2022-06-20 Mon

Mahamahopadhyaya Chandrasekhara Singha Harichandana Mahapatra Samanta, popularly known as Pathani Samanta, was an Indian astrologer and scholar.

Samanta Chandra Sekhar was the one who measured the distance from the Earth to the Sun with a bamboo pipe and traditional instruments. He measured the length of the shadows throughout the day with the help of bamboo and wood to create measuring instruments, which he named mana yantra. He measured time by using a version of a sundial. Samanta Chandra Sekhar was the only Indian astronomer to discover all three irregularities of the moon independently of European astronomers, which were unknown to ancient Indian astronomers.

Samanta Chandra Sekhar wrote a book called Siddhanta Darpana, in which he wrote all his research and observations. Ths book is written both in Sanskrit and Odia script. He was honored with Mahamahopadhyaya Award in 1893; for his usage of traditional instruments for astronomical observations.

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