The Jewel of Auspicious Moments

Original title: Muhurtaratnam

Introduction to the Author

The name of the author of this work, the Muhurtaratna The Jewel of Auspicious Moments, which is the subject of our research, is Govinda Bhatta. It is known that he flourished in the village named Talakulam in the region of Kerala. Although details regarding his lineage or clan are not found anywhere in the texts, based on the statements of the commentator Parameshwara, it is understood that he was born into a family of Kerala Brahmins. Parameshwara remembers this Govinda in his own work titled Achara Sangraha Compendium of Customary Practice as follows:

"The teacher of my grandfather was a twice-born man term: 'Agrajanma' refers to a Brahmin named Govinda, famous upon this earth. The customs taught by him, which reached me through the line of teachers, are set forth here."

By this, it becomes clear that this Govinda was the teacher of Parameshwara’s grandfather. At the beginning of the commentary on the Muhurtaratna, Parameshwara’s words further clarify this matter:

"By the venerable Govinda, whose heart was sprinkled with compassion, this jewel of auspicious moments was extracted from the milk-ocean of the scriptures on time. Upon that work, by the grandson of his disciple, the one named Parama..." The text cuts off, referring to Parameshwara himself