BHATTARA HARICANDRA. . '"by

V. V. S. SAS1RY & A. N. PANDEY.

I: Introduction

Of the Ancient Ayurvedic Medical Treatises, Caraka Samhitg is undoubtedly theoldest work, even though redacted by Caraka and Drdhabala. The oldest commentary,namely Carakanyasa, written on this work was by Bhattara Haricandra. He was knownas both Bhattaraka and Haricandra. He was not only the first to write the commentarv., -on Caraka Sarnhitg but also the pioneer in the commentators of Ayurvedic texts. Cakrapani,Arunadatta etc., followed him implicitely. Almost all other commentatorsreferred to him reverentially in their works.

The fact that Carakanyasa was the standard and scholarly commentary on CarakaSariihita was accepted by many an authority through their references in their works.Svami Kumgia, in his commentary called Caraka Panjiks.. refers to Haricandra andis commentary 011 Caraka Sarnhitg along with Bharadvsja, Atreya, Agnivcsa and others(No. 13091. Catalogue of G. O. M. L., Vol. XXIII, Madras). Jejjaja, the pupil ofVagbhara, in his commentary 011 Mudatyaya Cikitsa says: "This chapter written by thegreat preceptor is well expounded by Bhattara Haricandra". Indu says: "The ignorantone, who attempts to expound the doctrine of Caraka without consulting the commentaryof Haricandra, verily attempts to drink up the whole ocean" (Astanga Sangraha VYakhya,No. 13071, A descriptive catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts in the Government Orien-tal Manuscripts Library, Madras, Vol. XXIII). Cajjdrata praises Haricandra in thebeginning of his commentary on Tlsata's Cikitsgkalika: "As there exist the commen-taries of Haricandra and the learned Jcjjaja, it is sheer presumptuousness for any om:else to attempt to comment on the texts of Ayurvcda". Probably Candrara refers hereto the commentaries on Caraka Samhita. Cakrapanidatta refers to Haricandra in hisAyurveda Dipika Vyakhya and at one place remarks that Vagbhata follows Haricandra'sopinion regarding the method of warding off endogenous diseases. Vijayarakeita in hisMadhukosa VYakhya on Madhavanidana draws Oil the Carakanyasa of BhattaraHaricandra a number of times to explain his point of view.

II: Parentage of Bhattara Haricandra:

It is very difficult to give any information regarding the parentage of Haricandra,since he did not mention in his commentary. P. V. Sharma, in his Carakacintana, refersto a statement made in the Padataditakam of Visyamalaka, according to which BhattaraHaricandra is stated to be the son of Isanacandra-of Kaukayana gotra, In Caraka Samhita

2 Bulletin Ind, Inst. Hist. Med. Vol. V

the Bahltka PhysIcIan. Kankayana, was referred to as participating in many seminarsconducted by Atreya Purnarvasu on the slopes of Himalayas. It is just possible thatduring the times of Caraka and after, the descendants of Kankayana intermingled with thelocal population and settled in India. llhattira Haricandra may be one of that progeny.

Mahesvara, the author of Visvaprakasakosa, states that Bhattara Haricandra wasone of his ancestors (Visvaprakasakosa : 1-5) and gives his genealogy from Haricandra.

Haricandra

- ISri Kn1.1a

IDarnodara

iMalha.,a

I .

Kesavai

BrahrnaI

Mahesvara

Therefore. it is clear that Mahesvara belongs to the 7th generation from BhattaraHaricandra. Except the above two, no other reference is available regarding either theancestors or descendents of Bhauara Haricandra.

III: Date of Bbattara Haricandra :

Bhattara Haricandra was referred to by Candra ta in his commentary on Cikitsakalika(about 1000 A.D.), Mahesvara in his hornonyrnical dictionary, Yisvaprakasa (1111 A..D.),Arunadatta in his Sarvangasujidara Vyakhya (1220 A.D.) and Hemadri in his AyurvedaRasayana Vyakhya (13th century A.D.). Therefore he can be safely placed as flourishingbefore 1000 A.D. He may even be a few centuries anterior since he was referred to bySVamikumara, who according to P. V. Sharma is a contemporary of Bhattara Haricandra.

