Vedah Smrutih Sadaachaaraha swasya cha Priyamaatmanah

Etacchaturvidham praahuh sakshaat Dharmasya lakshanam/

(Veda-Smriti-Sadaachaara-and one’s own Conscience constitute the four corner-stones of Dharma)

Drushtaa purva nibandhaatrirnaaya sindhu kramena siddharthaan

Praayena mula vachaannyujijjtya likhvaami baalabodhaaya/

(Having studied various ancient Sciptures and strictly based on the rudimentary facts delineated in those Root-Grandhas that the essence of ‘Dharma Nirnayaas’ /Regulatoty Verdicts is sought to be described.)


Panditha Kashinaatha, a famed devotee of Bhagavan Panduranga in Pandaripura (1790 AD) scripted Dharma Sindhu, after digesting innumerable works of the yore. The Scriptures include Manu Smriti (200 BC-100 AD approx.), Yagnyavalka Smriti ( during 100 -300 AD approx.) , Paraashara Smriti (some time during 100-500 AD), Narada Smriti (some time during 100-400 AD), Brihaspati Smriti
( some time during 300-500 AD), Katyaayana (400-600 AD) , Vyavahaara Kaara-Nibandha Kaara (sometime during 400-600 AD), Bhava Deva Bhatta’s Vyavahaara Tilaka (1100 AD) , Prakaasha Nibandha (1125 AD)), Govindaraja Smriti Manjari ( 1080-1100 AD), Lakshmidhara Kalpataru
(1100-1130 AD) ; the Trio of Jeemutavaahana , Shulapaani and Raghunandana (1090- 1130 AD) of Dharma Shastraas); Aparaarka Nibandha (1115-1150), Shridhara Smrutyarthasaara Nibandha (1150 AD), Aniruddha’s Dharma Shastra (1168 AD), King Ballalasena’s edited books of Vedacharya’s Smriti Ratnaakara/ Aachaara Saagara, Chandeswara’s Daana Ratnaakara and Todanaananda’s Samhitaa Soukhya & Nirnaya Sindhu, Devana Bhatt’s Smriti Chandrika (1090-1091AD); Hemadri’s Vipula-kaaya Nibandha (1260-70 AD ), Kulluka Bhatt’s Manusmriti Vyaakhyas viz. Ashouycha Sagara, Vivada Sagara and Shraddhaa Sagara (1260-1270 AD); Shri Datta Upaadhyaaya’s Maithila Nibandha (1275-1230 AD), Chandeswara’s Dharma Shastra (1300-1370 AD); Madhavaacharya’s several Kaala -maana Grandhaas (1330-1385 AD); Vishweshwara Bhatta’s Madana Paarijata Grandha (1360-1390 AD); Raja Madana edited Madana Ratna Prabandha of five Vidwans (1350-1500 AD) on Kaala, Aachara, Vyavahaara, Prayaschitta, Shaanti etc. ; Shulapaani scripted several Grandhas like Ekadashi Viveka, Dolayatra Viveka, Shradda Viveka, Pratishtha Viveka etc. (1365-1470 AD ); Rudradharo -paadhyaaya’s Shudda Viveka, (1425-1460 AD); Misuri Mishraa’s Vivadachandra (1400-1450 AD); Vachaspati Mishra’s Vivada Chintamani (1425- 1490 AD); Nrisimha Prasad ‘s Vishwa kosha (1490-1515 AD); Pratapa Rudra Deva ‘s Saraswati Vilaasa (1500-1525 AD) ; Govindaananda ‘s several Grandhaas like Daana-kaumudi, Shuddhi-kaumudi, Shraaddha-kaumudi and Varsha Kriyaa -kaumudi (1500-1540 AD); Raghunandana’s Smriti Tatwa (1520-1575 AD); Narayana Bhatta’s Anityeshtha paddhati, Tristhalisetu and Prayogaratna Nibandhus; Todaraananda/ Todaramul the Finance Minister of the Great Akbar’s Vishwakosha (1520-1589 AD); Nandana Pandita’s Vyakhya on Paraasara Smriti called Vidwan Manohara as also Keshavaijayanti (1590- 1630 AD); Kamalakara Bhatt , Narayana Bhatt and Ramakrishna Bhaatt of the progeny-link’s made signal contributions on Nyaya-Vyakarana- Meemaamsa- Vedanata- Sahitya- Dharma Shastraas and Vaidika Yagnaas besides Nirnaya Sindhu (1610- 1640 AD); Mitra Mishra’s Veera Mitrodaya (1610-1640 AD); Ananta Deva ‘s Smrita Koustbh Nibandha (1650-1680 AD); Nagendra Bhatt’s authoritative writings like Aachaarendu-shekhara, Ashoucha Nirnaya, Tithindu shekhara, Teerthendushekhara, Praayataadichittendu shekhara, Shraaddhendu shekhara, Sapandika Manjari, Saapindika Deepika etc.( 1700-1750 AD); and Bala Bhatt’s Lakshmi Vyaakhya or Mitakshara para Bhashya (1730-1820 AD).

The Monumental Digest of Hindu Dharma so scripted by the illustrious Panditha Kashinaatha (1790 AD) was the outcome of his lasting and immortal gift to the posterity.