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History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v1.c6.s72: 87. Hemādri

History of Dharmaśāstra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v1.c6.s72

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87. Hemādri

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Hemādri and Mādhava are the Castor and Pollux in the galaxy of *dākṣiṇātya* writers on Dharmaśāstra. Hemādri is a very voluminous writer. He is the author of the Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi, an encyclopædia of ancient religious rites and observances. According to the statements contained in the work itself the author intended to treat Dharmaśāstra in five sections, called vrata, dāna, tīrtha, mokṣa and pariśeṣa.⁸³⁸ The Pariśeṣa-khaṇḍa was divided into four parts, viz., Devatā, Kālanirṇaya, Karmavipāka, Lakṣaṇasamuccaya.⁸³⁹ The Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi has been published in the Bibliotheca Indica series. Four volumes containing 6 parts and covering about 6000 pages have been so far printed. The second and third volumes have two parts each. The fourth volume which deals with *prāyaścitta* does not appear to be the work of Hemādri.⁸⁴⁰ The work so far published is concerned with *vrata*, *dāna*, *śrāddha* and *kāla* (the latter two being parts of the pariśeṣa-khaṇḍa). That portion of the Caturvarga-cintamaṇi which was intended to treat of *tīrtha* and *mokṣa* has not yet come to light. It is extremely doubtful whether the author was able to carry out his gigantic scheme. Mss. of portions of the great work are described in the catalogues under various names, e. g. I. O. cat. No. 1379, p. 407 on *śāntika-pauṣṭikāni* is the same subject that is treated in *vratakhaṇḍa* pp. 1003ff., though there are considerable variations between the Ms. and the printed text.

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⁸³⁸ खण्डानि चास्मिन्ब्रतदानतीर्थमोक्षाभिधानि क्रमशो भवन्ति। यत्पञ्चमं तत्परिशेषखण्डमखण्डितो यत्र विभाति धर्मः॥ चतुर्वर्ग० vol. II. part I verse 16; खण्डैश्चतुर्भिर्व्रतदानतीर्थमोक्षाभिधैर्वर्गचतुष्कमुक्त्वा। विरच्यते तत्परिशिष्टवस्तुव्यावर्णनार्थं परिशेषखण्डम्॥ vol. III. part 1 verse 25.

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⁸³⁹ तत्रादौ देवताकाण्डं ततः कालविनिर्णयः। विपाकः कर्मणां पश्चाल्लक्षणानां समुच्चयः॥ महाप्रकरणीह चत्वार्येतान्यनुक्रमात्॥ चतुर्वर्ग० III. 2. verse 26.

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⁸⁴⁰ It begins 'अथेदानीं हेमाद्रिकारेण लोकोपकारार्थं &c.'.

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Hemādri's is a standard work on the subjects with which he deals. He quotes most profusely from smṛtis and purāṇas and names a host of writers. He appears to have been a profound student of the Pūrvamīmāṁsā. The discussions in his work, particularly on śrāddha and kāla, cannot be well understood without thorough acquaintance with the numerous *nyāyas* of the mīmāṁsā which he employs at every step. To illustrate this a few instances may be cited at random. On pp. 137, 143, 156, 159, of his kālanirṇaya (vol. III part 2) he makes use of four different nyāyas of the *mīmāṁsā*.⁸⁴¹ The eminent commentators and *nibandhakāras* on dharmaśāstra and other works named by him are given below.⁸⁴² It is somewhat remarkable that though he quotes Aparārka and the Smṛti-candrikā scores of times he hardly ever mentions by name the Mitākṣarā of Vijñāneśvara. Though he does not promise a treatment of vyavahāra, here and there he makes sallies into the domain of vyavahāra. For example, he quotes the well-known sūtra of Gautama (10. 39) on the sources of ownership and holds a lengthy discussion thereon.⁸⁴³ In another place he digresses into the question of the various kinds of *strīdhana* and their devolution (vol. III, part 1, pp. 530-531). He was of opinion that everyone, to whatever *śākhā* he may belong, should perform śrāddha in accordance with the directions thereon in all śākhās, kalpa and gṛhya sūtras, smṛtis, purāṇas and usages.⁸⁴⁴ He makes the important statement⁸⁴⁵ that a person following any particular Vedic śākhā may enter into alliance by marriage with any other person of the same country following another Vedic śākhā.