On the basis of the following references Bhattara Haricandra is considered asflourishing during 6th century A.D. :-

(I) Reference as the Court Physician of Sahasanka :-Mahesvara in his Visvapra-kasakosa states: "He whose name was Haricandra, whose behaviour was as aggreableas moon, held in a wholly unrivalled way the position of an irreproachable court physicianto king Sahasailka and adorned the treatise of Caraka with his own commentary" (Visva-prakasakosa 1-5). This reference indicates that Bhaltara Haricandra was the contemporaryof King Sahasanka, "Sahasanka" being a possessive compound formed of sahasa

Bhattura Haricandra--Sastry & Pandey 3

"strength" and anka "mark", can be a title of any king, who on his own strength, acquiredand ruled over an empire. Therefore the identity of Sahasanka has become a difficultproblem. There are at least four kings who were known as Sahasanka :

(I) Candragupta II (375-413 A.D.)

(2) Skandagupta (455·467 A.D.)

(3) Yasodharman of Malwa (6th century A.D.)

(4) SrI Candra Deva of Kanauj (l1th century A.D.)

The King Sahasallka is very often identified with Vikrama or Candragupta n.Therefore Yadavji placed Bhattara Haricandra during the period of Candragupta II.But this identification is not justified. According to Mahesvara, Bhattara Haricandra wasthe court physician of King Sahasanka. Since Haricandra was not mentioned amongthe famous "Nine Gems" of Vikrarna's court, the King Sahasanka cannot be identifiedwith Chandragupta n and the same holds good with the identification of Sahasanka asSkandagupta, Yasodharrnan was a king of Malwa, who defeated Mihirakula, the Hunachief and freed Malwa and neighbouring region from the HU'.Ia depredations. He belongedto the first half of the 6th century A.D. Wilson suggests the possibility of Sahasanka beinga title of Srtcandra Deva, who (according to a copper plate inscription from Nidigal)founded towards the end of the lIth century, the ruling dynasty of Kanauj which realmhe acquired "by his own strength". But since Bhattara Haricandra lived centuries before1000 A.D. and quoted by Svarnikumgra, Jejjata and Candrata, identification of SrIchandraDeva as Sahasanka is not justified.

Since there were six generations between Mahesvara and Bhattara Haricandra, asafe guess can be 5th or 6th centry A.D. P. V. Sharma considers that Yasodharman ofMalwa should preferably be identified as Sahasanka and that Haricandra shouldbe takenas a contemporary of Vagbhata I. According to J. Jolly, Haricandra flourished in the6th century A.D.

(2) Reference in literature: Many scholars consider the medical author Hari-candra is identical with the litterateur of the same name who was referred to in HarsaCarita by the great poet Bana Bhatta (7th century A.D.) and by Vakpati in his Prakrta workcalled "Gaudavaha". Even if this is true Haricandra can be taken as flourishing in 6thcentury A.D.

(3) The Nyaya as postulated by Bhattara Haricandra in his commentary resemblesthe subject as was dealt by Dinnaga, the great Buddhist philosopher, who beionged to 5thcentury A.D. and therefore Bhattara Haricandra can safely be placed in the 6th century A.D.,

While delving into the date of Bhattara Haricandra, it will not be out of place to dis-cuss the question of the anteriority between Bhartara Haricandra and Vagbhata, Cakrapa-

4 Bulletin Ind. Inst. Hist. Med. Vol. V

»idatia while referring to Bnattara Haricandra in his commentary stated that Vagbhatafollowed Haricandra's opinion. On the basis of this statement some scholars consideredthat Hhajjara Haricandra was anterior to Vagbhaja. But here it should be noted thatwhenever Cakrapani referred to Vaghhala, he was always referring to Astanga Hj-daya butnot to Astanga Sangraha. Neither Bhattara Haricandra referred to Vugthata nor Vagbhatato Bhartara Haricandra. But since Jejjaja, the student of Vagbhara-l I, copiously referredto Carakanyasa, Bhat+ara Haricandra can be placed before Vagbha+a-Ll. In addition tothe above arguments and also on the baSIS a of comparative study between Caral.anyasaand Asianga Sangraha, it is easy to conclude that Bhatrara Haricandra was a contern-porary of Vrlgbhaja-l.

IV: A Versatile Cenius :

Normally :111 Ayurvedic Scholar and Physician is expected to be conversant with notonly Ayurvcda but also Vyakaraj-a, Nynya, Tarka and other subjects like Yoga. Evennow from older generations, persons who are versatile in these subjects can be shown asexamples. In the same manner Bha+tara Haricandra also seems to be a versatile genius.

