CAPF AC 2025 Q55: Ancient History – Post - Gupta & Early Medieval Dynasties
With reference to the history of India, the 'Katapayadi system', the 'Parahita system' and the 'Drigganita system' are associated with
- (a) astronomy
- (b) surgery
- (c) chemistry
- (d) music and dance
Answer: (a) astronomy
Explanation
Katapayadi, Parahita and Drigganita
How to think: all three are linked with the Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics.
| System | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Katapayadi | A way of writing numbers as letters (Sanskrit syllables), used to record astronomical figures in verse |
| Parahita | An astronomical system of Haridatta (7th century, Kerala) for planetary positions |
| Drigganita | The 'observation-based computation' of Parameshvara (about 1430), correcting planetary positions by observation |
The three belong to astronomy (and its mathematics).
Bank key corrected: the stored key was (b) surgery; the right answer is (a) astronomy.
Answer: (a) astronomy.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. The three systems belong to astronomy in Kerala.
- (b) Incorrect. Surgery is the field of Sushruta, not of these systems.
- (c) Incorrect. Chemistry (rasashastra) is a different tradition.
- (d) Incorrect. Music and dance are not linked with these three systems.
Key point
Kerala school: Madhava of Sangamagrama (infinite series), Parameshvara (Drigganita, c. 1430), Nilakantha Somayaji (Tantrasangraha), Haridatta (Parahita). Katapayadi: letter-to-digit encoding.
Remember
Katapayadi, Parahita, Drigganita: Kerala astronomy.
Common mistakes
- Choosing surgery because the names sound like Ayurveda terms.
- Treating Katapayadi as a code used in music.
- Not knowing the Kerala school of astronomy.
Exam tip
Educated guess: 'Drigganita' is built from drik (sight) and ganita (computation), which points to observation and calculation, that is astronomy.
Sources
- K. V. Sarma, A History of the Kerala School of Hindu Astronomy (Vishveshvaranand Institute, 1972)
- Kim Plofker, Mathematics in India (Princeton University Press, 2009), chapter on Kerala astronomy