Jimutavahana

Jimutavahana (c. 12th century CE) was a Sanskrit scholar and writer of legal and religious treatises of early medieval period. He was the earliest writer on "smriti" (law) from Bengal whose texts are extant. He was a Brahmin of IAST|"Pāribhadrakula" (Pāribhadra family) from "Radha" (western Bengal).

Major works

Jimutavahana is known for his three major works. His "Kalaviveka" has dealt with the appropriate "kala" (timings) for religious rites and ceremonies. This text also contains discussions on solar and lunar months.

His IAST|"Vyvahāra-mātrikā" or IAST|"Nyayaratna-mātrikā" or IAST|"Nyayamātrikā" has dealt with IAST|"vyavahāra" (judicial procedure). The text is divided into five sections, "Vyvaharamukha", "Bhashapada", "Uttarapada", "Kriyapada" and "Nirnayapada".

His magnum opus "Dayabhaga" has dealt with the laws of inheritance based on "Yājnavalkyasmriti". In Bengal (and post-independence West Bengal and Tripura) and Assam, "Dayabhaga" was the principal guide for laws on inheritance till the enactment of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956. This treatise differs in some aspects from Mitakshara, which was prevalent in other parts of India. The right of a widow without any male issue to inherit the properties of her deceased husband is recognized in "Dayabhaga".

"Dayabhagatippani" of Srinath Acharyachudamani (c. 16th century CE), "Dayabhagatika" of Raghunandan Bhattacharya (16th century CE) and "Dayabhagatika" of Srikrishna Tarkalankar (18th century CE) are the notable commentaries written on "Dayabhaga" during the late medieval period.

ee also

*Dayabhaga

References

*Roy, Niharranjan. "Bangalir Itihas: Adiparba" (in Bengali), Dey’s Publishing, Kolkata, 1993, ISBN 81-7079-270-3, pp. 615-616.
* Rocher, Ludo. "Jīmūtavāhana's Dāyabhāga", Oxford Univ Press, 2002, ISBN 0-19-513817-1