Sushrut Samhita

Author(s): Sushrut Maharshi, Narayanram Acharya
Publisher: Chaukhambha Orientaliya

Page 15

[ xiv ) GATADASA Gayadasa was the physician of king Mahipala ( 988-1038 A. D. ) of Bengal. Gayadasa has quoted Jejjata ( 9th cent. A.D.) and has been quoted by Dalhana ( 12th Cent. A.D.) and as such can be placed in 1lth Cent. A.D. This is confirmed by the fact that neither Cakrapani (11th Cent. A.D.) nor Gayadasa quotes one another and thus they are contemporary. Gayadasa is held in high esteem by Dalhana who bases his decision mostly on the former's views. Vijayaraksita, Niscalakara and Sivadasa have also quoted Gayadasa. Gayadasa has also written commentary entiled 'Caraka-candrika' on the Caraka samhita. Because of the authorship of 'candrika' commentraies, Gayadasa is popularly known as 'candrikakara ( author of candrikas ). Gayadasa has quoted the following works and authors in his commentary :1. Caraka 5. Astadhyayi 8. Videha 2. Patanjala Mahabhasya 6. Nagarjuna 9. Jejjata 3. Bhaluki 7. Bhoja 10. Viswamitra 4. Dsdhabala PALHANA Dalhana, in introduction of his commentary, has given clear information about his place, genaeology and patron. Accordingly Dalhana belonged to a place Ankola near Mathura in the Bhadanaka region where mostly Vaidyas lived. The Bhadanaka region corresponds to the modern Biyana, in the old Bharatpur State (Rajasthan ) the ancient name of which was Sripatha. Dalhana belonged to a family of Sauravamsiya (Sakadwipiya ) Brahmanas which consisted mostly of renowned vaidyas. The geneaological table given by the author is as follows : Govinda Jayapala Bharatapala Dalhana Dalhana was perhaps the disciple of Bhaskara whose Panjika he has referred only once in introduction and later on who has been quoted as "acarya' without naming ( in Indian tradition, guru is not to be referred by name ). This Bhaskara, in my opinion, is the same person who was physician to Bhillama V of Yadava dynasty of Devagiri, father of Sodhala and teacher of Kesava ( Bopadeva's father) and Nagarjuna, the author of the Yogaratnamala. The date of Dalhana may be decided on the evidence of his patron, Sahanapaladeva or Sohapala ( Sahala), who happened to be the king of Yadava dynasty of Biyana Bhadanaka) during the last quarter of 12th Cent. A.D. At the same time, Bhillam V was reiging under Yadava dynasty at Deyagiri. Further, Dalhana