Preface
The Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute was established as a tribute to one of the greatest Sanskritists that our country has produced Mahāmahopadhyaya, Vidyā Väcaspati, Darśana Kalānidhi, Kulapati Prof. S. Kuppuswami Sastri (1891-1944); he was also conferred with the most coveted 'I.E.S' by the then British Government during the pre-independence era of this great land. Prof. Kuppuswami Sastri stood as a colossus of Sanskrit and Sastraic studies when they were neglected in this part of the country. Single handedly, he brought a revolution in higher learning in Sanskrit. The Madras Sanskrit College, Chennai established in 1906, of which he was made the first Principal, stands as a testimony to his greatness even today. He attracted hundreds of students and scholars from different parts of India who benefitted from his training both in traditional and modern methods of learning and teaching in Sanskrit and different Śāstras. The Presidency College (Madras), Annamalai University (Chidambaram) and Rajah's College, (Thiruvaiyaru) were some of the prestigious institutions where he nurtured Sanskrit Studies and Comparative Philology. He was widely respected in India and abroad for his traditional knowledge and modern research acumen. After the sad demise of the great savant in 1944, great men of wisdom, his students and admirers joined together to establish a research Institute as a fitting memorial to him and aptly chose the premises of the Madras Sanskrit College, Mylapore for carrying out the great work done by Prof. Sastri. Thus from 1945 till date the Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute (KSRI) has been functioning in this premises, holding one of the best collections of rare and old books on various branches of Sanskritic and Indological studies. It has carved a niche for itself in the international arena of Sanskrit and Indology. Hundreds of scholars from many foreign universities across the globe and different parts of India have benefitted by associating themselves with the KSRI. Dr. V. Raghavan, followed by Dr. S.S. Janaki, with their depth of knowledge and intellectual prowess led this Institute with great dedication and were ably supported by many statesmen, scholars, lovers of Sanskrit and philanthropists. Even after their demise, the Institute has been marching ahead in the same path and has completed 75 years of glorious service to the cause of Sanskritic and Indological research. The KSRI has been holding periodical seminars /conferences and lectures in which eminent scholars from different parts of India and abroad have actively participated. It is associated with University of Madras for M.Phil and Ph.D in Sanskrit from 1983 and has produced about hundred scholars who submitted their dissertation and were awarded their degrees by the University of Madras. The institute has also been publishing the Journal of Oriental Research, Madras an internationally reputed journal which was originally started by the great Professor Mm. Kuppuswami Sastri in 1927.
Introduction
Any study to be called a science should fulfil four aspects in its approach. They are observation, recording, analysis and conclusion. Are studies in India, be it on Geography, Astronomy, Yoga, Medicine etc., scientifically motivated, scientifically approached, scientifically hypo-thesised and conclusions objectively arrived at? In other words, have Indians applied the above said four aspects in their studies in various fields?
The Rşis of India had travelled widely. India has number of holy places, holy rivers, holy tīrthas and mountains. Regular pilgrimage to the rivers, tirthas and other holy places has been a common practice to our people from time immemorial. Our Rşis like Agastya, Vyāsa, Vālmīki, Durvāsas, Vasistha and Vaiśampāyana had travelled to many parts of India and the accounts of their travels are well recorded in the Puranas and the Itihāsas. Innumerable Siddhas have also travelled to many places. They have keenly observed nature and have also recorded the information about nature. In India, the Rșis gave importance to three aspects in their literature. They are nature (Prakrti), language and God. Hinduism always propagates living with nature. Dharma Sastras like the Manusmrti. Arthašāstra, Puranas and other treatises extol the merits of preserving nature and prescribe punishment (both by state laws and divine law). There are punishments dictated in the Manusmrti for contaminating water. We find in the Ramayana that some Rşis were so compassionate that they did tapas and survived by eating only fallen leaves. They did not consume the fruits lest the next generation of plants be lost. Hindu religion venerates every mountain, every river, birds and animals. Even the venomous snakes are an object of worship. In daily chores, feeding ants with grain, cattle with waste vegetables and giving water to cattle during summer time are included. This love for nature and seeing God in nature are part of our system. Śrī Ādívarāha is personified as Earth itself. The goddess of Earth (Bhūmidevī) is also personified as mother Earth. Pärvatī is deified as Śākambarī (goddess of vegetables). Hence, we find that in all Indian literature extolling the rivers, trees, birds and even fish in a pond in a holy place is common and in itself forms part of worship of God in that place. The epic writers Välmīki and Vyāsa and host of other Rşis like Parāśara and Agastya have exhibited their know-ledge on nature in their works.
Vedas (1182)
Upanishads (493)
Puranas (624)
Ramayana (741)
Mahabharata (354)
Dharmasastras (165)
Goddess (496)
Bhakti (242)
Saints (1503)
Gods (1289)
Shiva (370)
Journal (187)
Fiction (60)
Vedanta (362)
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist