Aryabhatta: Keralite astronomer, eclispe observer

Kerala's foremost astronomer: ARYABHATTA

K. Chandra Hari (B6-103, ONGC
Colony (East), Chandkheda, Gandhinagar
382 424, India) e-mail: chandra_hari18@yahoo.c

writes in the latest issue of Current Science about his work supplementing
his earlier work in which he has shown shown that the place of observation of Aryabhata as per Aryabhatiya is Ponnani at 10N51, 75E45 where the coastline of Kerala intercepted
the Hindu prime meridian. An effort has been made here to explore the veracity of the legend
that Aryabhata and his son Devarajan had resorted to observe an eclipse from
the sea and had invited the wrath of the orthodox elements and excommunication.