

MLA: "Govindasvāmi." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/govindasvami/.

Chicago: "Govindasvāmi." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/govindasvami/.

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