1. Introduction: the Manasollasa and Encyclopaedic knowledge

CHAPTER VI MANASOLLASA THE FIRST ENCYCLOPAEDIA The Manasollasa is a unique encyclopaedic work composed in Sanskrit verses by Somesvara, a distinguished scholar of Karnataka and a king who ruled over the Calukya empire. Almost all branches of ancient knowledge have been included in this voluminous work and hence it serves as a storehouse of information on all leading topics of learning. The word encyclopaedia comes from two Greek words meaning 'instruction in the whole circle'. Thus an encyclopaedia is a reference work that contains information on all branches of knowledge or that treats a particular branch of knowledge in a comprehensive manner. "A well planned, standard encyclopaedia should present important facts about man, about man's beliefs, ideas, and achievements; about the world he lived in; and about the Universe of ,,1 which _ he is a part. An Encyclopaedia not only furnishes the reader with information, but also stimulates him to go still further in his search for knowledge. The aim of an encyclopaedia is to gather together the knowledge scattered over the face of the earth, to 1. The World Book, Encyclopaedia, Vol.5, p.216.

370 set forth its general plan for the people living and to transmit it to the people who will come in future, in order that the scholars of the past centuries may not have been in vain and that our children, better informed, may at the same time become happier. 3 The oldest encyclopaedia that still exists today is one written by the Latin author Pliny in the first century 2 A.D. It is called 'Historia Naturalis* 'Aristotle was the first in ancient times to attempt a summary of human knowledge in encyclopaedia form'. Somesvara's Manasollasa does not lack in these encyclopaedic characters. This Manasollasa is the first systematic encyclopaedia in India. Ancient Sanskrit literature had all the leading (topics of learning, but they were scattered. They have been brought together here with added information. Manasollasa contains almost all types of knowledge. The first Prakarana deals with general and religious ethics, social service, manufacture of idols, diseases 2. Children's Britannica, Vol.4 (Encyclopaedia Britannica Ltd., London 1961) p.253. 3. The Catholic Encyclopaedia Vol.V (New York, Robert Appleton Company 1909) p.414.

371 ' and their remedies. In the second Prakarana, Polity is treated in detail under the seven heads (namely the King, the Minister, the ally, the treasury, the kingdom, the forts and the army) together with law, both private and interstatal, under such aspects as peace, war, invasion, neutrality and alliance. Four wellknown stratagems, such as Sama, Dana, Bheda and Danda are also dealt with. The third Prakarana describes architecture, picture-drawing and painting with minutest details, iconography and pleasures of domestic life. Here Somesvara elaborates all types of enjoyments like Grhopabhoga i.e. pleasure from house, Snanopabhoga i.e. enjoyment from bath, Padukabhoga i.e. enjoyment of sandals and so on. 0 In the fourth Prakarana Somesvara starts with 'Sastravidya-vinoda' i.e. entertainment from weapons, and Sastra-vinoda i.e. entertainment from the Sciences, entertainments from the elephants, horses, cocks, hawks and so on. The fifth Prakarana begins with Bhudharakrida "Vanakrida, and so on. It covers many topics such as arithmetic, the decimal notation, preparation of calendars, astrology, cmens, augury, training of horses and elephants together with the treatment of their diseases, mining, alchemy, gems, precious stones, marriage and child-rearing,

372 · cookery, liquor, beverages, music, dance and so on. Somesvara exhibits his vast horticultural knowledge. A description as to various methods employed for the care and maintenance of trees and plants bears testimony to this fact. He refers to trees bearing fruits. He describes various types of trees as follows: --- 1. Citraphala Vrksah 1.e. trees bearing strange fruits. 2. Phalabhuyisthah i.e. trees bearing abundant fruits. 3. Sarvakalaphalanvitah i.e. trees which bear fruits throughout the year. 4. Svaduphalopetah i.e. trees bearing delicious fruits. 5. Tatkalikaphalodayah i.e. trees which bear fruits instantly. 4 Calukya king Somesvara knows the importance of the trees, and their effects. So he says that much care should be 1 4. tatra citradrumopetam vanam kuryatsamantatah | tanmadhye svacaram ramyam kridahetormanoharam || karayetparvatam raja tujhngasrngavirajitam | nanavrsca samakirnam suvisala silatalam || tatra citraphala vrscastatprayogavinirmitah | anyapatranyaphalakah putravatparipalitah || anantaphalabhuyisthah sarvakalaphalanvitah | laghavo'pi mahakayah prasastah kubjatam gatah || anye svaduphlopetastatkalikaphalodayah | prayatnena krtah saile nana phalamahiruhah || 5.1.2-6.

