Pandian Journal of Mathematical Sciences (Jul 2023)
Kanakkathikaram
Abstract
“Ennum Eluththum kanEnath thakum” and “Enneluththikalel” Avvaiyar emphasises the importance of "Numbers" and "Writing" to humans in this prologue ("Moothurai"). Scholars have remarked that writing is the best of many arts in the world and that learning other arts is difficult without knowing "numbers," which is what keeps people's lives running smoothly. (Kanak, pg-1). Only a few Tamil mathematical works were written by Tamil poets between the 18th and 20th centuries. Among those math books "KanithaDeepikai, Balakanitham, Ensuvadi, Asthana Kolakalam, Ensuvadi, EnVilakkam (Numerology)" and others. According to Tamil historians, before this, there were seven books titled "Erambam, Kilaralapam, Adisharam, Kalambagam, ThiribhuvanathThilakam, Kanikarathinam, and Siruganakku" that were burnt. (Kanak, pg-2) One party also claims that after the 18th century, particularly in the last century, Tamil experts showed little interest in developing scientific Tamil. "Kanakkathikaram" specifies six categories of accounts. Historians believe the "Kanakkathikaram" belongs to the 15th century. Quantities and mathematical riddles employed in a book from 500 to 600 years ago are still utilized even today. For example, the word saree (Pudavai) is a measurement, but now we consider saree (Pudavai) as an object. A saree (Pudavai) is 18 cubits ("Muzham") in length. Did the saree (Pudavai) receive its name because of its size? Alternatively, it is debatable if the size of the saree (Pudavai) was included in the math because of the length of the saree. Likewise the fabric is known as "Vetti" in a similar way. There is a custom in our villages of "putting crore of cloth (Kodithunipoduthal)" on funeral rituals; I assumed a "crore of cloth" meant one crore of cloth, but a "crore of cloth (kodithuni)" is also a measurement of cloth. One "crore of cloth" equals 20 "vetti" or 640 "saree (Pudavai)". Similarly, my mother still measures grains and beans using "padi and koththu" even now. This article is a research consisting of the investigation into these metrics as well as the mathematical puzzles listed in the "Kanakkathikaram."
