Ancient treatises of Ayurveda have been broadly classified into two groups viz the Brihat trayee (greater triad) and the Laghu trayee (lesser triad); Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Sangraha are the Brihat trayee while Madhava Nidana, Sharngadhara Samhita and Bhavaprakasha are the Laghu trayee Brihat trayee are great in respect of their authors, antiquity and originality. Laghu trayee are the works of later authors and are, more or less, compilations without much originality. But in view of their containing the quintessence of the Brihat trayee in easy diction, the Laghu trayee are also being studied by students and practioners of Ayurveda since long in our country. Sharngadhara Samhita, the second of this category is a very popular treatise.
Sharngadhara Samhita is assigned to the early part of 14th century A.D. based on the following points:
Chakrapanidatta and Dalhana, the two famous commentators of Charaka and Sushruta Samhitas respectively who leved during 11th century A.D. are ignorant of either Sharngadhara or his Samhita.
Hemadri, the celebrated commentator of Ashtanga Hridaya who be longed to 13th-14th century A.D. has referred to Sharngadhara Samhita in his commentary.
Bopadeva who flourished during the early part of the 14th century A.D. as the protege of Hemadri, is said to have written a commentary on Sharngadhara Samhita.
As there is no personal information of the author in the text, except his name as Sharngadhara and as the later commentators of the treatise are also silent on this point, differences of opinion
