Chapter I Halayudha - The author of Kavirahasya Chapter - I Halayudha - The author of Kavirahasya "^mfmgw ‘w»¶m ‘Ywam {Xì¶m Jrdm©U^maVr' 'Sanskrit' is the oldest language in the world. This language has the greatest Literature of all times. It is said that the literature is the mirror of the society.1 The society is purely depicted in its literature. The peculiarities of a society are very well reflected in the literature. So, literature plays a very important role in the betterment of the society. Sanskrit Literature is the mirror in which rich and cultured India can be seen. The people living in India, their habits, their culture all can be depicted in the Literature of India. The oldest Literature in the world is Sanskrit Literature. It is very rich and varied. 'Vedas' are the important feature of the language Sanskrit Language. They are the oldest surviving literature in the world. Sanskrit Literature is divided into two categories - Vedic literature and Classical literature. Vedic Literature includes Vedas, Aaranyakas, Brahmans, Samhitas, Puranas Smritis and Classical Literature comprises of poems, plays, kavyas etc. Sanskrit Language mainly focuses on religious treatises, is the notion of general public. This language deals with religious texts, sacrifices, stotras, only god and praying is depicted here, is the common belief of the people. But no. Sanskrit is not only a medium to learn religious texts but it is ( 15 ) also a language which opens up its wings to cover all the existing subjects in the world. This language deals with literature, grammar, philosophy, social sciences, astrology, astronomy, ayurveda, etymology etc. Sanskrit is the most scientific language in the world. It is the most suitable language for computer operations. Various sciences are also dealt here like physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics etc. Two main compositions which have an important place in Sanskrit Literature are Ramayana and Mahabharata. Till today the Indian society follows and accepts these two epic compositions as a testament of life. The lives of the people are influenced by these epics. We need to preach Rama and not Ravana is unanimously accepted by the people. These two compositions are the sources for the others to compose their artwork. These two compositions are the base to many existing literature in the language. Gradually, the literature started flourishing. Various works on different subjects came into existence. Philosophy was a vast and deeply studied subject here. Sanskrit is the home to various philosophical treatises. Many books were written by various famous authors as Gautamacharya, Shankaracharya, Kapilmuni etc. Literature also developed in India in Sanskrit. Various kavyas, plays were been written in the language. Various famous poets in this feild were Kalidasa, Bhasa, Bhavabhuti, Bharavi, Magha etc. They were the best known poets of all the times. Sanskrit Grammar also developed in India. Various books were written on Sanskrit Grammar. The most important work in Sanskrit ( 16 ) Grammar was 'Astadhayayi' by 'Panini'. It gave detailed information about Sanskrit Grammar. Patanjali, Katyayan, Varruchi were a few famous Grammar experts in the language. Lexicography was also an aspect of Sanskrit Literature. Many famous lexicographers are the feature of Sanskrit Literature. Lexicography in India began with 'Nighantu' a dictionary for Vedic words. Then came the most popular work in lexicography i.e. 'Amarakosha' by 'Amarsingh'. Such a famous lexicographer was 'Halayudha'. 1.1 Halayudha - His times Halayudha was a famous lexicographer and a poet in Sanskrit Literature. Halayudha is best known for his work 'HalayudhaKosha'- Abhidhanratmala. It is a thesaurus. This gives all the existing words for a particular word. Moreover, Halayudha was a true Sanskrit Poet. He never wrote about himself in his works. His other two works brings him out as a poet. His commentary on 'Pingala's 'Chandashastra' is also well known .His third work is Kavirahasya is not as popular as his former texts. 1.1.1 Various views prevailing Halayudha Halayudha was a poet in the court of King Krishna I of the Rastrakuta Dynasty in the latter half of the 8th century.2 But this view is not acceptable. He was a poet in the court of King Krishna III of the Rastrakuta Dynasty. This view is accepted by a majority of historians.3 Many evidences prove that he was in the court of King Krishna III of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty. Rashtrakuta's were a dynasty in India which ruled from 6th to 10th century.4 Nothing is known about his family life. But in his commentary 'Mrutsanjeewani' we can identify him as a south Indian.5 ( 17 ) Further he himself he declares that his father was a well-known scholar in 'Mimamsa Shastra'. His name was 'Vishwarup' 6 Halayudha was also a scholar in this Shastra this can be seen in the commentary.7 Another view prevailing Halayudha keeps him in the state of Bengal of India. Saurindra Mohan Tagore in his