Sankara Variar was an astronomer

Astronomer

An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...

-mathematician

Mathematician

A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....

 of the Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics who lived during the sixteenth century CE

Common Era

Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...

. His family were employed as temple-assistants in the Shiva-temple at Trkkutaveli near modern Ottapalam

Ottapalam

Ottapalam is a town in Palakkad District of Kerala state in India. It is also the headquarters of Ottapalam taluk. Situated on the banks of the Bharathappuzha river , it has a rich cultural heritage and has played host to many historic events. It is famous for having several films shot here...

.

Mathematical lineage

He was taught mainly by Nilakantha Somayaji

Nilakantha Somayaji

Kelallur Nilakantha Somayaji was a major mathematician and astronomer of the Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics. One of his most influential works was the comprehensive astronomical treatise Tantrasamgraha completed in 1501...

 (1444–1544), the author of the celebrated Tantrasamgraha

Tantrasamgraha

Tantrasamgraha is an important astronomical treatise written by Nilakantha Somayaji, an astronomer/mathematician belonging to the Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics....

 and Jyesthadeva (1500–1575), the author of Yuktibhāṣā

Yuktibhasa

Yuktibhāṣā also known as Gaṇitanyāyasaṅgraha , is a major treatise on mathematics and astronomy, written by Indian astronomer Jyesthadeva of the Kerala school of mathematics in about AD 1530...

. Other teachers of Sankara Variar include Netranarayana, the patron of Nilakantha Somayaji and Chitrabhanu, the author of an astronomical treaties dated to 1530 and of a small work with solutions and proofs for algebraic equations.

Works of Sankara Variar

The known works of Sankara Variar are the following:

• Yukti-dipika - an extensive commentary in verse on Tantrasamgraha
  Tantrasamgraha
  Tantrasamgraha is an important astronomical treatise written by Nilakantha Somayaji, an astronomer/mathematician belonging to the Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics....
  
   based on Yuktibhāṣā
  Yuktibhasa
  Yuktibhāṣā also known as Gaṇitanyāyasaṅgraha , is a major treatise on mathematics and astronomy, written by Indian astronomer Jyesthadeva of the Kerala school of mathematics in about AD 1530...
  
  .
• Laghu-vivrti - a short commentary in prose on Tantrasangraha.
• Kriya-kramakari
  Kriyakramakari
  Kriyakramakari is an elaborate commentary in Sanskrit written by Sankara Variar and Narayana, two astronomer-mathematicians belonging to the Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics, on Bhaskara II's well-known textbook on mathematics Lilavati...
  
  - a lengthy prose commentary on Lilavati
  Lilavati
  Lilavati was Indian mathematician Bhāskara II's treatise on mathematics. It is the first volume of his main work Siddhānta Shiromani, Sanskrit for "Crown of treatises," alongside Bijaganita, Grahaganita and Golādhyāya.- Name :The name comes from his daughter Līlāvatī...
  
   of Bhaskara II.
• An astronomical commentary dated 1529 CE.
• An astronomical handbook completed around 1554 CE.