The book, among other things, contains details of the lives and works of about 80 astronomers and mathematicians belonging to the Kerala School.

Even though C. M. Whish, an officer of East India Company, had presented a paper on the achievements of the mathematicians of Kerala School as early as 1842,[2] western scholars had hardly taken note of these contributions.

Sarma emphasizes the spirit of inquiry, stress on observation and experimentation, concern for accuracy, and continuity of tradition as the important features of Kerala astronomy.

This gives an indication of the range and depth of the topics discussed in the Kerala literature on Jyotisha.

There are accounts of as many as 80 authors beginning with the legendary Vararuchi I who is believed to have flourished in the 4th century CE and ending with Rama Varma Koittampuran (1853–1910).