Utpala or Bhaṭṭotpala (Bhaṭṭa-utpala) is the name of a 10th-century Indian commentator of Vārāha Mihira's Brihat Samhitā. Brihat Samhitā is a Samhitā text of Jyotiṣa (Indian astrology and astronomy) . Samhitā is one of three branches of Jyotiṣa (Samhitā has many other meanings outside Jyotiṣa).

He is known for quoting six verses from Surya Siddhanta which are not found in its extant version. These six verses can be found in the 'Introduction' by S.Jain to the translation of Surya Siddhānta made by E. Burgess.[1]

He is also the author of a commentary on Brahmagupta's Khaṇḍa-khādyaka (7th century). In this, he is a successor of Prthudaka and a predecessor of Amaraja.

Bhattotpala is a commentator of the treatises Brihatjataka and Brihat Samhita of Varahamihira. At the end of his commentary on Brihatjataka, Bhattotpala states as, follows:-

चैत्रमासस्य पंचम्याँ सितायाँ गुरुवासरे| वस्वष्टाष्टमिते शाके कृतेयॅँ विवृतिर्मया||

"This commentary was written by me in the year 888 of the Saka on Thursday, Suklapaksha Panchami of the Chaitra month."

He was from Kashmir.[2][3][4][5]

See also

• Indian science and technology
• Indian mathematics
• Hindu astronomy

Notes

References

• David Pingree, The Beginning of Utpala's Commentary on the Khaṇḍakhādyaka, Journal of the American Oriental Society (1973).
• B. Chatterjee (trans.), The Khandakhadyaka (an astronomical treatise) of Brahmagupta; With the commentary of Bhattotpala, 2 vols., Calcutta (1970).
• Surya Siddhānta (Text with translation and Notes) [A Text-Book of Hindu Astronomy], translation by E.Burgess, with Sanskrit text and edited by S.Jain. Oriental Book Centre,5824 New Chandrawal, Near Shiv Mandir, Jawahar Nagar, Delhi-110007,2005; ISBN 81-8315-017-9.
• Yoga Yatra Vivritti of Bhattotpala
• Brihat Jatak Vivritti of Bhattotpala