Śaṅkaranārāyaṇa

--> | nationality = Indian | citizenship = | other_names = | known_for = | education = | alma_mater = | employer = Sthanu Ravi Kulasekhara | notable works = ''Laghubhaskariyavivarana'' | occupation = Astronomer-mathematician | years_active = | height = | boards = | spouse = | children = | parents = | relations = | callsign = | signature = | signature_alt = | website = | footnotes = }} Sankaranarayana (c. 840 – c. 900) was an Indian astronomer-mathematician in the court of Sthanu Ravi Kulasekhara (c. 844 – c. 870) of the early medieval Chera kingdom in Kerala. He is celebrated as the author of ''Laghubhaskariyavivarana'' or ''Laghubhaskariyavyakha'', a detailed commentary on astronomical treatise ''Laghubhaskariya'' by 7th century mathematician Bhaskara I (which in turn was based on the works of the 5th century polymath Aryabhata).

Sankaranarayana is known to have established an astronomical observatory at the port of Mahodayapuram, present-day Kodungallur, in central Kerala. ''Laghubhaskariyavivarana'' (Chapter VII) explicitly states that it was composed in Saka Year 791 (corresponding to 869/70 AD). In the second verse of the commentary Sankaranarayana remembers five major predecessors in the field of mathematics (Aryabhata, Varahamihira, Bhaskara I, Govinda and Haridatta), including his possible master Govinda (c. 800 – c. 860 AD).

The commentary notably mentions an expert astronomer who had travelled to the mleccha country. Provided by Wikipedia