Part 8 - Nibandhas (digests)

Secondary literature derived from the Dharmasūtras and Dharmaśāstras were categorized as nibandhas (digests). These texts are the final outcome of detailed discussions and arguments made upon a particular selected subject from Dharmaśātra literature especially to the rituals, customs and practices. They contain a synthesis of all the dicta of Smṛti writers on topics of Dharma. Many Nibandha texts are there. The digests were generally arranged by topic, referred to many different Dharmaśāstras for their contents. Kṛtyakalpataru, Smṛticandrikā, Smṛtiratnākara, Nirṇayasindhu, Caturvargacintāmaṇi, Dāyabhāga, Daṇḍaviveka these are well known Smṛti digests.

During 11^th Cent. CE to 17^th Cent. CE several Nibandha works were written. Lakṣmīdhara, Devaṇṇa-bhaṭṭa, Pratāparudradeva, Nīlakaṇṭha, Dalapati, Kāśinātha (dealing with all topics in general), Jīmūtavāhana, Raghunandana (focusing on the topic of inheritance), Caṇḍeśvara, Kamalākara-bhaṭṭa, Nīlakaṇṭha, Mitra-miśra (focusing on judicial process), Nanda-paṇḍita (adoption),Caṇḍeśvara, Ṭoḍar Mal (duties of kings) etc. A Brief History of Dharmaśāstra lists the Nibandhas and their authors in different topics like, ācāra, śrāddha, vivāha, āśauca, vrata, dāna, prāyaścitta etc.^[1] Women also have written Nibandhas, which fact is very much important. Though they have wrote limited numbers of Nibandhas, they were all notable works. Lakshmidevi’s Vivādacandra and Mahadevi Dhiramati's Dānavākyāvali are worth to mention.