Nirgrantha-1

Author(s): M A Dhaky, Jitendra B Shah
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre

Page 39

Jagadish Chandra Jain
Nirgrantha
fortune. Śakuna-sukta or the bird-hymn is mentioned. Sakuna-ruta-jñāna or the knowledge of notes of birds was considered very important. It was known as totemism which would unite the tribal people in a sympathetic relation with nature. Siva is known as Pasupati or lord of animals. Nandi is associated with Pasupati, Garuda with Visnu, Hamsa with Sarasvati and Müşaka with Gaņeśa. This affinity was so strong that the species of animals and birds were associated with superstitious beliefs or auspicious or inauspicious omens by local tribal people. According to Indian tradition, the omenology has been handed over right from Indra, Brhaspati, Sukra, and renowned sages like Parāśara, Garga, and Bhāradvāja. According to the author of the Brhatsaṁhitā, King Dravyavardhana, the ruler of Ujjayani (A. D.495-515) wrote a treatise on the subject. The author of the Brhatsanhită has devoted several chapters related with the topic. They are : Sakunam, Antara-cakram, Virutam, Śva-cakram, Siva-rutam, Mrga-cestitam, Gavengītam, Ašvengitam, Hasti-cestitam, Vāyasavirutam and Sakunottaram. In the course of his commentary, Bhattotpala has cited Bhagavān Garga, Rsiputra, and Parāśara. Parāśara has dealt with seasons and their effects on the sexual instincts of animals. Dealing with the chapter on dogs the commentator has cited references from Parāśara and Garga. He cites 32 verses from Aksara-kośa of Yavaneśvara.
Various other works on sakuna-śāstra are mentioned. The Grhagodhā-vicāra and the Krkalāsa-vicāra are referred to in the catalogue of Sanskrit and Prakrit Mss., Pt. III, p.960 (compiled by Munirāja Śrī Punyavijaya, Ahmedabad 1969). Svarodaya-prakarana, a work of Śakuna-śāstra, was composed at Anahillapura during the reign of Ajayapāla of Gujarāt. In the city of Dhārā, there lived a Brāhmana Amradeva by name. His son Narapati was efficient in mantra and tantra and possessed the knowledge of Cudamani. This treatise was composed by him. It has several commentaries*.
* The present write up is partly based on author's 'Secular Literature', chapter nine of his forthcoming book, History and Development of Prakrit Literature.