That Bhattara Haricandra was a famous litterateur is known by a reference to himby the great poet Banabha+ta of 7th century A.D. in his Harsa Caritam: "The charmingdiction and style and the beauty of assonance of Bhattara Har'icandra give him a sovereignplace among the writers of prose" (I-Iar~<ICarita cha. I, 12). Another tribute to his literarygenius is paid by Vakpati of Sth century A. D. in his Prakrta work called Gaudavaha :"Who takes delight in reading Bhasa, Jvalanamitra (Agnimitra), Kuntideva and Raghukara(Kalidasa), as also in diction and style of Subandhu and Haricandra" (Gaudavaha, verseNo. 800). Even though the name Bhattara Haricandra has been clearly mentioned inrespect of hiS meritorious style of prose writing, some authorities consider the Haricandraof Bauabha-ja and Vakpati as different from Bhatiara Haricandra of Carakanyasa. Buta close study of the style of language used by Bhattara Haricandra in his commentary willclearly reveal his knowledge and control on it.

In addition, Bhattara Haricandra was also a scholar in Tarka and Nyaya, Thisis evident from the method he dealt the subject of Tantrayukti in his commentary. Asalready been mentioned, Bhattara Haricandra followed Dinnaga, the great Buddhist Icgicianill cenain respects. Because of this and the respect Bhattara Haricandra has shown to-wards Bouddhadharma in his commentary.some authorities considered that he is a Buddhist.But in the beginning or this commentary, Carakanyasa.Haricandra has invoked the blessingsof the Sun God. Therefore it is clearly evident that Bhattara Haricandra was not only aHindu but also a Brahmin.

V: His Works:

(I) Caraku Nyasa=-commcntary on Caraka Samhita r=-Thc most important ofhis works is the commentary on Carakasariihita called Carakanyasa, The complete com-

Bliat (lira Haricaudra-Sastry & Pandey 5

mcntary is not available, even though there are indications that he had written commentaryfor the whole books. According: to his statement this commentary has known as 'Si~YO-padhyayakinyjsa.' This clearly indicates that Bha1tara Haricandru was a teacher of Ayur-veda and he prepared this commentary while teaching Carakasarnhita to his students.

The commentary for the first three chapters of Sutrasthana of Carakasarnhita,written in Canarese and Sanskrit scripts is available in the Government Oriental ManuscriptsLibrary, Madras. Yadavji Trikamji slates that - Mustaram Shastri published this commen-tary from Ravalpindi long ago but that publication which was based on the manuscript ofG. O. M. L., Madras, is also not available now.

This Yyakhya is started with an invocation for the blessings of Sun God by theauthor and after that he described the importance of sage Caraka. He has also describedthe descent of Ayurveda from Brahma and invoked blessings from all the teachers. Inhis commentary he referred to Brhaspati and Sukra also. Bhartara Haricandra in hiscommentary has referred to the K~arapanitantra indicating that the old texts were availableduring his period. The eight-fold division of Ayurveda was also well known during thesetimes.

While commenting on the subject matter of Carakasarnhita, he defined and describedPada, Sutra Vakya, Prakarana, Adhyaya, Catuska, Sthana and Tantra. There seemsto be a difference of opinion in the number of Tantrayuktis between Bhartara Haricandraand others. According to Bhattara Haricandra. the Tantrayuktis are forty in number,according to Caraka 36 and according to Susruta 32 only, the difference between theCarakasarnhita. and its commentator Bhattara Haricandra being four in the number. Theyare (I) Pariprasna, (2) Vyakarana, (3) Vyutkranta bhidhana and (4) Hetu. But Cakrapanistates that these four need not be explained as addition because the first is explained byUddesa, the second by Vyakhyana, the third is only a variation of Nirdesa and the fourthis understood by the Prarnanas as stated in Pratyaksa. Bhattara Haricandra has alsodescribed Vyakhya, Kalpana, Arthas raya, Tacchilya and Tautradosa, Vyakhya is 15varieties, Kalpana 7 varieties, Arthasraya 20 varieties, Tiicchllya 17 varieties and Tantradosa15varieties.

(2) According to Indu, Bha+tara Haricandra was stated to have edited Kharnada-samhita but this book is not available now.

(3) In his introduction to Asrangahrdaya, Harisastri Paradkar states [hat BhattaraHaricandra has written a commentary on Astanga Hj-caya. But this cannot be acceptedsince Bhauara Haricandra is considered to be a contemporary of Vagbhata-L

- (4) According to Jolly, Bhaitara Haricandra has also composed a medical Samhitaof his own.

