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There is a controversy regarding chronology of the 顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补蝉 and the 厂尘峁泃颈 literature. It is not possible to come to a definite conclusion. Traditionally, the 顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补蝉 are believed to have represented the oldest phase of the Dharma literature, which is followed by the 厂尘峁泃颈s or the 顿丑补谤尘补艣腻蝉迟谤补蝉. Winternitz holds that 顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补蝉 are the forerunners of the metrical Dharma艣膩tras or the 厂尘峁泃颈s. ^[1] According to him, as the 顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补蝉 deal with more about religious duties and manner of worship, than about secular duties, so they are the oldest form of the Dharma literature. Macdonell holds that they are the earliest Indian works on law, treating fully of its religious, but only partially and briefly of its secular aspects.^[2] Max M眉ller also observes that the 顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补蝉 arose earlier than the 厂尘峁泃颈s, based on an assumption, i.e. pre-existence of 蝉奴迟谤补 period, but the 厂奴迟谤补蝉 are said to have been succeeded by these later metrical 厂尘峁泃颈s.^[3]

S. C. Banerji has provided the following grounds to justify that the 顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补蝉 are prior to the 厂尘峁泃颈s^[4] -

(i) The archaisms and solecisms used in the 顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补蝉 show their pre-P膩峁噄niyan origin. The 厂尘峁泃颈s such as the 惭补苍耻蝉尘峁泃颈, the 驰腻箩帽补惫补濒办测补蝉尘峁泃颈, etc., contain very few irregular forms in comparison to them.

(ii) Later digests and compendiums have quoted citations from the 厂尘峁泃颈s in a great number than the 顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补蝉.

(iii) The study of the 顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补蝉 as authoritative source of Indian Law ceased in India long before, on the other hand, the 厂尘峁泃颈s were studied till the British came into India and even used as authority of Hindu Law in the Courts of justice.

(iv) The 厂尘峁泃颈s treat a greater variety of legal topics than the 顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补蝉 from which, it appears to be written at a later date, for a more advanced society.

(v) The 顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补蝉 deal with the numerous references to the Vedic 厂补峁僪颈迟腻蝉 and the 叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺蝉. Thus, their existence before the 厂尘峁泃颈s may be inferred.

P.V. Kane has not supported this view of pre-existence of the 顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补蝉 only on the ground of 蝉奴迟谤补 style of writing. ^[5] Some of the 顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补蝉 have contained verses in 艣濒辞办补 metre. It leads to the probability that works in the 艣濒辞办补 metre may have existed before the 顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补蝉. Another important observation is, since Manu and his extant 厂尘峁泃颈 and a few others are found cited by many 顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补蝉, it is very difficult to maintain that all the metrical 厂尘峁泃颈s evolved from or after the 顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补蝉.^[6] The justified view seems to be that the metrical Dharma艣膩tras or the 厂尘峁泃颈s were composed simultaneously with the comparatively late 顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补蝉, to fulfil the needs of the changing society of Hindus. Thus, chronology of the Dharma蝉奴迟谤补 and the 厂尘峁泃颈, like most of the ancient Indian works, is yet to be settled specifically.

It is also very difficult to ascertain the exact date of composition of these works. These were written in different periods and widely separated ages. However, the period of composition of these works is identified into three stages. The 顿丑补谤尘补蝉奴迟谤补蝉 of Gautama, 膧辫补蝉迟补尘产补, 叠补耻诲丑腻测补苍补 and the 惭补苍耻蝉尘峁泃颈 are considered to be very ancient and were composed, centuries before the Christian era. In the second stage, the 厂尘峁泃颈s of 驰腻箩帽补惫补濒办测补, 笔补谤腻艣补谤补, 狈腻谤补诲补, etc., came into existence. The time of the second stage commenced in the first centuries of the Christian era. Most of the other 厂尘峁泃颈s were produced between the period from 400 A.D. to 1000 A.D. ^[7]

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Winternitz, M., Op.cit.,Volume3, page581

[2]:

cf., Macdonell, A.A., A History of Sanskrit Literature, page217

[3]:

Max M眉ller, F., A History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, page86

[4]:

Banerji, S. C., Op.cit., page38

[5]:

Vide, Kane, P.V., Op.cit., Volume1, Part 1, page15

[6]:

De, S. K., et al (Edited), Op.cit.,Volume2, page302

[7]:

Vide., Kane, P.V., Op.cit., Volume1, Part 1, page304