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⁸⁴¹ तेन ज्योतिष्टोमादिवत्-एकस्य तूभयत्वे संयोगपृथक्त्वमिति न्यायेन नित्यत्वमपि स्वीक्रियते । p. 137; this refers to जैमिनि IV. 3. 5-7; भोजनप्रतिषेधस्य नित्यजन्माष्टमीव्रत-स्तुत्यर्थता वेदितव्या (applying the न्याय based on न पृथिव्यामग्निश्चेतव्यः) p. 143; this refers to जैमिनि I. 2. 5 and 18 and शाबरभाष्य thereon; 'पुरोडाशं चतुर्धा करोति आग्नेयं चतुर्धा करोति' p. 156 (this is उपसंहारन्याय in जै. III. 1. 26-27); यानि पुनर्वाक्यानि व्रतशब्दवन्ति दृश्यन्ते तानि न निषेधपराणि नोद्यन्तमादित्यं वीक्षेतेतिवत् । p. 159 (this is पर्युदास).

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⁸⁴² अपरार्क (very frequently), आपस्तम्बधर्मसूत्रभाष्य, कर्कोपाध्याय (frequently quoted), गोविन्दराज, गोविन्दोपाध्याय, त्रिकाण्डमण्डन, देवस्वामी (frequently), निर्णयामृत, न्यायमञ्जरी, पण्डितपरितोष, पृथ्वीचन्द्रोदय, बृहत्कथा, बृहद्वार्तिक, भवदेव, मदननिर्घण्टु, मधुशर्मा, मेधातिथि, वामदेव, विधिरत्न, विश्वप्रकाश, विश्वरूप, विश्वादर्श, शङ्खधर (very frequently), शम्भु, वृद्धशातातपभाष्यकार, शिवदत्त, श्रीधर, सोमदत्त, स्मृतिचन्द्रिका (very frequently), स्मृतिप्रदीप, स्मृतिमहार्णवप्रकाश (or स्मृतिमहार्णव or महार्णव very often), स्मृत्यर्थसार, हरिहर (very frequently).

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⁸⁴³ चतुर्वर्ग० vol. III, part 1, p. 525 where he says 'स्वामिसंबन्धेनैव निमित्तेन यदन्यदीयं द्रव्यमन्यस्य संभवति (स्वं भवति ?) स दायः ।'; here evidently he has in view the मिताक्षरा.

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⁸⁴⁴ सर्वशाखागृह्यकल्पसूत्रस्मृतिपुराणेतिहासाचारावगतधर्ममात्रयुक्तमेव सर्वैः श्राद्धं कर्तव्यमिति स्थितम् । चतुर्वर्ग० III. 1. p. 753. The discussion is started on p. 748.

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⁸⁴⁵ आर्यावर्तेषु च समानदेशवासिनां नानाशाखाध्यायिनामप्युपलभ्यन्त एव परस्परमनवगीयमानाः सर्वतो विवाहसंबन्धाः । ... अतो न कन्यादाने नापि हविर्दाने स्वशाखीयद्विज-नियम इति सिद्धम् । vol. III. 1. p. 381.

