Concluding Remarks:

In this introductory chapter we have discussed the two selected texts Mātaṅgalīlā and Hastyāyurveda. Hastyāyurveda has not yet been translated satisfactorily hence we have provided a brief content of the text here for the first time. We have argued that eastern India was the core area where the texts originated and all the texts have a tendency to associate with Pālakāpya. Aṅga i.e. portions of Bengal and Bihar is the place of origin of the texts as it was authored by Pālakāpya and disseminated to the king of Aṅga named Romapāda.

Pālakāpya is mentioned as the author of Gajaśāstra and Hastyāyurveda. There are other texts which also claim Pālakāpya as the author. Among them are Gaja cikitsā, Gaja parikṣā and Gaja darpaṇa. This not only reflects that abundance of elephant literature composed in early India but also show the tendency to claim legitimacy for such texts by naming the authority as the composer. Pālakāpya became a mark of legitimacy and authenticity for the texts and hence all the authors preferred to attribute their work to this single author. Mātaṅgalīlā on the other hand seems to be composed later than Gajaśāstra and Hastyāyurveda as the author Nīlakaṇṭha attributes the substance of his work to Pālakāpya which again is an indication of seeking legitimacy for his work. On the basis of the style and content of the texts their time of composition or antiquity of such compositions can be dated back to the early historic time period^[1]. Though they were constantly updated and changes were made in the form and content.