Essay name: Devala-smriti (critical study)
Author:
Mukund Lalji Wadekar
Affiliation: Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda / Department of Sanskrit Pali and Prakrit
This essay represents an English study of the Devala-smriti鈥攁n ancient text attributed to sage Devala classified as belonging to the Dharma-Shastra branch of Indian literature which encompasses jurisprudence and religious law. This study deals with the reconstructed text of the Devala-smriti based on surviving references, emphasizing Devala鈥檚 unique viewpoints on social, religious, and philosophical aspects, particularly the Sankhya and Yoga philosophies.
Chapter 6 - Date of the Devala-Smriti
5 (of 8)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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verses are certainly older than 1000 A.D.".
6 (3) Dr.A.S.Altekar ascribes the printed Devalasmrti to the
"social thinker of Sindh which would place its composition in the
nineth century at the earliest".
(4) Dr.S.V.Ketakar" suggests that the probable period of the
composition of the printed Devalasmrti is about 732 A.D. He fixes
this date, on consideration of the political condition in Sindh, during
the eighth century & the events narrated in the Smrti. It refers
to the forcible conversion of Hindus to Islam in Sindh & Devala
tries to tackle the problem of readmittance by purification of
persons, troubled by the Mlecchas.
1 1
i
Thus the Mlecchitasuddhi (3.2) portion of the present text,
may be placed in the 8th century A.D., as it seems to have connection
with the social & political condition in Sindh, during that period.
THE THIRD & THE LATEST STRATUM :
8 (3) The verses from the prayascitta section of Hemadri's
Caturvarga cintamani, seem to be of later period, for the following
reasons :
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(i) There is reference to the following authors & works in
these verses : (A) Authors Jatukarnya (363), Vrddhamanu (366),
Harihara (598), G膩lava (744). (B) Works Bhardv膩jas奴tram (1239),
Skandapurana (1745), Visnus ahas-ran膩ma (1929), Gajendra Moksa;
This indicates the posterity of the present portion of the text
to the above authors & works.
pana's
