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1. ARUNADA TT A
Arunadatta, the author of' Sarvanqa has been acclaimed by the critics as
Sundara' commentary on Ashtanga one of the best works on Vagbhata's
Hridaya was the son of Mrigankadatta Ashtanga Hridaya. According to many
and believed to be a native of Benqal'. scholars and Vaidyas, the commentary
He belongs to the early part of the 13th Sarvanga Sundara is indeed the most
century. He was a multifarious scholar wonderful and beautiful as author
having rich knowledge oj several named it very suitably"
branches of ancient learnings such as Vagbhata's Ashtanga Hridaya is
Sahitya (Literature), Vy.akar a n a widely read book. It had been studied
(Grammer), and Ayurveda (Science of by the contemporary scholars/belong-
life) etc. Hemadri who belongs to the ing even to the other countries and has
same century and a number of other thus attracted a lot of attention. Natu-
celebrated scholars of later period have rally, several scholars have attempted
extensively quoted Arunadatta as an to write commentaries on Ashtanga
authority on several subjects. This has Hridaya. There is enough evidence to
helped in placing him conveniently in believe that, a number of scholars have
the early part of the 13th century i.e. written commentaries in different lan-
1220 A.D.2 guages on Ashtanga Hridaya. A list of
Arunadatta's commentary SaNan- such commentaries is as follows:
ga Sundara which brought him fame
• Assistant Research Officer, (Ayu.) I.i.H.M. O.M.C. Putlibowli, Hyderabad 500095 (INDIA).
The three of the above commentar- the later part of the 13th century.
ies viz. Arundatta's Sarvanga Sundara; Hence Arunadatta can safely be
Chandranandana's Padarthaguna placed in the early part of the 13th
Chandrika and Hemadri's Ayurveda century i.e. about 1220 A.D5
Rasayana are very famous.' His Works:
Parentage And Birth Place: Arunadatta's commentary Sarvan-
Though Arunadatta's place of birth ga Sundara on Ashtanga Hridaya is
is not specified any where, but it is held in high esteem in view of its easy
believed that he was native of Bengal. diction and lucid expansion. And when-
He has mentioned about his parentage ever necessary he has commented with
in the introductory verse and colophone the help of his own shlokas for the
at the end of each chapter of his com- benefit of the readers. Apart from deal-
mentary. So, on this basis it can be ing with the subject of Ashtanga Hridaya,
ascertained that, he belonged to the Arunadatta deals with the literary as-
sect of Vaidika and his fathers name pects of the work also explaining at
was Mrigankadatta. length the grammatical and poetical
Date: aspects of it. Fortunately his Sarvanga
The historians are of the opinion Sundara is available in full text. He is
that Arunadatta lived in the period of also credited with a similar commentary
early 13th century. He was quoted by on Sushruta Samhita and another inde-
Hemadri, who has clear historical evi- pendent work "Manushyalaya
dence of his period and patronage. It is Chandrika" dealing with geology and
therefore concluded that Arunadatta architecture, but these two works are
lived earlierto Hemadri, who belongs to not available nowadays.
2. HEMADRI
Hemadri was a celebrated scholar In the Chaturvarga Chintamani he has
of his time who wrote the famous com- mentioned that he was incharge of the
mentary on Ashtanga Hridaya entitled state records of King Mahadeva of
"Ayurveda Rasayana." Fortunatelywe Devagiri (1260-71 A.D.).6 From the
find clear historical evidence with re- Ayurveda Rasayana commentary and
gard to his identity, parentage and pa- contemporary inscriptions, he appears
tronage. In the prelude of his Ayurveda to have been the architect and chief
Rasayana he introduces himself and minister of Ramachandra (1271-1309
says, this commentory was written with AD.), the successor of King Mahadeva'.
an aim to felicitate people in attainment There is also evidence to believe that
of good health. His another work he functioned as the Judge in the court
"Chaturvarga Chintamani" is an of King Ramachandra. It is said that it
encyclopaedia of ancient religious rites. was Hemadri who brought changes in
4. 'Ashtanga Hridaya' by Ramprasad Sharma, P.No. 3
5. Studies in the medicine of ancient India by Hoernle, A.F.R. Vol. 1, P.No. 17.
6. Ashanga Hridaya by A.M. Kunte P.No. 11
7. Ibid.
28 Arunadatta and Hemadri - Subhakta
the then Devanagari script to make it tator flourished had great emphasis in
more popular script among the contem- the framing of his personality. Hemadri's
porary scholars and he named the matchless and unique personality, schol-
changed version of the script as "Modi arship and achievements can be struc-
Script:". tured not only through his works but
Genealogy: also through the other historical mate-
Hemadri was the son of Kamadeva, rial related to his patron Kings namely
grandson of Vasudeva, great grandson Mahadeva and Ramachandra of
of Va mana who hails from Vatsa Gotra9. Yadav dynasty (1260-1309).
Personality Of Hemadri: Place And Date:
His towering personality can be as- Hemadri was from a Manarasntrian
sessed through his illustratious schol- Orthodox Brahmin family. He worked
arlyworksand achievements. Hisworks in the court of King Mahadeva and his
stand forvoratiousness, profile genious, son, King Ramachandra. Hence the
long experience, practical training, scrip- period of existence of both these Kings
tural, astrological geographical and can safely be attributed to Hemadri.
dravyaguna knowledge etc. The Royal So, Hemadri must have lived between
patronage under whom the commen- 1260 to 1309 A.D. 10
Predecessors Quoted By Hemadri
Commentators quoted by Hemadri in his work, Ayurveda Rasayana are as follows:
available. But with great difficulty and The following parameters are to
search among different archives the understand his illustrious towering per-
manuscript of the commentary relating sonality gleaned out from Chaturvarga
to "Nidana" has been traced and ob- Chintamani and Ayurveda Rasayana,
tained by the scholars and histcrians." commentary".
They are also hopeful that one day the 1. Scriptural Knowledge.
entire work would be traced and made 2. Astrological Knowledge.
available for the study. 3. Geographical Knowledge.
His another important contribution 4. Dravyaguna Knowledge.
Chaturvarga Chintamani is voluminous Besides these two works, there are
work running into several thousands of several other works also attributed to
pages, written at the instance of King Hemadri.
Mahadeva. This work is prior to the According to Prof. Aufrecht "
Ayurveda Rasayana because, in the Hemadri is erudited to be the author of
prelude of his commentary he intro- the following works:
duces himself as the author of 1. Kaivalya dipika (Muktaphala tika)
Chaturvarga Chintamani. It deals with 2. Commentary on Saunaka's
all facts of kingship and state craft based Pranavakalpa
upon "Hindudharma." Copious refer- 3. Shraddhapaddhati
ences from ancient authorities have 4. Hemadriprayoga
increased the authority of the book. It is 5. Nasashantayah (from Shanti -
said to be an encyclopaedia of ancient khanda)
traditions and religion rites, quoting fre- Besides, Prof. Padhye also men-
quently from the Smritis and Puranas. tions the following 13 works:
REFERENCES
1. Aufrecht 1962 'Catalogus Catalogorum' Part I & III
Pub by FRANZ STEINER, VERLAG
WIES BADEN.
5. Kunte A.M. & Navre K.R.S. 1982 'Ashtanga Hridaya' of Vagbhata edi.
by Pt. Paradhkar Akola, Pub. By
Chowkhamba, Sanskrit series office,
VARANASI.
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