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The Indian Analyst
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South Indian Inscriptions |
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA account of Bhavadêva’s attainments as a scholar (vv. 20-25), which as far as possible may be given in the author’s own words :─ (V.20.) A pattern of those who know the Brahma’s non-duality, a creator of wonder to those (even) who are learned themselves, a sage who comprehends the deep meaning of Bhaṭṭa’s[1] lays, a very Agastya to the Bauddha sea, clever in refuting the devices of cavilling heretics, he play-fully acts the part of the Omniscient on earth. (V.21.) Seeing across the ocean of Saṁhitâs, Tantras[2] and computation, causing wonder to all by his knowledge of astrology,[3] himself the author and promulgator of a new work on horoscopy (hôrâ-śâstra), he clearly has proved another Varâha.[4] (V. 22.) In the several branches of law he has eclipsed the old expositions by composing suitable treatises of his own ; by a good comment elucidating the verses on law of the sages, he has swept away all doubt regarding the rites taught by the Smṛitis. (V.23.) In the Mîmâṁsâ, by following the lead of Bhaṭṭa, he has composed that well-known guide whose thousand maxims, like the rays of the sun, do not endure darkness. What need is there to say more ? Proficient in the whole range of sacred hymns, in all the arts of the poets, in every traditional lore, in the works on worldly affairs, in the sciences of medicine and of arms, etc., he indeed is without a second. (V.24.) By whom, indeed, is his (other) name Bâlavalabhîbhujaṅga not honoured─ a name, heard and celebrated and chanted with rapture even by the Mîmâṁsâ ? (V.25.) Restoring to life all the world by his magical spells which are like the morning tunes of music to the night of stupefaction caused by the bites of fanged furious serpents, he a new vanquisher of death, in sporting with poisons has proved (a very) Nĭlakaṇṭha.[5] This Bhavadêva, then, had a reservoir of water constructed in the country of Râḍhâ (v. 26). Moreover, at the place where the inscription is, he set up a stone image of the god Nârâyaṇa (Vishṇu) (v. 27), and founded a temple of the god (v. 28), in which he placed images of his in the forms of Nârâyaṇa, Ananta and Nṛisiṁha (v. 29). He also gave to Harimêdhas (Vishṇu) a number of female attendants (v. 30), and had a tank dug in front of his temple (v. 31), and a garden laid out in its neighbourhood (v. 32).
The interest of this inscription lies in the fact that it treats, not of kings and princes, but of a scholar of whom, so far as we know, at least two literary works are still extant. From the more definite statements in the verses which have been translated above, it appears that, in astronomy and astrology, Bhaṭṭa Bhavadêva was the author of Hôrâ-śâstra ; that he wrote one or more treatises and a commentary relating to law or to religious rites ; and that, as a student of the Mîmâṁsâ philosophy, he composed a work connected with the writings of Bhaṭṭa Kumârila. His Hôrâ-śâstra has not been traced yet in the published catalogues. But as regards his other works, Prof. Eggeling in his Catalogue of the Sanskṛit Manuscripts in the Library of the India Office under No. 1725 describes a Ms. of the ‘ Prâyaśchitta-nirûpaṇa[6](or prakaraṇa),’ a treatise on expiatory rites, ‘ composed by Bhaṭṭa Bhavadêva, surnamed Bâlavalabhîbhujaṅga’; and under ________________________________________________________________ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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