The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums in Karnataka is perhaps the oldest among the State Departments of Archaeology in the country. It had a humble beginning in 1885. Yet the Directorate did pioneering work in surveying valuable historical and cultural remains, lithic records, copper plates, coins, monuments, ancient sites etc. Later it carried out important excavations. The results of these investigations have thrown fresh light on the history and culture of Karnataka.
Besides the preservation of our cultural heritage, an important function of the Directorate is to publish reports of discoveries and studies pertaining to them. The Directorate has carried out this responsibility with distinction: Epigraphia Carnatica in 12 columes and its supplements, annual reports of the Department,, guide books on important historical places, monographs and technical reports on the archaeological excavations carried out by the Directorate have all been published from time to time. And they have been acclaimed by scholars as well as general readers.
It is, therefore, most appropriate that the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums has planned to bring out as part of its Centenary a series of publications on different aspects of archaeology, such as Prehistory, Epigraphy, Numismatics, Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, etc. I am sure the publications will be of use to scholars and common readers alike.
The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums (formerly Mysore Archaeological Survey of the old Mysore State), it is too well known, had published 12 volumes of Epigraphia Carnatica during 1886-1905 based on the extensive field survey for the first time covering 8869 inscriptions in the eight districts of the old Mysore State (now the southern part of Karnataka) and Coorg (Kodagu) carried out, and edited by Sri B. Lewis Rice, the first Director of Archaeological Researches. Subsequently R. Narasimhacher, Director of Archaeological Researches, got neatly prepared a general index to these volumes by 1917 with the assistance of his scholarly Assistants. The first part covering the Index from A to K was published in 1934 by Dr. M. H. Krishna, Director of Archaeological Researches under the title: Epigraphia Carnatica Vol. XIII, Part I (Refer to its ""Preface""). The manuscript of the Index from L to Z was fortunately preserved in the office. But owing to various reasons, publication of the second part could not be undertaken for a long time. On the occasion of the Centenary celebrations of this Directorate begun in 1985, it was planned to publish 100 books on Archaeology, Epigraphy, Art etc., including the pending and the fresh works marking the Centenary of the Directorate. Already seven Centenary publications have been brought out. Now I am glad to present before scholars and the general public, the second part of the General Index to Epigraphia Carnatica. Incidentally, it may be noted that later. Supplementary Epigraphia Carnatica, volumes XIV to XVIII, were published by this Directorate.
True, meanwhile the scheme of revising and re-editing of the Epigraphia Carnatica volumes first published by this Directorate, was entrusted by the Government of Karnataka to the University of Mysore The Institute of Kannada studies of the University has published so far, 8 volumes of the revised editions of Epigraphia Carnatics covering the districts and some Important places: Kodagu (Coorg) (Vol. 1). Sravanabelgola (Vol. II), Mysore (Vols. III, IV, and V), Mandya (VI & VII) and Hasana (Vol. VIII part-1). Thus only a small part of the first edition of the Epigraphia Carnatica volumes, has been revised and published. For, the new editions include inscriptions discovered subsequently and also those that are published in the Annual Mysore Archaeological Reports and volumes of South Indian Inscriptions of the Epigraphy Branch of the Archaeological Survey of India. Thus, the present volumes are enlarged to a considerable extent. In view of the published revised editions and those that are yet to be published, on a rough estimate, the total number of volumes may exceed 30 in number and may therefore take another 20 years at least for their publication. Keeping all these factors in view, it is thought worthwhile to publish the second part of the Index of the first edition of the volumes.
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Hindu (935)
Agriculture (118)
Ancient (1086)
Archaeology (753)
Architecture (563)
Art & Culture (910)
Biography (702)
Buddhist (544)
Cookery (167)
Emperor & Queen (565)
Islam (242)
Jainism (307)
Literary (896)
Mahatma Gandhi (372)
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