373 taken of the trees and plants as if they are our own children. (Putravatparipalitah). Further he instructs the officers that they must increase well fertilized lands and at the same time good forests. He recommends that the trees Asoka, Nimba, Punnaga, Bakula, Nagakesara, Sirisa and Tilaka should be planted first in the forest as they bring about happiness, glory and prosperity.5 Somesvara tells about watering of trees and plants as follows. The watering process should differ according to the change of seasons. Then only we get good results in producing desired fruits and flowers. The first thing to be observed in this connection is that for full one year after sowing the seeds, one should water the plants with a Kumbha (earthen pot) of water and the number of the Kumbhas should be increased according to the number of years. Somesvara suggests that, it should be continued for twenty years. In the Hemanta and Sisira seasons, 6 5. asoka nimbapunnagabakula nagakesarah | sirisastilakascaivamudhyante prathamam vane || sukharomyayasovrddhilaksmi vijaya - vrddhaye | saubhagyarthamime vrksah kartavya bhubhrta vane || 5.1.18-19. 6. bijavapatsamarabhya kumbhenaikena secayet | yavadvarsam tatah kumbham prativarsa vivardhayet || samanah vimsatiryavattatastenaiva manatah | jalam deyam prayatnena yathakalam mahiruham ||

" 374 the trees should be watered on alternate days. In Vasanta and Grisma, they should always be watered in the morning. In the Varsa and Sarad seasons they should be watered only when the pits are dry. 7 Somesvara mentions the treatment of seeds. Two methods are given in this connection. The first method is employed for the seeds of all kinds of trees. Accord ing to this method, the seeds of ripe fruits are first dried in the sun. Then they are kept covered with cowdung for five days. They are fumigated with the smoke of 8 Vidanga ghrta. The second method is a special treatment given to the milky trees. According to this method, the seeds are soaked in cow's milk continuously for ten nights. They are dried in shade, coated with cowdung and mixed with the milk of a tigress and ashes and with barley and " 7. hemante sisire deyam toyamekantare dine | vasante ca tatha grisme deyam pratah sada budhaih || varsasu ca saratkale yada suskam mahitalam 1 tada deyam jalam tajjnairalavale mahistam || 5.1.21-22. 8. svabhavapavavaphalina rnirdosam suskamatape | phalabijam samaliptam gomaye dinapancakam || vidangaghrtadhupena dhupitam karayedbhrsam | sarvesameva vrksanamesa bijavidhih smrtah || 5.1.7-8.

wheat. 9 375 Then he tells about the treatment of soil. The soil used for the plantation of fruit and flower trees should contain sweet water and should be free from pieces of stones. It should be smooth and soft. Somesvara has 10 has said that the following should be used as the manure for getting the highest yield: (1) Dung of pigs, horses etc., (2) Fats of Elephant, fox, deer etc., (3) Flesh of fish, dog, mouse, deer, cat, casa bird etc. (571.40-98). Further he tells about pits. The pit in which a tree is to be planted should be four feet square and four feet deep. The trees should be planted according to their size. They may be of big, medium or small size. The space between the trees should accordingly be about 16, 11, 8 or 14 hastas. Trees and plants should be well 11 protected from frost, extreme heat, smoke, fire, insects 1. goksirabhavitam bijam dasaratram nirantaram | bayasuskam ca militam vyaghridugdhena bhasmana || yavagodhumamilitam gomayena pralepitam | zutuud fregamuni fauur atoriegfa: || 5.1.9-10. 10. draksa bhavati susvadabhuyista - phlasobhita | 5.1.42. 11. sodasaiाdasastau va tatha hastascatudesa | kartavyam ropyamananamantaralam mahiruham || 5.1.13.

376 and birds. Weeds should not be allowed to grow near the pits. Then he suggests some methods to protect the 12 13 trees. They can be protected against the snowfall if the pits are surrounded with the soil brought from the pit of the tree hit by the lightning. The insects and worms can also be killed if vidanga, Hihgu, sindhura, Marica, Ativisa, Vaca, Bhallataka, and the (powdered) horn of a buffalo are mixed in equal quantities into the soil. This process destroys all the diseases of 14 the plants. In this way king Somesvara treats the Science dealing with the plant life. In the third chapter of this thesis, the science dealing with the life of animals and with human life also has been noted. Thus it can be seen that Somesvara is well-versed in the Science of living organisms. 12. niharaccandatapacca dhumadvaisvanarattatha | jalakarah (rat ) prayatnena raksaniyah ksamashah || 5.1.25. 13. vidyuta dagdhavrksasya bhumimadayanandane | raksartham vika (ki .) redresam taya na himabadhanam || 5.1.27. 14. vidangahi sindhattthamaricativisavacah | bhallatakam tatha sagam mahisam samabhagatah || etairviracito yoge nihanyat kri (kr ) mikitakam | udyane padapanam ta sarvavyadhivinasanah || 5.1.31-32. tu