The Positive Background of Hindu Sociology c13.s2.t7: 6. Jīmūtavāhana and Ballālasena
The Positive Background of Hindu Sociology c13.s2.t7
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6. Jīmūtavāhana and Ballālasena
c13.s2.t7.1
It is during this epoch that the great Bengali jurist Jīmūtavāhana (c 1150) flourished. His *Dharmaratna*, *Smriti* work, has a section on inheritance called *Dāyabhāga*, the code so dominant in Bengal. Two other sections are known, namely, *Kālaviveka* and *Vyavahāramātṛikā*. According to the *Dāyabhāga*, as is well known, the widow succeeds to her husband's interests on his death even if he be joint with his brother. His date has been placed between the eleventh and the sixteenth century.
c13.s2.t7.2
Aniruddha (c 1160) wrote *Haralatā*. The author was a guru of king Ballālasena of Bengal and helped him in the preparation of *Dānasāgara* (the Sea of Gifts).
c13.s2.t7.3
Ballālasena (1170), King of Bengal, was the author of four works :
c13.s2.t7.4
1. *Āchārasāgara*.
2. *Pratiṣṭhāsāgara*, relating to the dedication of reservoirs of water and temples.
3. *Dānasāgara* dealing with the sixteen great gifts.
4. *Adbhūtasāgara*, dealing with the rites calculated to remove celestial and terrestrial potents. The work was completed by his son Lakṣmaṇasena.
c13.s2.t7.5
Parāśara (c 1200) wrote an independent *Smriti*.
c13.s2.t7.6
Śrīdhara's (1200) *Smrityarthasāra* is quoted as an authority by the *Smritichandrikā* and Hemādri.
c13.s2.t7.7
An influential jurist of the age is Halāyudha II. (1200), author of the *Brāhmaṇasarvasva*. He was the son of the judge (*dharmādhyakṣa*) of King Lakṣmaṇasena of Bengal and was himself made a judge.
c13.s2.t7.8
Two great Southerners¹² of the thirteenth century belong to the very first rank among Hindu socio-legal philosophers. The first is Devanabhatta, author of *Smriti-chandrikā* (c 1250). This digest even now exercises an influence in judicial decision second only to the *Mitākṣarā*.
c13.s2.t7.9
¹² Kane, pp. 258, 289, 346, 354-359.
Linked texts (8)
- Adbhutasāgara — Ballālasena & Lakṣmaṇasena, Sanskrit
- Parāśarasmṛti — Parāśara, Sanskrit
- Dānasāgara — Ballālasena, Sanskrit
- Smṛticandrikā (Āpadeva) — Āpadeva 1600, Sanskrit
- Kālaviveka — Jīmūtavāhana, Sanskrit
- Dharmaratnaprakaraṇa — Śāntisūri
- Dāyabhāga — Jīmūtavāhana, Sanskrit
- Smṛtyarthasāra — Śrīdhara (Smṛtyarthasāra), Sanskrit