Medhatithi: A Sanskrit Scholar and the First Commentator on Manusmiriti (Manubhashya)

History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar) - Part 103

   Central Himalayan Early Medieval Age History of Katyuri Imperialism in Kumaon, Garhwal and Haridwar (Uttarakhand) -14

          (Central Himalayan Early Medieval Age History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand))

                          (Asian Medieval History (740-1100 AD)

                                 By: Bhishma Kukreti

  Medhatithi was first Sanskrit scholar who did commentary on Manusmriti a Dhramashastra.  

     There are debates on the birth place of Medhatithi the first commentator of Manusmriti. George Buhler argues that he was Kashmirian and P.V. Kane supports up to some extent the argument. Robert Lingat cancelled the argument of Medhatithi being a Kashmiri born Sanskrit scholar.

                Some historians suggest Medhatithi that he has been writing after 820-1050CE. Lingat suggests that he lived around between ninth century and tenth century. Dabral suggests the life of Medhatithi 825-900CE.

  Medhatithi discussed about Asahay and Kumaril types of scholars in his commentary. He did not discuss about Shankaracharya. However, there are various sentences those were used by Shankaracharya.  

 Julius Jolly argues that Medhatithi was inhabitant of south India.

Ramesh Chandra Majumdar discussed Medhatithi in his book Age of Imperial Kanauj (page 203). 

                          Dev Prayag the Penance Place of Medhatithi

  It seems that Medhatithi was contemporary of Salonaditya a Katyuri king (876-908).

  There is a Shloka in Kedarkhand that puts light on Medhatithi

पूरा मेधातिथिनम अनूप द्विजसत्तम: I सूर्य्य भक्तिरतो नित्यं सूर्यमेवाभजत् सदा II.
सदैव सौर्मन्त्र वै जपंस्तस्थौ तु स्वे गृहेI एकदा मुनिशार्दूल गतो मेधातिथिर्मुनि II
देवप्रयागके क्षेत्रे तीर्थानामुत्तमोत्तमे I सौरकुण्डे महातीर्तः तीर्थानां प्रवरे शुभे II
तत्र गत्वा मुनि श्रेष्ठ तपश्च्क्रे महामति: I निराहारो वतात्मा वै निर्ममो नि:स्पृहः सुधीः II
      
                           ----Kedarkhand 155/4-8

    The Sholka narrates that Medhatithi did penance in Dev Prayag (confluence of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda Rivers in Garhwal).

  If Medhatithi did penance in Dev Prayag that means he worked on Manubhashya in Dev Prayag.

Kedarkhand suggest that work place of Medhatithi was Dev Prayag.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti -bckukreti@gmail.com 21/7//2013

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

                           

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand) to be continued… Part -104

Central Himalayan Medieval History of Katyuri Dynasty in Kumaon, Garhwal and Haridwar (Uttarakhand) to be continued…15

    (Central Himalayan Early Medieval Age History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) to be continued…)

    (Asian Medieval Age History (740-1100 AD to be continued…)

                                        References

A1- Agrawal, D.P., J.S Kharkwal, 1998, Central Himalayas: an archeological, linguistic and cultural synthesis 

1-Atkinson, E.T. 1974 (new edition), 1974, Kumaon Hills

1A- Adhikari, Suryamani, 1997, The Khasa Kingdom

1B- Chandola, Khemanand, 1987, Across Himalayas through Ages: a study of relations between central Himalayas and western Tibet

2--Chaurasiya, Radhey Shyam, 2002, History of Ancient India: Earliest time to 1000AD

3--Dabral, Shiv Prasad Dabral, 1968, Uttarakhand ka Itihas, Bhag-3 Pages 429-513)

3A- Elliot and Dowson, History of Indian (2^nd part)

4--Handa, O.C. 2002, history of Uttaranchal, Indus Publishing Company, New Delhi 27, page 22-44

4A- Joshi, M.C., 1990, Uttaranchal (Kumaon-Garhwal) Himalaya: an essay in historical anthropology 

5-Linrothe, Rob, 1999, Ruthless Compassion: Wrathful Deities in Early Indo Tibetan Esoteric Buddhist Art

6-Mishra, Nityanand, Source Materials of Kumaon History 

7-Mishra Baldev Prasad, Nepal ka Itihas

8- Pandey, B.D, 1937, new edition (1990), Kumaon ka Itihas

9- Pandey, Ram Niwas, 1997, Making of Modern Nepal, page 170

10-Rawat, Ajay S., 19 Garhwal Himalayas: A Study in Historical Perspective 

11-Satyankritan, Rahul, Garhwal

11A-Saklani, Dinesh Prasad, 1998, Ancient Communities of The Himalayas

11B- Tripathi, Ramdatt , Katyur ka Itihas

 12-Notes on Archeological Aspects of Uttarakhand: ascidehraduncircle.in/uttrakhand.html

13-Indian Archeology: A review, (edited by D. Mitra) 1979-80

14- Epigraphia  Indica 1982, Vol. XIII

15- Kane, P.V.1975, History of Dharmashastra

16- Lingat, Robert, 1973, The Classical laws of India  

17-Julius Jolly 1928, Hindu Law and Custom (translated by Balkrishna Ghos)

18-J.G. Buhler (his books as The laws of Manu on and detailed report on tour of Kashmir)

19-Manubhashya translated by Ganga Dhar Jha

Xxx                              xx

Notes on Birth place and work place of Medhatithi of Manubhashya; discussion on Birth place and work place of Medhatithi of Manubhashya by P.V.Kane; discussion on Birth place and work place of Medhatithi of Manubhashya by Robert Lingat; discussion on Birth place and work place of Medhatithi of Manubhashya by Buhler; discussion on Birth place and work place of Medhatithi of Manubhashya by Jolly; discussion on Birth place and work place of Medhatithi of Manubhashya by Majumdar; discussion on Birth place and work place of Medhatithi of Manubhashya by Dr Dabral; Shloka about Medhatithi in Kedarkhand