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Hemādri gives some account of himself in his work. The Mss. present great variations from the printed text. He belonged to the Vatsagotra.⁸⁴⁶ He was the grandson of Vāsudeva and the son of Kāmadeva. The introductions to the *khaṇḍas* contains fulsome praise of Hemādri. One verse says that Hemādri scored out by showering wealth on poor people the lines that Brahmā had drawn on their forehead at the time of their birth (foredooming them to eternal poverty) and that Brahmā acquiesces in such conduct of Hemādri.⁸⁴⁷ Another verse says that none existed, exists or will exist surpassing Hemādri.⁸⁴⁸ He describes himself as in charge of the imperial records of Mahādeva, the Yādava king of Devagiri (modern Daulatabad).⁸⁴⁹ In the colophons and the body of the work also he is described as the *karaṇādhīśvara* of Mahādeva, as highly honoured by the king and as a minister (*mantrin*) of the king.⁸⁵⁰ He gives in the introduction to the Vratakhaṇḍa a detailed pedigree of the Yādavas of Devagiri. In the section on kāla (vol. III, part 2) he starts with Saṅghaṇa (i. e. Siṅghaṇa of the inscriptions), then speaks of his son Jaitrapāla (i. e. Jaitugi), his son Kṛṣṇa (or Kanhara) and lastly of Mahādeva, son of the younger brother of Kṛṣṇa. This is not the place to go into the genealogy of the Yādavas. There are some discrepancies between the genealogy as presented by Hemādri and as gathered from the inscriptions and numerous copperplate grants of the Yādavas. *Vide* Bombay Gazetteer, vol. I, part 2, pp. 248-249 for Hemādri and pp. 268-275 for extracts from the Vratakhaṇḍa, pp. 252 and 519 for two pedigrees of the Devagiri Yādavas and pp. 511-534 for history. The following may be consulted for the principal grants of the Yādavas:-- Ind. Ant. vol. 17, p. 117 (Kalasbudruk plate of Bhillama dated *śake* 948 or 1025 A. D.), E. I. vol. III p. 110 (Bahal inscription of Siṅghaṇa dated *śake* 1144), E. I. vol. III p. 217-18 (Gadag inscription of Bhillama dated *śake* 1113 i. e. 1191 A. D.), Ind. Ant. vol. 14, p. 68 (grant of Kṛṣṇa or Kanhara dated 1249-50 A. D.), Ind. Ant. vol. 14, p. 314 (Paithan plate of Rāmacandra dated *śake* 1193), E. I. vol. XIII, p. 198 (Thana plate of Rāmacandra dated *śake* 1194 i. e. 1272 A. D.), E. I. vol. XIX, p. 20 (Mamdapur inscription of Kanhara dated *śake* 1172 i. e. 1250 A. D. wherein his younger brother Mahādeva is described as *yuvarāja*). Mahādeva reigned from 1260 to 1271 and Rāmacandra, the son of Kṛṣṇa, from 1271 to 1309 A. D. Since in the Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi Hemādri is said to be the keeper of the state records of Mahādeva, that work must have been composed at some time between 1260 and 1270 A. D. There are contemporary records available showing that Hemādri was in high favour not only with Mahādeva but also with his successor Rāmacandra. The Thana plate of Rāmacandra (dated *śake* 1194, i. e. 1272 A. D.) records the the grant of a village called Vaul in Sāsaṭi (modern Sāṣṭi in the Thana District) to thirty-two brāhmaṇas by Acyuta Nāyaka of the Gautama gotra and descendant of Jalhana, who was the governor of Konkan, and describes⁸⁵¹ Hemādri as one who had attained a pre-eminent position in the government through the favour of Rāmacandra and as one who was in charge of all (state) records and was the foremost minister.

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⁸⁴⁶ तेषामेव शिरोमणिर्विजयते विश्वाभिधानो मुनिः ॥ गोत्रे तस्य बभूव निर्मलगुणश्रेणीभृता-मग्रणीर्विद्याचारविवेकविक्रमनिधिः श्रीवासुदेवः कृती । verses 1 and 2 of vol. III. 1. The D. C. ms. No. 312 of 1884-87 reads वत्साभिधानो मुनिः and it appears that विश्वाभिधानो of the printed text is a mistake.

