The Concept of Upasana : Worship in Sanskrit Literature

It is my pleasure that the expected study discussed in the 'Introduction' of this book has been completed in Jan. 1993 and the University of Bombay has awarded me the Degree of Ph. D. for the said work in the same year. Now the thesis is being published in the book-form by the well-known publishing house: "Indian Books Centre" Delhi. For the convenience of the publication the thesis is modified. I hope, this book will help the scholars in their research field and the devotees in their progress towards emancipation and the service to the mankind and the Nature as well.

I offer my humble regards to Dr. N. A. Deshpande, my guide for Ph. D. for his constant guidance and help throughout the entire work. I have completed my study of Ph. D. in Ananthacharya Indological Research Institute, Colaba, Bombay. I am thankful to Dr. K. K. A. Venkatachari, the then Director of the Institute for rendering me all kinds of help during my Study. I am thankful to H. H. Swami Purushottamananda Sarasvati (Acharya of Chinmaya Mission) for certain suggestions made by Him and His blessings to this work. I am thankful to Dr. P. P. Apte for offering the 'Foreword' to this book. I am thankful to the officers and staff of 'Indian Books Centre' for their prompt response in publishing my book, 'The Concept of Upasana : Worship in Sanskrit Literature'.

May the Almighty Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent God Dattatreya Confer happiness on the readers.

Foreword

It gives me pleasure to write this foreword to the book 'The Concept o Upasana : worship in Sanskrit Literature' written by Dr. Mrs. Rajani S. Patki. I happened to be an evaluator of her Ph. . Thesis submitted to the Bombay University. In my report I had observed that "The outline of the structure of the thesis deserves compliments for thought and planning on the part of the candidate and the guide. The data collected by the candidate is of wide utility for the research field. The conclusion part of the thesis should reflect and it does so the contribution of the candidate. The candidate has neatly arranged the topics as: Meaning of Upansana, Aspects of Upansana : Physical, Psychological and Intellectual, Forms of Upasana-practices: Nature Worship, Social Religion, and Methods of Upasana : Asuri, Daivi etc. the other topics covered by the candidate are : Epistemology, Concept of god and Religion as implicit in Upasana, Mysticism in Upasana and Philosophy in Upasana. The arrangement and treatment of these topics by the candidate are adequate enough to adjudicate the thesis fit for Ph. D. Degree.

At that time I had made some suggestions for making the thesis fit for publication. Now after two years the press copy is shown to me by Dr. Mr. Rajani Patki with a happy news that it is being published by prestigious publisher like Indian books Centre, Delhi. During this short interval I find that Dr. Mrs. Patki has undertaken a strenuous job to convert the thesis into a welcome book form. I had also occasions to attend her series of lectures on august audience of Gita Dharma Mandal, Pune. In fact I was profusely thanked by the organizes as well s eminent members of the audience for introducing her as a speaker to Gita Dharma Mandal, Pune. I feel proud to recommend this publication to the readers belonging to religio-spiritual as well as research field. I hope it will be widely received by the readers on the strength of its intrinsic merit.