A Companion to Indian Philosophy

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The book begins with a rapid survey of the Sanskrit literature right from the vedic period. This is followed by such topics as are relevant for the study of Indian Philosophy. Prominent authors and their works in this domain have been briefly dealt with, in the book, accompanied by up-to- date bibliographical references. Prominent doctrines and tenets of the different schools of philosophy have also been briefly explained. A chapter has been devoted to the maxims, used by later writers and commentators, to explain philosophical matters. These maxims are interesting as they are based on experiences and observations relating mainly, to folk life. Finally, a glossary of technical terms and jargon has been added in the book.

The book, useful to laymen as well as scholars alike, is a companion helping the reader in his odyssey through the intricacies and abstruseness of the different systems of Indian Philosophy.

Sures Chandra Banerji, (born 1917, Bengal), M.A. (Dacca), and Ph.D. (Calcutta), is an acknowledged Sanskrit scholar and researcher. He had taught Sanskrit in Dacca University, and later rose to the position of Professor of Sanskrit in the Education Department of West Bengal. He had held the position of Secretary of the Vangiya Sanskrit Siksa Parisat, Calcutta for a large number of years. His scholarly talents were recognised by the Government of West Bengal by awarding him Ravindra Memorial Prize (1963-64).

He is a member of many learned bodies such as Asiatic Society, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Ram Krishna Mission Institute of Culture, National Library, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan etc.

He has authored a large number of published papers and books on Sanskrit, Philosophy, Smrti Literature, Pali Literature etc.

There is a desire among many people, particularly laymen and those with an intellectual bent of mind, to have some Idea of Indian philosophy. Even academics and intellectuals, pursuing other disciplines, feel inclined to have some knowledge about philosophy that has added to the glory of India. It was with a view to fulfilling this desideratum that this work was undertaken.

The Companion to Sanskrit Literature and the Companion to Middle Indo-Aryan Literature, both authored by the present writer, have evoked considerable response in the academic world as well as among lay readers with a curiosity about India's past. So, this work also has been planned much on the same line.

First of all, we have given a rapid survey of Sanskrit literature right from the Vedas which are the earliest written records of the Indo-Europeans. This is followed by such topics as are relevant for the study of Indian philosophy. Then we have briefly dealt with the prominent authors and works in this domain. The accounts are accompanied by bibliographical references, wherever possible, which have been made as up-to-date as possible. It should be noted that some works are known only from references by later writers, and some works are still in MSS. for which Catalogues of MSS. can be consulted. In a chapter, we have briefly explained the prominent doctrines and tenets of the different schools of philosophy. A chapter has been devoted to the maxims used by later writers and commentators, to explain philosophical matters.

**Contents and Sample Pages**