Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study)

by A. Yamuna Devi | 2012 | 77,297 words | ISBN-13: 9788193658048

This page relates ‘Pre-Amarakosha Lexicographers’ of the study on the Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (in English) which represents a commentary on the Amarakosha of Amarasimha. These ancient texts belong the Kosha or “lexicography” category of Sanskrit literature which deals with the analysis and meaning of technical words from a variety of subjects, such as cosmology, anatomy, medicine, hygiene. The Amarakosa itself is one of the earliest of such text, dating from the 6th century A.D., while the Amarakoshodghatana is the earliest known commentary on that work.

Pre-Amarakośa Lexicographers

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(a) Vyāḍi:—He is often quoted by Hemacandra, Rāya Mukuṭa, Maheśvara and others. His work was probably the Utpalinīkośa, a lexicon, mainly containing synonyms and one section dealing with homonyms. His work seems to have been a voluminous one as is inferred from the lengthy quotations cited in Abhidhānacintāmaṇī of Hemacandra. Hemacandra also cites the Buddhist theology as presented by Vyāḍi. Scholars like Rāmāvatāra Śarmā^[1] opine that such statements only prove that Vyāḍi was well acquainted with the philosophy of Buddhists. Thus he must have existed when Buddhism was very popular. Yudhiṣṭhira Mīmāṃsak^[2] assigns him 3rd C. A.D.

(b) Kātya:—Nāmamālā was probably the lexicon of Kātya. His work is also not available but known only through references. Kṣīrasvāmin, Hemacandra, Rāya Mukuṭa and Bhānuji have cited from his work. The quotations suggest that his work was on synonyms but had descriptive clauses to signify the specific meaning of the synonyms. He is also belived to have lived before 500 Bhānuji Dīkṣita C^[3].

(c) Bhāguri:—Bhāguri is the author of the lexicon called Trikāṇḍa suggesting that the work was in three sections. This work dealt with the synonyms of the words alone without designating their genders. From the citations presented by Sāyaṇa in his Mādhavīya dhātuvṛtti, Hemacandra in Abhidhānacintāmaṇī, Sarvānanda in Ṭīkāsarvasva, and others, it is clear that the work was composed in anuṣṭub metre. He is assigned to 4th C. A.D. by Yudhiṣṭhira Mīmāṃsak.^[4]

(d) Mālā and its author (referred to as mālākāra) are quoted by Kṣīrasvāmin and Hemacandra. It appears to be identical with Amaramālā often cited by Sarvānanda and Rāya Mukuṭa. According to Rāmāvatāra Śarmā^[5], the author of Mālā could probably be Amaradatta an earlier lexicographer besides Amarasiṃha, after whom the text could have been called Amaramālā.