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Mahamahopadhyaya Chandrasekhara Singha Harichandana Mahapatra Samanta (Odia: ମହାମହୋପାଧ୍ୟାୟ ଚନ୍ଦ୍ରଶେଖର ସିଂହ ହରିଚନ୍ଦନ ମହାପାତ୍ର ସାମନ୍ତ), better known as Pathani Samanta (Odia: ପଠାଣି ସାମନ୍ତ), born 13 December 1835 in Purnimanta Pousha Krishna Ashtami), died 11 June 1904 in Purnimanta Adhika Jyeshtha Krishna Trayodashi)) was an Indian astronomer and scholar who measured the distance from the Earth to the Sun with a bamboo pipe and traditional instruments.
Pathani Samanta | |
|---|---|
ପଠାଣି ସାମନ୍ତ | |
 | |
| Born | 13 December 1835 |
| Died | 11 June 1904 (aged 67) |
| Known for | Naked eye astronomy |
His observations, research and calculations were compiled into the book called Siddhanta Darpana, which has verses written in Sanskrit and Odia script. He earned the Mahamahopadhyaya award in 1893. [1]
Biography
Samanta was born in the Princely state of Khandapada in Nayagarh district of the Indian state of Odisha.[2] He was the son of Samanta Syamabandhu Singha and Bishnumali Devi. He was born into a royal family.Later on, He studied Sanskrit and researched traditional Indian astronomy.
During his youth, Samanta measured the length of the shadows throughout the day by using bamboo and wood to create measuring instruments he called mana yantra. He also measured time by using his version of a sundial.[3]
He was the only Indian astronomer who discovered all three irregularities of the moon independently of European astronomers, which were unknown to ancient Indian astronomers.[4]
Samanta suffered from insomnia throughout his life and died on June 11, 1904, from fever & infection. [5]
Instrument maker
Samanta was self-taught by reading the books available at the Royal Library until the age of 15. During his research, Samanta designed many of his instruments by using everyday materials such as wooden sticks and bamboo.[4] After studying mathematics and traditional astronomy, he used his knowledge to match predictions made by ancient Indian mathematicians and astronomers such as Aryabhata, Varahamihira, and Brhamagupta.
He carried out research in measurements using only a bamboo pipe and two wooden sticks[6]. His findings were recorded in his book titled Siddhanta Darpan and were mentioned in the European and American press in 1899. Samanta’s calculations were eventually used in the preparation of almanacs in Odisha.
References
- ^ Naik, P. C.; Satpathy, L. (1998). "Samanta Chandra Sekhar : The great naked eye astronomer". Bulletin of the Astronomical Society of India. 26: 33–49. Bibcode:1998BASI...26...33N.
- ^ "EMINENT PERSONALITY".
- ^ Katti, Madhuri. "Chandrasekhar Samanta: India's Eye in the Sky". Live History India. Live History India. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- ^ a b Panda, Bipin Bihari (2000). "PATHANI SAMANTA AND HIS THEORY OF PLANETARY MOTION" (PDF).
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Katti, Madhuri. "Chandrasekhar Samanta: India's Eye in the Sky". Live History India. Live History India. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- ^ "Samanta Chandrasekhar". Archived from the original on February 22, 2014.
Bibliography
- Satpathy, L., ed. (2003). "Samanta Chandra Sekhar and his Contributions to Ancient Indian Astronomy.". Ancient Indian Astronomy and Contributions of Samanta Chandra Sekhar. ISBN 9788173194320.
- "Samanta Chandra Sekhara and His Treatise Siddhantadarpana.". 500 years of Tantrasangraha: a landmark in the history of astronomy. 2002. p. 127. ISBN 9788179860090.