Quick Facts
Biography
Hemādri Paṇḍit, popularly known as Hemāḍapanta, was a polymath and a prime minister from 1259 to 1274 C.E. in the regimes of King Mahādev (1259–1271) and King Ramachandra (1271–1309) of Seuna Yādav Dynasty of Devagiri, which ruled in the western and southern part of India.
Origin
Hemadri Pandit was born in a Deshastha Rigvedi Brahmin familythat had its origin in the Hemadri village in the Dakshin Kannada District of Karnataka. His father, Kāmadeo, had brought him up in Maharashtra. In Hemadri's biography written by Keshav Appa Padhye, the author has mentioned that Hemadri was a Deshastha Rigvedi of Ashvalayana sutra and Vatsagotri (belonging to the Vatsa Gotra) Panchapravari brāhmaṇa(५: जामदग्ना वत्सास्तेषां पञ्चार्षेयो भार्गवच्यावनाप्नवानौर्वजामदग्नेति, ref. आश्वलायनश्रौतसूत्र). Padhye has mentioned the reference for this information to be the book authored by Hemadri himself, चतुर्वर्गचिंतामणि, or chaturvarga-chintāmaṇi.
Career
Hemadri was a diplomat, an administrator, an architect, a poet, and a theologian and scholar. During his prime ministership, the Yadav kingdom reached its zenith; soon after his tenure, the Turkic emperor at Delhi, Alāuddin Khalji, and his successors ended the Yadav rule in southwestern India.
Writings
Hemadri wrote the encyclopedic book about dharma, Chaturvarga Chintāmaṇi. It contains, among other subjects, thousands of Vratas along with the modus operandi for performing them.
He wrote the commentary named Āyurveda Rasāyan on Ayurvedic Samhita "Ashtānga Hṛdayam", containing descriptions of various diseases and remedies for them.
A small historical book, Hemādpanti Bakhar is credited to him.
He created Mestakas to standardize procedural parts of the state administration.
Cultural contributions
Hemadri introduced use of Modi script for Marāthi (cursive style of writing Marathi) in government correspondence.
He conceived of Hemadpanti architecture of buildings and temples which did not use lime.
He introduced plantation of pearl millet (Bājari) as a staple crop.
He encouraged and supported many artists and writers like Bopadev and studied their books and presented his own criticism.