Indian Antiquary Vol 41

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 251

NOVEMBER, 1912.)
ON THE SESHAS
247
It is of this family of Seshas, whose members are scholars for six or even seven generations shat we shall speak in the following pages. The family has & peculiar claim on our attention. Every student of Vyakarana-sdstra, nowadays, is ultimately a sishya of this family, for he will read the Siddhantakaumudi by Bhattoji Dikshita, who was a pupil of Virebvara, son of Kộishņa, mentioned above. He will also read the Sabdendusekhara, eto, of Nagoji Bhatta, pupil again of the grandson of Bhattoji Dikshita. We may, therefore, look upon the Sesha family as the ultimate souroe of the present school of Vyakarana-sdstra.
II.
The Seshas were Dakshinatya Brâhmanas, and belonged to the Advaita sect. They were at first the inhabitants of the banks of the Godavari, but seem to have subsequently changed their residence, and, ever since, to have lived at Benares. They formed a very respectable family, and were called Bhatta-bhattCrukas. Descendants of the family are seen even at the present time at Benares, and are very much respected, though they are not equal to their ancestors in scholarship. In every meeting or sabha which they attend, they are offered two sambhávands while others receive only one-a mark of great respect and esteem. They are even now called Bhatta-bhattae. The exact time of their removal to Benares is uncertain. In a drama entitled Murárivijayandtaka by Krishna, it is said that the author is composing it at Benares while his father lived near the Godavari.
भस्ति किल दाक्षिणात्यस्य गोदारोधोवास्तव्यस्य श्रीमविश्वरूपवंशवनमुक्तामणेरधिविद्यानगरसभं विबुंदविती. HYTTET TITTAT TETEGEZTET: TELAH HUTTER:
Bat Narasimha says in his Govindárnava that he is composing it at the orders of king Govindachandra of Tandava. We may, therefore, conclude that Narasimha was firgt living near the Godivari, and subsequently removed to Benares. The Seshas might have removed to Benares in the first half of the 16th century, since Narasimha belongs to that period, and they have remained permanently there ever since. Probably it is from their residence at Benares that there rose a scbool of grammar called the Benares School of Sanskrit Grammar.
III.
The genealogical table given at the end requires a few words of explanation. It is based upon facts contained in the works of the members of the family itseli. I had traced the line as far back as Ramachandra, when from a work entitled Govindarnava by Narasimha, I gathered another name, Vishnu, who was not the immediate predecessor of Ramachandra, but was some generations removed from him. This Vishņu must have been a very distinguished
The following table will make the statement olearer:
Krishna Vireevara (son)
(2) Bhattoji Dikshita
(3) Panditardja Jagannadha (pupils)
(1) Annam Bhatta
(1) Vireävara Dikabita
Hari Dikshita (son) Kågoji Bhatte (pupil)
(2) Bhanujt Dikshita (Ramkrama) (nons)