A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c22.66

v1.c22.66

The identity of King Sāhasāṅka, Haricandra’s patron according to Maheśvara, is a matter of dispute. The names of five kings are found in the literature on this subject: Candragupta II Vikramāditya (A.D. 380–413), Skandagupta (A.D. 455–467), Yaśodharman of Mālwā (sixth century), Narendra of Bengal (sixth–seventh century), and Śrīcandradeva of Kanauj (eleventh century). 299 Since the only concrete evidence we can hold on to with regard to Haricandra’s date is that he preceded Jejjata, and, according to Cakrapāṇidatta and Niścala, Vāgbhaṭa, it is in my view impossible to decide which king may have been Haricandra’s patron, the more so because the epithet of Sāhasārika was given to several kings. 300 Equally uncertain is the identity of one or more authors called Haricandra with the physician of that name. 301 Haricandra's place of residence is unknown, although it has been suggested that he lived in Ujjayinī. 302