[The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana by Vatsyayana]@TWC D-Link bookThe Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana INTRODUCTION 5/7
On the other hand, Virahamihira, in the eighteenth chapter of his 'Brihatsanhita,' treats of the science of love, and appears to have borrowed largely from Vatsyayana on the subject.
Now Virahamihira is said to have lived during the sixth century A.D., and as Vatsya must have written his works previously, therefore not earlier than the first century, A.C., and not later than the sixth century A.D., must be considered as the approximate date of his existence. On the text of the 'Aphorisms on Love,' by Vatsyayana, only two commentaries have been found.
One called 'Jayamangla' or 'Sutrabashya,' and the other 'Sutra vritti.' The date of the 'Jayamangla' is fixed between the tenth and thirteenth centuries A.D., because while treating of the sixty-four arts an example is taken from the 'Kテ。vyaprakテ。sha,' which was written about the tenth century A.D.Again, the copy of the commentary procured was evidently a transcript of a manuscript which once had a place in the library of a Chaulukyan king named Vishaladeva, a fact elicited from the following sentence at the end of it:-- "Here ends the part relating to the art of love in the commentary on the 'Vatsyayana Kama Sutra,' a copy from the library of the king of kings, Vishaladeva, who was a powerful hero, as it were a second Arjuna, and head jewel of the Chaulukya family." Now it is well known that this king ruled in Guzerat from 1244 to 1262 A.D., and founded a city called Visalnagur.
The date, therefore, of the commentary is taken to be not earlier than the tenth and not later than the thirteenth century.
The author of it is supposed to be one Yashodhara, the name given him by his preceptor being Indrapada.
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