Foreword:

It is most fitting that in commemoration of the birth centenary of Prof. C. Kunhan Raja, this special issue of Brahmavidya, the Adyar Library Bulletin, should be brought out, for he created the journal in 1936, and was its editor. A number of important texts were published in serial form through it, and later incorporated in the Adyar Library Series. The bibliography provided in this volume lists such works.

Dr. Kunhan Raja was Curator of the Adyar Library for several years and resident at the Adyar headquarters of the Theosophical Society, having joined the Society in 1920. His interest in the development of the Library and its publications enhanced their value.

Professor Raja was a prolific writer and an enthusiastic advocate of Sanskrit learning and culture. It was, I believe, his deep desire to see Sanskrit become once again a strong unifying force in India and an inspiration towards higher values for the whole of the world. His dream has yet to be fulfilled. India is now more divided than united and her culture is decaying, because stress has not been laid on the unifying forces, including the language and literature which were like the life-blood of the varied peoples of the land.

In honouring Prof. Kunhan Raja by means of this collection of papers on Indology, we look back with admiration at his learning and voluminous contribution, but also forward to the day when the Ancient Wisdom (Brahmavidya) of India will light up the minds of all people and help to bring peace, unity and realization of spiritual values.