A History of Indian Medical Literature v3.c44.s45.25

v3.c44.s45.25

The identity of Raghunātha Paṇḍita with one of several persons called thus has long been a vexed problem and several theories have been developed, which are elaborately discussed by S.L. Katre.²⁸² Raghunātha’s life history has been sketched by the latter. He was born about 1640 and spent his early years in Caul. Probably he went to Benares in order to complete his studies. After returning to Caul for some time, he left that city to seek his fortune elsewhere. He may have met Śivājī in the course of his wanderings and settled finally at the court of Ekojī (1676–1683) in Tanjore about 1675. In Tanjore he came in close contact with distinguished visitors, like saint Rāmadāsa and the Marāṭhī poet Ānandatanaya.²⁸³ Most of his works, with the exception of the Gaṅgālaharīṭīkā, probably composed during his stay at Benares, date from the period 1675–1711. The three medical treatises are from the year 1697²⁸⁴ and belong therefore to the period of Ekojī’s successor, Śāhajī II (1683–1711). Raghunātha probably died at Tanjore about 1720 or somewhat later.