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The Positive Background of Hindu Sociology c13.s2.t1: 1. Medhātithi and Viśvarūpa

The Positive Background of Hindu Sociology c13.s2.t1

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1. Medhātithi and Viśvarūpa

c13.s2.t1.1

Two of the greatest commentary writers lived in the ninth century. The first is Medhātithi⁵ (c 850 A.C.) celebrated for his commentary on Manu. The author was probably an inhabitant of Kashmir as Bühler suggested. Jolly considered him to be a Southerner. Medhātithi knows of a *Vārttā* treatise by Brihaspati and is familiar with the *Artha* treatises of Brihaspati, Uśanas and Kauṭalya. He is the author of an original *Smriti* work also, namely, the *Smritiviveka*.

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⁵ Kane, pp. 224, 252-254, 261-263, 265, 269-270, 275, Winternitz III, p. 449.

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The other great man in this line was Viśvarūpa (c 800-825) whose commentary on Yājnavalkya is called *Vālakrīḍā*. The author was perhaps a contemporary of Śankarāchārya (c 800), and may have been one of his pupils or followers. He is one of those jurists who make use of *Arthaśāstra* texts, e.g., those of Brihaspati, Viśālākṣa, and possibly Kauṭalya.

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Bhruchi (c 850) is perhaps a contemporary of Viśvarūpa.

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The *Chaturviṁśatimata* (c 850), complete in 525 verses, embodies the essence of 24 sages, namely, Manu, Yājñavalkya, Atri, Viṣṇu, Vaśiṣṭha, Vyāsa, Uśanas, Āpastamba, Vatsa, Hārīta, Guru (Brihaspati), Nārada, Parāśara, Gārgya, Gautama, Yama, Baudhāyana, Dakṣa, Śaṁkha, Angiras, Śatātapa, Sāṁkhya (Sāṁkhyāyana) and Saṁvarta. This synthetic compilation belongs to the age of Medhātithi and Viśvarūpa.

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