A Newly Discovered Work of Bhatta Bhavadeva of Bengal
Summary
This article reports the discovery of two manuscripts of the Seva‑sutaka‑sauca‑prakarana, a previously unknown work of the eleventh‑century scholar Bhatta Bhavadeva of Bengal. Bhavadeva was already known from five Smrti‑works and a judicial treatise. The newly found texts, preserved in Assam, describe ritual impurity and purification procedures for servants and domestic workers. The author analyses the style, content and colophons of the manuscripts and demonstrates that they share features with Bhavadeva’s other writings. Like his known works, the Seva‑sutaka‑sauca‑prakarana cites authorities such as Manu and Yājñavalkya, quotes the Purāṇas and is arranged in the form of a prakarana with enumerated rules. Internal evidence refers to Bhavadeva’s father and lineage and the colophons call the author an Acharya, strengthening the case for his authorship. The article also reproduces the Bhuvanesvara inscription of a minister who built a shrine to Śiva, which praises a "fortunate Bhava" for his heroism and learning; this inscription, dated to the eleventh century, is presented as corroborative evidence for Bhavadeva’s status. By adding this sixth work to Bhavadeva’s corpus, the article expands our knowledge of medieval legal literature and highlights the attention paid to the duties of household servants.
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Conclusion
The discovery of the Seva‑sutaka‑sauca‑prakarana reveals that Bhatta Bhavadeva addressed not only judicial matters but also the ethics and purification rites of domestic service. Textual parallels and colophons confirm its authenticity while the Bhuvanesvara inscription situates the author in eleventh‑century Bengal. Recognising this work enriches our understanding of Dharmaśāstra literature and the social norms of early medieval Bengal.