This anthology (2013-14) is the third volume of the "Sanskrit Studies", a serial publication from the Special Centre for Sanskrit Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University GNU). The firs1 volume of the series was published in 2004• 05, and the second in 2006-07, JNU is committed to bring out this serial publication, though with some interval.
This Sanskrit Studies series is set to focus on a vast range of Sanskrit language and literature, grammar and historical linguistics, sources of history and systems of philosophy principles of poetics and details of dramaturgy, lexicography, and so on. It also aims to bring forth the vision of Vedic texts and the varieties of Vedic traditions, Buddhist canons, Pali texts, different versions of Prakrt language, and the emerging field of computational linguistics, thus adopting a multi-disciplinary approach.
This volume too deliberates on varied topics of Sanskrit studies and discusses the theory of Oral Composition of Veda, the Yajusha Hautra Dispute, Hermeneutics of the Upanisads Concept of Dharma, Aesthetic Universe of Natyasastra, the Cultural Geography of Kalidasa, Sanskrit Commentary, Archaeoastronomy, Universal Premise in Early Nyaya Sanskrit and Tamil Interrelation, among others.
The fifteen articles presented in this volume represent the richness and rigour of Sanskrit studies in contemporary times across the globe. It should interest all those who are in Sanskrit studies - researchers, teachers, students, and scholars alike.
Prof. Dr Shashiprabha Kumar has been teaching Sanskrit and Indian philosophy for the past forty-one years, formerly in Delhi University and currently in Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She has penned more than 100 articles and authored/edited more than twenty books. Her select publications are: Bharatiya Darsanam; Vaisesika Darsana men Padartha Nirupana; Vaisesika Darsana Parisilana; Vaidika Anusilana; Vaidika Vimarsa; Self, Society and Value; Facets of Indian Philosophical Thought; Veda as Word; Sanskrit Across Cultures; Sanskrit and Other Indian Languages, and Classical Vaisesika: On Knowing and What is to be Known (UK). She is currently the Chairperson of Special Centre for Sanskrit Studies, JNU, and Vice- Chairperson, Delhi Sanskrit Academy, Govt. of NCT of Delhi.
IT is with a sense of joy and gratification that the third volume of Sanskrit Studies is being presented to the readers after a gap of almost six years, which was mainly caused due to the non- availability of funds for publication during the XIth Plan.
The first two volumes of Sanskrit Studies published in the guidance of two great scholars as guest editors have charted a roadmap before us and it is hoped that the present volume will be able to follow the path shown by them.
Sanskrit Studies is a vast and variegated discipline which covers language and literature, grammar and historical linguistics, sources of history and systems of philosophy, principles of poetics and details of dramaturgy, lexicography, palaeography and manuscriptology, subtleties of Indian social thought and prudence of legal provisions, medical wisdom, environmental consciousness and scientific awareness in Sanskrit literature, vision of Vedic texts and varieties of Vedic traditions besides Buddhist canon, including Pall texts as also different versions of Prakrt language and the emerging field of computational linguistics. The Special Centre for Sanskrit Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is dealing with all these diverse areas so as to foster the multi-disciplinary approach in Sanskrit studies.
The volume in hand has been prepared to cover as many areas of Sanskrit studies as possible. This has been made possible as a result of generous co-operation by several scholars: young and old, as also from within the country and abroad. Accordingly the first article by Miquel Peralta, a young scholar from Spain discusses "The Theory of Oral Composition and the Veda" in general while the next paper by Prof. Madhav Deshpande, an eminent grammarian, deals with a specific topic, namely "The Yajusa Hautra Dispute in Early Modern Maharashtra". In the next paper Prof. R. Balasubramanian, a very senior philosopher, has explained "Hermeneutics of the Upanisads" and Dr M.K. Byrski, a renowned Indologist from Poland, has dwelt upon the concept of "Dharma: Integrating Factor of Consciousness and Science" in his paper.
Besides the above-mentioned articles on Veda and Vedic ideas, there are contributions on various other aspects of Sanskrit learning. Prof. Radhavallabh Tripathi has depicted the" Aesthetic Universe of Bharta's Natyasastra" and Prof. C. Rajendran has expounded "Kalidasa's Cultural Geography of India" through his narration of the nation. "History and Background of the Sanskrit Commentary-tradition" has been discussed in detail by Prof. Uma C. Vaidya in her paper while Prof. Subhash Kak, the acclaimed mathematician, has written at length on "Archaeoastronomy in India".
Next four papers of this volume focus mainly on Indian Logic - Prof. Kisor K. Chakrabarti enunciates the "Universal Premise in Early Nyaya", Prof. Stephen H. Phillips in his paper titled "Gangesa on Showing Inference Failure" has translated with comments the" Asadhakata-Sadhakatva-PrakaraJ.lam from the Tattvacintamani" of Gangesa Upadhyaya: Prof. Toshihiro Wada's paper represents the fourth and final part of his translation with annotation of "Akhyatavada" from the same text; Dr Katsunori Hirano has written "On the Concept of Ayutasiddha in the Definition of Inherence". In the next article, Prof. Purushottama Bilimoria has elaborated on "Mantric Effect, Effervescent Devatas, Noetic Supplications and Apurva in the Mimamsa".
In addition to these, there is an invaluable paper of Dr Lokesh Chandra on "Translation as the Cultural Space of Tibetan". Prof. S. Revathy has discussed "Sanskrit and Tamil Interrelation" .
In short, the fifteen articles collected herein represent the richness and rigour of Sanskrit studies in contemporary times across the world. It is hoped that the volume will provide an enlightening as well as enjoyable reading to all those who are interested in Sanskrit studies.
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