A History of Sanskrit Literature c35.s9.5

c35.s9.5

On omens and prognostications there are also many late treatises; the *Adbhutasāgara*³ was begun in 1168 by Ballālasena of Bengal and finished by Lakṣmaṇasena, while the *Samudratilaka*, begun in 1160 under Kumārapala of Gujarāt by Durlabharāja, son of Narasiṁha, was finished by his son Jagaddeva, who also wrote the *Svapnacintāmaṇi*,⁴ explaining dreams; the similarity of dream motifs to Märchen is noteworthy. The *Narapatijayacaryā Svarodaya*⁵ was written at Aṇahillapaṭṭana under Ajayapāla of Gujarāt (1174–7) by Narahari, son of Āmradeva of Dhārā; it deals with the use of magic diagrams, marked with mystic letters or syllables, as a means of prognostication in respect of warlike operations and adventurous undertakings. From Persia appears to have been borrowed the art of geomancy, which is represented by the *Ramalarahasya*¹ of Bhayabhañjanaçarman and many other treatises of late date. Of much earlier date are two treatises on cubomancy under the style of *Pāçakakevalī* preserved as parts iv and v of the Bower manuscript² in bad Sanskrit with many signs of Prācritic influence; later tracts are known, ascribed to Garga,³ which show knowledge of the term Horā, and therefore postulate the period of Greek influence.