A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c33.s6: The Age of Bhikshu Govinda the Author of Rasahridaya
A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of the Sixteenth Century A.D. v2.c33.s6
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The Age of Bhikshu Govinda the Author of Rasahridaya
v2.c33.s6.1
There is a belief current in some parts of the Deccan that our Govinda is no other than the celebrated teacher of Saṅkarāchārya.† If there be any historical foundation for the belief Govinda should no doubt be placed in the 8th century A. D. Apart altogether from the question whether at such an early date the progress of chemical knowledge as revealed in Rasahridaya had been attained in India, the colophon at the end of the work would tell against such an hypothesis (Intro. lii). The author distinctly states that he wrote his book under the auspices of the king of the Kirātas and even throws out a hint that he was of the Buddhist persuasion. We have no valid reasons to believe that Saṅkara, the sturdy champion of Brahminical faith and the mighty dialectician, whose activity proved the ruin of Buddhism in India should have sat at the feet of a Guru of the opposite creed.
v2.c33.s6.2
∗ Percentage of sulphur found = 13·89 ; the calculated amount being 13·79 ; not a trace of gold could be detected.
v2.c33.s6.3
† The following Slokas are cited from Saṅkaradigvijaya in support of the above :— तस्योपदर्शितवतश्चरणौ गुहाया द्वारि न्यपूजयदुपत्य स शंकरार्यः । आचार इत्युपदिश स तत्र तस्मै गोविन्दपादगुरवे स गुरुर्यतीनाम् ॥
v2.c33.s6.4
व्यासः पराशरसुतः किल सत्यवत्यास्तस्यात्मजः शुकमुनिः प्रथितप्रभावः ।
तच्छिष्यतामुपगतः किल गौडपादो गोविन्दनाथमुनिरस्य च शिष्यभूतः ॥
शृणाव तस्य निकटे किल शास्त्रजालं * * * * *
v2.c33.s6.5
श्रीसङ्करदिग्विजयः, प्रसङ्गः, verses १०१ and १०५-६। आनन्दाश्रमसंस्कृतग्रन्थावलिः—ग्रन्थाङ्कः २२।
v2.c33.s6.6
In the above Slokas Govindanātha Muni is stated to be the preceptor of Saṅkara, the former being himself the pupil of Gauḍapāda, who in his turn was a pupil of Sukadeva, son of Vyāsa, the well-known compiler of the Vedas. The Govindanātha of the text has been confounded by the commentator, Dhanapati Sūri, with the Buddhist Govinda. It is scarcely necessary to take serious notice of the chronological perspective of the author of the Saṅkaradigvijaya.
Linked texts (1)
- Śaṅkaradigvijaya — Sāyaṇa, Sanskrit