text Kavirahasya by Halayudha Bhatta narrates the ancestry and the heritage of great poet 'Halayudha' 8. He describes that in the Gaud (Jm¡S> àXoe) there was a great king named Adisura. He wanted to perform a great sacrifice. He invited five Brahamins who were well versed in the Vedas from Kanyakubja (modern day Kannauj)9. He wanted them to officiate the ceremony as priests. These five brahmins were Bhattanarayana, Daksha, Vedagarbha, Chhandara and Sriharsha10. Among these five Bhattanarayana was the most noted Brahmin for learning and erudition. He belonged to the Shandilya family and from him are the descendants of Tagores of Bengal11. After the grand success of the ceremony, he granted them, five villages in order that they might settle in the country. Bhattanarayana wrote three texts Prayogratna (à¶moJaËZ), Gobhilasutrabhashya (Jmo^rcgyÌ^mî¶) and Kasimaranamuktivichara12 (H$mer‘aU‘yp³V{dMma). But his greatest text was nevertheless Venisamharam. The best one which was written in Bengal. Vehisamharam is a six act play which revolves around the promise made by Bhima to kill Dushasan and make Draupadi's hair with his blood that too the blood from his thighs. It is a high paced drama. According to the Tagore's of Bengal 'Halayudhabhatta' , the author of this work Kavirahasya was sixteenth in descent from Bhattanarayana13. He has a following works under his name. • Brahmansarvaswa (~«mh²‘Ugd©ñd) ( 18 ) • Nyayasarvaswa (ݶm¶gd©ñd) • Panditsarvaswa (n§{S>Vgd©ñd) • Sivasarvaswa ({edgd©ñd) • Matsyasuktantra (‘Ëñ¶gw³VV§Ìm) • Abhidhanrathnamala (A{^YmZaËZ‘mcm) • Kavirahasya (H${dahñ¶) He further mentions that Halayudha was the prime minister to Lakshmana Sen, the son of the king Vallala Sen14. These kings belong to the Sen dynasty of Bengal. Sen's ruled Bengal around 11th century A.D. Ballala Sen or Vallala Sen ruled from 1165-1185 A.D. He was the son of Vijaya Sen who ruled from 1100-1165 A.D. Lakshmana Sen was the son of Ballala Sen or Vallala Sen. He ruled the Sen empire from 1185-1199 A.D.15. It is therefore said that Halayudha flourished in the latter half of the eleventh century after Christ. He is frequently quoted by Ujjwaldatta (CÁÁdcXÎm), Mallinath (‘{„ZmW) and Medinikara (‘o{XZrH$ma)16. This suggests these three to have flourished after Halayudha and he was of great respect and high authority 17. Dharnidhara (Ya{UYa) and Vanmali (dZ‘mcr) were the ancestors of Halayudha. There were also renowned for great and uncommon learning. Dharnidhara wrote Vyakaranasarvaswa and commentary on the institutes of Manu18. Vanmali's brother is the author of Bhaktiratnakara (^p³VaËZmH$a) and 19 dravyasiddhi – prakaranarahasya (Ðì¶{gÕràH$aUahñ¶) . ( 19 ) The grandson of Dharnidhara complied 'Nighantu' ({ZKÊQw>) a vocabulary of Vedic terms. He was the judge in the reign of Vallala Sena 20. Halayudha had two brothers Pasupati (newn{V) and Isana (BemZ), both were scholars of the language. Pasupati wrote a work on the rituals prescribed in the Yajurveda. Isana composed several works in law 21. Panditraj Jagannata (npÊS>VamO OJÞmW) was also descended from this family Rasagangadhara (agJL²>JmYa), Bhaminivilasa (^m{‘Vr{dcmg), Rekhaganitam (aoImJ{UV‘²) and others works have kept alive his fame. Purushottam Vidyavagish ({dÚmdmJre) was the son of Jagannaatha. The Prayograthamala (à¶moJaËZ‘mcm), Muktichintamani (‘wp³VqMVm‘Ur) Vishnubhakti Kalpalata ({dîUw^p³VH$ënH$Vm), Bhashavritti (^mfmd¥{Îm), Trikandasesha ({ÌH§$S>mXoe), Ekakshararakosha (EH$mjaH$me), Haralata (hmacVm), Harvaali (hmamdcr), Gotrapravardarpana (JmoÌàda Xn©U) and other works were written by him. Balarama the son of Purushottama (nwéfmoÎm‘) who wrote Prabodhaprakasha (à~moY àH$me) 22. Saurindro Mohun Tagore further quotes them being the descendants of this illustrious heritage. His father Harikumar Tagore was also a great scholar of Sanskrit He wrote Dakshinarchanaparijata (X{jUmM©Znm[aOmV), Haratattvadidhiti (haVÎdXr{Y{V) and Purascharanapaddhati (nwéfMaU nX²Y{V). His uncle Praosonna Coomar Tagore also joined this family tradition by translating Vivadachintamani ({ddmX{MÝVm‘{U), the highest legal authority of Mithila school, in English. His brother Megharaja Jateendra Mohan Tagore was also a great scholar who revived Sanskrit and was the great patron of learning 23. ( 20 ) According to Bhartiya Sanskruti Kosha, edited by Tarkateerth Lakshamana Shastri Joshi, the existence of Halayudha is a little undecided. There are a few opinions regarding it. Due to the similar names three views prevail regarding 'Halayudha' 24. Halayudha was a writer in the latter half of the eighth century. He was the court poet of the king Krishna I of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty 25. He wrote a lexicographic text Abhidharatnamala better known as Halayudha Kosha. It is a work purely based on the Amarkosha of Amarsingha. He also wrote a commentary on Pingala's Chandashastra named Mrutsanjeevani. This commentary marks the historical Prakrit reference given by Halayudha himself. He further wrote Kavirahasya as well.