Govinda Bhattathiri

Govinda Bhaṭṭathiri (also known as Govinda Bhattathiri of Thalakkulam or Thalkkulathur) (1237 – 1295 CE) was an Indian astrologer and astronomer who lived in Kerala during the thirteenth century CE. Govinda Bhaṭṭatiri was born in the Nambudiri family recognized by the name Thalakkulathur in the village of Alathiyur, Tiru in Kerala, India.

He was traditionally considered to be the forefather of the Pazhur Kaniyar family of astrologers. He was educated in the traditional Vedic gurukula style, and he had to study scriptures and science consisting of Jyotish.

Govinda Bhattathiri was a very intelligent man and studied his subjects sincerely. He took an interest in all his studies, and so his Guru blessed him, and one day he would become one of the best astrologers in Kerala. He is a renowned figure in the Kerala astrological traditions.

His popularly known work was Dasadhyva, a commentary on the first ten chapters of the astrological text Brhajjatke, composed by Varahamihira (505 – 587 CE). It is known to be one of the most important of the 70 known commentaries on this text. Bhaṭṭathiri had also written another important work in astrology named Muhurttarantam.

Paramesvara (ca.1380–1460) was an astronomer of the Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics who was well known for the invention of the Dṛggaṇita system of astronomical computations. He had composed an extraordinary commentary on this work.

In this commentary, Paramesvara had indicated that he was the grandson of a disciple of the author of Muhūrttaratnaṃ. Edgar Thurston recorded the legendary transformation of Bhattathiri to being a Kaniyar. He was born in a Kaniyar family of traditional astrologers and astronomers (a non-Smartha group of Brahmins) at Pazhoor in Kerala, and he was a brilliant astrologer.

The Kaniyar community (which was also known by other names, such as Ganaka) claims descendants from Sakaldwipiya. Brahmins and their forefathers had migrated from west India during 2nd century BC, through Northeastern regions of the country, before settling into this place.

The title of Bhatt that he had in his view of scholarship in astrology changed to Bhattathiri by the post era Smartha Brahmins Nambudiri of Kerala. They were in power, as a routine practice to claim all human excellence to their side.

Before dying, Bhattathiri asked his son to bury him in a Samadhi and use that place to do Ashtamangala Prasna so that his predictions would never go wrong and that place is now known as Paazhur Padipura and is also known as the temple of astrology.