Cover page of Kaṇakkatikāram published in 1859 (Internet Archive)

Kaṇakkatikāram is a Tamil mathematics book believed to have been written by Kari Nayanar hailing from Korakaiyur in Cholanad. Considering the internal evidences, the work has been dated to 15th century CE. "It is significant that the mathematical methods found in these delves into the material life of the people and approach the dimensions of daily labor enumeratively."[1] According to the author, the contents of the book are based on material available in standard Sanskrit treatises on mathematics like 'Līlāvatī".

Kaṇakkatikāram in Malayalam

Kaṇakkatikāram was popular in Kerala also and it had been in wide use as a textbook for teaching arithmetic to children in the elementary schools in Kerala during the pre-Independence era.[2] A Malayalam adaptation of work with some additional mathematical material and explanations, authored by Mavanan Mappila Seyd Muhammed Asan, was printed and published by CMS Press Kottayam in 1863. The title of the Malayalam version of the book is Kaṇakkadhikāram.[3]

Contents

Kaṇakkatikāram deals with the arithmetical calculations that are likely to be required in the daily life of ordinary people. For example, it deals with computations involving quantitative measurements of paddy, wood, other agricultural produce, land, gold, etc. and also the computations of the daily, monthly wages of field workers, etc. The Malayalam version has a 54-page preamble devoted to explaining the notations for whole numbers, fractions and multiplication tables for whole numbers and fractions.

Further reading

  • A palm leaf manuscript of Kaṇakkatikāram is available at the British Library. A scanned copy of the folios of the manuscript can be viewed at: "கணக்கதிகாரம் (Kanakkatikaram)". eap.bl.uk. The British Library. Retrieved 25 December 2023. (made available as part of the Endangered Archives Programme of the British Library)
  • An old print of Kaṇakkatikāram: Kari Nayanar (1859). Kaṇakkatikāram. Kalvikkaṭal Accukkūṭam. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  • A modern printing of Kaṇakkatikāram: Kaṇakkatikāram (Internet Archive)
  • Kaṇakkatikāram (Tamil Digital Library)
  • For the Malayalam version of Kaṇakkatikāram: Mavanan Mappila Seyd Muhammed Asan (1863). Kanakkadhikaram. Kottayam: C. M. S. Press. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  • For a modern book with the same title Kaṇakkatikāram authored by K. Sathyabhama and P. Subrahmanian:Kaṇakkatikāram

References

  1. ↑ Senthilbabu. "அறிவியலும் தமிழ்ச்சமூகமும் - சில கேள்விகள் த.செந்தில்பாபு (Science and Tamil Society - Some Questions)". www.keetru.com/. Retrieved 25 December 2023. (the content is in Tamil)
  2. ↑ Ulloor S. Parameswara Ayyar (1954). Kerala Sahithua Charithram (History of Literature in Kerala) Vol. 2. Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala University. p. 478. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  3. ↑ Mavanan Mappila Seyd Muhammed Asan (1863). Kanakkadhikaram. Kottayam: C. M. S. Press. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
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