A Companion to Sanskrit Literature: Spanning a Period of Over Three Thousand Years, Containing Brief Accounts of Authors, Works, Characters, Technical Terms, Geographical Names, Myths, Legends and Several Appendices

Front Cover
Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1989 - 810 pages
In course of his studies in Sanskrit literature and research relating to various aspects of it, the author of the present work often felt the need of a vade mecum containing brief accounts of authors and works, information about the principal characters of Sanskrit plays, poems and prose works, the meaning of certain technical terms in common use, the common geographical names and the notable myths and legends. A Companion to Sanskrit Literature, the first work of its kind, covers a period of nearly 3500 years from the Vedic age down to the modern times. It seeks to acquaint the reader, within a brief compass, with the contents of outstanding works and authors in Sanskrit literature, followed by up-to-date bibliographies. Brief accounts of the important character in well-known poems, dramas and prose works have also been given. Important geographical names, with their modern identification as far as practicable, have also been laid down. Common technical terms, used in the different branches of Sanskrit literature, have been briefly explained, Prominent figures in myths and legends have been dealt with. In a number of appendices, various kinds of useful information about Sanskrit literature including sciences, sports and pastimes, etc. in ancient and medieval India have been set forth. It is an indispensable vade mecum for the general readers, the specialists and researchers. It is like a capsule taking the reader through the vast firmament of Sanskrit literature up to remote ages. -- Amazon.com.

From inside the book

Contents

PRINCIPAL FIGURES IN MYTHS AND LEGENDS
501
Important Dates Having a Bearing on the History
549
Influence of Sanskrit Outside India
577
A Classified list of Sanskrit Works
618
List of the Important Series in India and Abroad
633
A Note on Indian Palaeography
670
Science and Technology in Sanskrit Agriculture
678
Copyright

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Popular passages

Page 555 - Wouldst thou the young year's blossoms and the fruits of its decline, And all by which the soul is charmed, enraptured, feasted, fed, Wouldst thou the earth and heaven itself in one sole name combine ? I name thee, O Sakuntala,- and all at once is) said.
Page 351 - It is the most profitable and elevating reading which (the original text excepted) is possible in the world. It has been the solace of my life, and will be the solace of my death.
Page xvi - WZKM = Wiener Zeitschrift für die Kunde des Morgenlandes. ZDMG = Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft.
Page 411 - Asura, demoniacal, is a form of marriage recognised by Hindu law, in which the bridegroom gives as much wealth as he can afford to the bride, her parents and relations. It is also a term in general use in Hindu writings, to indicate a demon, a giant, an enemy of the gods, supposed to be derived from a, privative, and sura, light ; also from as, to bo, and ura, living, spiritual.
Page 555 - Hastings, where he declares that "the writers of the Indian philosophies will survive when the British dominion in India shall long have ceased to exist, and when the sources which it yielded of wealth and power are lost to remembrance.
Page 422 - The general conception about gotra is that, it denotes all persons who trace descent in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor.
Page 418 - The gift of a daughter who has been decked with ornaments, to a priest who duly officiates at a sacrifice, during the course of its performance, they call the Daiva rite.
Page 456 - Taptakrcchra ( 1 ) A form of expiation in which the sinner has to subsist on hot water, hot milk, hot ghee for three days each and to fast for the last three days when he should inhale hot vapour or atmosphere. (2) A form of penance of four days...
Page 413 - ... junctures of Sakuntala in a way worth following. Let us align them again: STAGES Beginning "the king's first anticipation of seeing the heroine" Effort the king's "eagerness to find a device to meet her again" Possibility of Attainment in the prelude to Act IV "we learn that the anger of the sage [saint] has in some measure been appeased, and the possibility of the reunion of the king and Sakuntala now exists...

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