(5) He is said to have written two literary works:

(I) Gadyabandha and (2) Malati.

G Bulletin Ind. Inst. Hist. Med. Vol. V

Among all his works, only Carakanyasa is now available partly, even though thereare many meritorious medical subjects for which he was admired again and again by latermedical commentators. It is a fact that the medical as well as the literary world have becomepoorer due to the non-availability of his masterly compositions.

SUMMARY

Bhartara Haricandra, the writer of Carakanyasa or Si~yopadhyayakinyasa, wasnot only the oldest commentator on Caraka Sarnhita but also was one of the pioneersamong the commentators on Ayurvedic texts. He was always referred to respectfully byall other commentators. Nothing definite can be stated about the parentage of this greatscholar. However, P. V. Sharma holds that he belonged to the Kankayana-clan, whileMaheswara, the author of Visvaprakasa kosa, not only declares himself to be a descendantof Bha+tara Haricandra but also gives the geneaolgical table from him.

After a careful consideration of the external references about Bhattara Haricandra,he can safely be placed before 1000 A.D. He was said to be the court physician of KingSahasanka. Bur there were four Kings known as Sahasanka, whose periods ranged from3rd century to 11th century A.D. According to P. V. Sharma, Yasodharrnan of Malva,should be identified as Saha~anka, who flourished during 6th century A.D. and thus fixingthe period of Bhattara Haricandra also. J. Jolly also considers that Bhattara Haricandraflourished in 6th century A.D.

Bhattara Haricandra was a versatile scholar having command over Vyakarana,Nyaya, Tarka, etc. besides Ayurveda and his versatility was admired by the great Sanskritpoet Banabhatta of 7th century in Harsa Charitarn and by Vakpati of Sth century A.D.in Gau~avaha.

The Caraka Nyasa though completely written on Caraka Sarnhita is now availableonly partly. The name of this commentary as said by Bhattara Haricandra is Sisyopadhya-vakinyasa suggesting that this must have been written for teaching his students. BhattaraHaricandra is also said to have edited Kharanada Sarnhita and written a commentary onA~tanga Hrdaya also. According to J. Jolly, one medical Sarnhitg was ascribed to BhattaraHaricandra, but Caraka Nyasa is the only available work of Bhattara Haricandra and thattoo partly.

REFERENCES

(I) Ashtanga Sangraha with Sasilekha commentary by Indu: Ed. & Pub. byT. Rudraparshav, Trichur, 1913.

(2) Charakasamhita, Vol. 1, Jamnagar, Sri Gulabkunverba Ayurvedic Society,1949.

Bhat tara Haricandra-Sastry &: Pandey 7

(3) Jolly, Julius: Indian Medicine, Poona, C. G. Kashikar, 1951.

(4) Kuppuswami Sastri, S.: A Descriptive Catalogue or Sanskrit Manuscriptsin the Government Oriental Manuscript Library, Madras, Vol. xxiii, 1918.

(5) Majumdar, R. C.: The Age of Imperial Kanauj; The History and Cultureof the Indian People, Vol. IV, Bombay, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 1955.

(6) Meulenbeld, G. J. : The Madhava Nidana and its chief commentary,Leidcn, E. J. Brill, 1974.

(7) Paradkar, Harishastri.: Astanga Hridaya, Bombay, Nirnaya Sagar Press,1939.

(8) Sharma, P. V.: Bhattara Harichandra aur Unki Charaka Vyakhya (BhattarHarichandra and hi" Charak-Commentary), Sachitra Ayurved, 1967, Vol.XIX, Nos. 10 & ] 1.

(9) Sharma, P. V. : Vagbhata Vivechana, Varanasi, Chowkhamba Vidya Bhavan,]968.

(10) Sharma, P. V. : Charaka Chintana, Varanasi, Chowkhamba Vidya \Bhavan,1970.

(1]) Sastri, Haridatta: Sri Bhattara Hari Chandra. Kanpur, Vaidya Samme-1ana Patrika, 1930, Vol. III, No.4, pp. 20-25

(12) Vogel, Claus: Vagbhata's Astangahrdayasamhita, Wiesbaden, FranzSteiner Gmbh, 1965.

(13) Winternitz, M.: A History of Indian Literature, Vol. III, pt. ii, VaranasiMotilal Banarsidass, 1967.

(14) Yadvji Trikamji: Charak Samhita, Bombay, Nirnaya Sagar Press, 1941.

