Mrugapakshishastra

Mrugapakshishastra is the only available Sanskrit text on ornithology, composed by Srhihansadeva, a resident of Mandak village, on the orders of King Shaud. In ancient times, many sages studied and wrote texts on various animals and birds. The name ‘Mrugapakshishastra’ means science of animals and birds. In composing the text, Hansdev has taken the basis of ancient texts on the subject.

There are two parts to this book. The first volume describes 127 animals and the second volume 97 birds. The meaning of the various animal and bird alternatives mentioned in Amarkosha became known through the book Mrugapakshishastra. Those are not the synonyms but a variety of species, it could be known for sure because of Mrugapakshishastra. This is a very important event in the history of Sanskrit thesaurus.

चिरं परिचयाद् बोधव्यं तदिंगितं मृदूक्तिभि: || Means, [to gain detailed knowledge about the animals and brids], one should get acquainted with them for many years by softly connectng with their minds. That is, human must coexist with them.

Also Read: Sacred Animals of India