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⁸⁴⁷ लिपिं विधात्रा लिखितां जनस्य भाले विभूत्या परिमृज्य दुष्टाम् । कल्याणिनीमेष लिख-त्यथैनां चित्रं प्रमाणीकुरुते विधिश्च ॥ vol. I. verse 15 ; vol. III. 1. verse 17.

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⁸⁴⁸ नैवासीन्न च वर्तते न भविता हेमाद्रिसूरैः परः । vol. I. verse 20, vol. III. 1. verse 22.

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⁸⁴⁹ अस्ति शस्तगुणस्तोमः सोमवंशविभूषणम् । महादेव इति ख्यातो राजराजेष भूतले ॥ ... तस्यास्ति नाम हेमाद्रिः सर्वश्रीकरणप्रभुः । निजोदारतया यश्च सर्वश्रीकरणप्रभुः ॥ vol. I. verses 6 and 13. करण means a document. श्रीकरण may also mean 'writing the word śrī' (on official documents).

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⁸⁵⁰ The colophon is श्रीमन्महाराजाधिराजश्रीमहादेवस्य समस्तकरणाधीश्वरः &c; महादेव-महीपालमान्यो हेमाद्रिरादरात् । करोति निपुणं पुण्यमन्त्रौकरणनिर्णयम् ॥ vol. III. 1. p. 1318.

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⁸⁵¹ इत्यादिसमस्तबिरुदावलिविराजमाने सकलभूवलयमनुशासति यदुकुलकुमुदचन्द्रे श्रीरामचन्द्रनरेन्द्रे तचैतत्प्रसादावाप्तनिखिलराज्यधुरीणतां वहति समस्तहस्तिपकाध्यक्षे ... समस्तकरणाधिपत्यमङ्गीकुर्वाणे च निर्जितझाडिमण्डले मन्त्रिचूडामणौ गुणरत्नरोहणाद्रौ हेमाद्रौ &c. E. I. vol. XIII at p. 202.

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Hemādri is credited with a commentary on Śaunaka's Praṇavakalpa.⁸⁵² He appears to have written a śrāddha-kalpa according to the rules of Kātyāyana which is distinct from his Śrāddhakhaṇḍa (vide Calcutta Sanskrit College mss. cat,. vol. II, p. 163, No. 217 and Stein's cat. p. 105). Hemādri also wrote a commentary⁸⁵³ called Kaivalyadīpikā on the Muktāphala of Vopadeva, the famous author of the Mugdhabodha grammar. The Muktāphala embodies the philosophy of the Bhāgavata purāṇa in 19 adhyāyas and 784 verses (and a few lines in prose in 5th and 6th chapters). Vopadeva was a friend and protegee of Hemādri, who wrote several works at the encouragement of the latter. He says that he wrote the Harilīlā (published in the Calcutta Oriental Series No. 3), an index of the Bhāgavata for pleasing the minister Hemādri.⁸⁵⁴ There is a commentary on this work called Viveka with which both Hemādri and Madhusūdana-Sarasvatī had something to do.⁸⁵⁵ Hemādri also wrote a commentary called Āyurvedarasāyana on the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdaya of Vāgbhaṭa.

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⁸⁵² I. O. cat. p. 594 No. 1808.

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⁸⁵³ टीकां मुक्ताफलस्येमां नाम्ना कैवल्यदीपिकाम् । हेमाद्रिः कटके चक्रे कामराजस्य (? रामराजस्य) वेश्मनि ॥ इति श्रीमत्प्रौढप्रतापचक्रवर्तिमहाराजाधिराजसोमवंशोद्भवरामराजमन्त्रिवर्यहेमाद्रिदेवविरचिता मुक्ताफलटीका समाप्ता । Mitra's Notices, vol. IV. pp. 67-68 No. 1466. The मुक्ताफल with the com. of हेमाद्रि has been published in the Calcutta Oriental Series No. 5 (1920). This edition reads रामराजस्य.

