Pitambara Sidhanta Vagisa

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Pitambara Siddhanta Vagisa Bhattacharyya
Born1530
Kamrup
Died1620
OccupationSmriti writer
Language Kamrupi
Notable worksGudhartha- prakasika on Laksmanacarya's Saradatilaka, Tirtha Kaumudi

Pitambara Sidhanta Vagisa (1530-1620) was 16th century litterateur from Kamrup and contemporary of likes of Damodara Mishra. [1]

Contents

Works

Smriti writers Pitambara Siddhantavagisa, Damodar Misra & Shambhunatha Siddhantavagisha and others developed what may be called a Kamarupa school of Dharmashastra. It was royal patronage from the Kamata kingdom, & later the Ahom kingdom that helped in the dissemination of Sanskrit learning and culture throughout the Brahmaputra valley. [2]

Under the patronage of the Kamata king Naranarayana, Siddhantavagisha wrote 18 Smriti digests. Brihat Rajavamshavali of King Harendranarayana of Coochbihar records their names as [3]

  1. Danda kaumudi - dealing with criminal law
  2. Preta kaumudi - dealing with funerary rites & afterlife
  3. Vrishotsarga kaumudi - dealing with the rite of vrishotsarga
  4. Pramana kaumudi - dealing with judicial procedure
  5. Shraddha kaumudi - dealing with sraddha ceremony
  6. Durgotsava kaumudi - dealing with Durga Puja
  7. Ekadashi kaumudi - dealing with rites to be performed on ekadashi
  8. Shuddhi kaumudi - dealing with rites of purification
  9. Pratistha kaumudi - dealing with rites of consecration
  10. Sankalpa kaumudi - dealing with the rites of sankalpa
  11. Prayascitta kaumudi - dealing with the rites of penitence
  12. Tirtha kaumudi - dealing with the rites of pilgrimage
  13. Kala kaumudi - dealing with festivals to be celebrated throughout the year
  14. Diksha kaumudi - dealing with the rites of initiation
  15. Sambandha kaumudi - dealing with the concept of family relationships & choice of potential spouses
  16. Tithi kaumudi - dealing with rites to be observed on specific days of the fortnight
  17. Daya kaumudi - dealing with laws of inheritance
  18. Achara kaumudi - dealing with proper conduct

Siddhantavagisha is also stated to have authored a Sanskrit drama named Usha-harana, dealing with the affair of Usha, the daughter of the Prahlada's great-grandson Banasura (who is believed to have reigned from Sonitpur) with Aniruddha, the grandson of Krishna as described in the Harivamsa & a Gudhartha-dipika, a commentary on the 11th century Tantrika manual named Sharadatilaka Tantra.

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References

  1. Samiti, Kamarupa Anusandhan (1985). Journal of the Assam Research Society - Volume 28. p. 97.
  2. Misra, Udayon (1991). Nation building and development in north east India. Centre for Rural and Industrial Development (Chandīgarh, India). p. 136.
  3. Vasu, Nagendra-nath (1926). The Social History Of Kamarupa Vol.2.