I ~ .a~~hE :fll1i!£~ .I:ll~~ ~~l:lJ:g ll~it ~J ~~~ flJ~ t.&~~n t:g ,.&l.l2~~ll:,~~~JIn Ih~J ~:l:g~.2tit i!.tdn.l:iI~ Ifl:gJ:lt ~2J~hl.L~

~~h:t ~n }mt12 ~ t~tk I~ ill.l2~lht.&~ 'U~V!t~J tit, ~1~t2 t~ ,h~.u?g121l12,::t.l;.12,l.I:~:gJ:lt21i!}Et, ~ ~~l:~J:gLl~it I~ ~.u ~~J ~ ¥litl~ ~ :lhllliiJ~h :flhtt.:t'&!!=J~ Ifl~ltJ fl~:lt l~ fl1.e.&~ ~ ,'&lh~!!=JJ:dh~lbthlll1ij,.l:tl~h~ ~.&~ I ~~~b.t:; t~:fllii!£ :g.e flJ.1S11i'~~!!=J~1~t2 t~~j }b lfl:gj~!!=ll: !nb:t'&bj.IE:h.&lh~~}l:

I ~ l:gn.& ~~ litflJ.ISt~~~ !t .l~~~t.u, ~ flJb!!'l.e ::t.t12~ ,Q}jl=~:g, ~ ~itlnl.e .ej~ H:gh ~ h~:gj1'&fl~:t'& .t.J=22jl~l1ilEflHt I In .l:bl.lS:d~.aJ12 ~ tit }b 2JI12~fl Infl hlh~ 'In::t.~lh£fll=ljflJl£ .t.J=2f!t11£ ~~i!kJ -!& 1mj.t.J= litflJ.IS~h~.e ~~ ~!l=lj:g l1~it

I In 22JIfll1i~B ~1~¥1~ 1~i!E tit }'l.&t12~ t~~~ I ~ t~\:g fll=.?<ji!jt:g2~lfllli t2£tit .aJE12 t~ ~~l:lJ:g ll~it .eJl.Q12 I Ih 22JIQllit2 ?, ~I~¥l~ I~.&.ltcj'~:gJjl=li!l~Ih:4:J l.l~ IJ2i ~m~m t:g ~~ i!!tmJiih l1i~i!IE~l.l:t ::t.lli~12.t.J=l,?!.l:tllifl.l2h.lSjI ~ 1hltl~lh I:l:!!!:fl22JIfll1iLE ~~ ~ t::t.aJ~~l.'£¥l~ l~i!.I£-j~ fllh~EJ l~ll Hl: ~ ltli!~ ~m~Ht ~~1<J!G.IE:~~ll ~E .t.J=~1'&~1'&lkll I ~ Ifl.'£'&lk l.l2!!=jfllJ!!3i!j ¥b ~22Jlfllli lE 0 6 ~~.2~~ .\i!Etl ~ 2~1 ~!l=!.1l2~'&.a~~bE k:.I2d£ 12.12:1'&~ ~~.E:}.j~H~it

I~ J(~ tit IDLE.ejI!!: -l~Ellii~ ~~ l~\:g it:tHlS ~i!E !l=~j.!2o~ .\i!}.~ fltg1J3~~ klii~1.':Ei!2t!!: ,tLE:t~E~ i! 'lE.?<~h :t.l.t£M~liil!!:.lSE~.Ejfll::t.b.Ej~.&~ 'o~ ~l~ ::t.l~.(¥lht~lJ..t ~h1:.t).t£l~i!E ~~!.l:tl1ifl.l2h.lSJI ~ 1.Q~.& lk l~!!: l~i! ~~ !!=¥£hl:~i!J~ .a~E:1a~ h~1bj ~i!E I ~ l.l2!!:jflB1E ~~i!£ i!lh:t.&.&~ :l::t.l~l~t2 tlt'&:hIt I ~ tit tln.h12~

:l::t.l!!=l~l}~ :l1;]~.lll.Q~J:lt!!=2J~hl12~bjl£ ~ l:g~ t:g 11~I!!=t2hfli!tl=lt ~lE~1!l~j l~lJ!l=h1l::•.lH!:z~.t£j.l21h:~lb~hSlllij.lEhl£ ,'&lh~~ll=, ::t.bIfl:gj:lt~l.l: ~~~lj-g ll~it

~nIb °l::h 0:Ll ~Jl U~:Hllio'&h°tE °tE -

~E:~J~ ~l~lt

: l1ilH.&

A oWl pafV O,S!H -isu] Pill u!JJlln[[ s