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⁸⁵⁴ श्रीमद्भागवतस्कन्धाध्यायार्थादि निरूप्यते । विदुषा वोपदेवेन मन्त्रिहेमाद्रितुष्टये ॥ ms. in Bhadkamkar collection; the last verse is यस्य व्याकरणे वरेण्यघटनाः स्फीताः प्रबन्धा दश प्रख्याता नव वैद्यकेपि तिथिनिर्धारार्थमेकोद्भुतः। साहित्ये त्रय एव भागवततत्त्वोक्तौ त्रयस्तस्य च भूर्गीर्वाणशिरोमणेरिह गुणाः के के न लोकोत्तराः ॥ This verse occurs at the end of the मुक्ताफल also.

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⁸⁵⁵ The ms. in the Bhadkamkar collection folio 5 has 'इति श्री हरिलीलायां मधुसूदनसरस्वतीनिर्मितं प्रथमस्कन्धाविवरणम्'. A ms. in the Bombay Asiatic Society Library ascribes the com. to हेमाद्रि and says मधुसूदनसरस्वती saw it through 'हरिलीलाविवेकोयं रामराजस्य वेश्मनि । कटके रचयांचक्रे तुष्टये हेमाद्रिणा सताम् ॥ सरस्वतीश्रीमधुसूदनेन निर्व्यूढमेतद्बुधमोदनेन । जनः समस्तोपि रसायनान ब्रजेशभक्तिं भजतादनेन ॥ (BBRAS. cat. p. 329 No. 1157).

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Altogether Hemādri was a towering personality. His name is associated throughout the Maratha Country with the construction of numerous temples having a peculiar style of architecture. He is also credited with having invented the Moḍi script. Within a few decades his Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi, particularly its *dāna* and *vrata* sections, came to be looked upon as the standard work in the whole of the Deccan and southern India. Mādhava in his Kālanirṇaya (p. 67) expressly mentions the Vratakhaṇḍa of Hemādri as an authority. This work was composed about 1340 A. D. In an inscription of Bhāskara *alias* Bhavadūra, son of Bukka I, dated *śake* 1291 (i. e. 1369 A. D.) the king is described as making various gifts following the composition of Hemādri.⁸⁵⁶ This is obviously a reference to his *dānakhaṇḍa* and establishes that long before 1369 A. D. Hemādri had become a standard author in the Telugu country. The Vanapalli plate of Anna-Vema dated *śake* 1300 (about 1380 A. D.) describes Vema as giving the various gifts in Hemādri and his son as one who observed the *vratas* and *dānas*⁸⁵⁷ described by Hemādri. Pedda--Komaṭi--Vema is described in a grant of *śake* 1344 as eager in bestowing gifts described in the rules of Hemādri.⁸⁵⁸ Hemādri is quoted in the Madanapārijāta,⁸⁵⁹ the Dvaitanirṇaya of Śaṅkarabhaṭṭa, the Nirṇayasindhu and other works.

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⁸⁵⁶ हेमाद्रिरुतिमार्गेण कुर्वन्द्रानान्यनेकंशः । E. I. vol. XIV p. 102.

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⁸⁵⁷ हेमाद्रिदानान्धकरोदशेषान्न्यभुङ्क भूमिं द्विजभुक्तशेषांम् । and हेमाद्रिदानवती. Vide E. I. vol. III. pp. 59 and 61.

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⁸⁵⁸ हेमाद्रिकल्पोदितदानदक्षः । E. I. vol. XI. p. 325.

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⁸⁵⁹ ये तु षट्त्रिंशन्मतेपि विचिकित्सन्ते तेषामपरार्कविज्ञानेश्वरचन्द्रिकाकारहेमाद्रिप्रभृतयः प्रतिभटीकर्त्तव्याः । मदनपारिजात p. 536.

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