The present treatise is an anthology of fifteen research papers on various aspects of Sanskrit, Indology and Culture.
These papers have been published in different Indological journals and periodicals of India and abroad. Though the literature is replete with the findings of innumerable Indological and Cultural studies, the present format is an exception in respect of its substantial and fresh informations on vedic and puranic geographical account, Rigvedic environment, vedic women, scientific aspects of Agni-Purana, Caste-system during the time of the Niladri-Mahodayam, Chaitanyaism and Jagannathism, inscriptional evidences of Purusottama-Jagannatha, philosophy of Jagannatha-Cult, Krsna-worship in Orissa, upliftment of Sanskrit literature during Gupta-era, observance of Durgotsava in Srimandira and the physical features of Utkal and its allied territories on the points of view of history, puranas and the works of Kalidasa.
Chapter one of the book deals with the geographical aspects of the vedas, a project completed under UGC support. In this study, an attempt has been made to trace the physical map of vedic India accounted by the countries, states, cities, towns, holy places, oceans, seas, rivers, mountains, lakes, forests as well as flora and fauna mentioned in the vedic hymns.
Chapter two contains a comprehensive treatment of Rigvedic environment. Since the vedas and the Vedic texts are the anthologies of our rich natural resources, they are regarded as the origin of human civilization and knowledge. Hence, in this chapter, sufficient attention has been paid to analyse the hymns of Rigveda meticulously for uncovering the environment depicted.
Status and position of women during the vedic period have been described in chapter three Indian literature starts from the vedas. Early Sanskrit literature has preserved the names of Apala, Lopamudra, Vispala, Gargi. Damayanti, Savitri and many others who were paragons of beauty, wisdom, learning and even chivalry. In all walks of life vedic women occupied the same position as men.
Chapter four is aimed at unfolding the very relationship that existing between the man and the nature in perspective of the vedic ecology and environment. Vedic suktas Vac, Agni, Savity and Rta go a long way in explaining the creation and existence of the entire biosphere.
Our Mahapuranas are not only the treasure island of the culture, tradition, history, geography, art and architecture of the human civilization, but also chief sources of science and technology developed during puranic age. In chapter five, sciences in Agni-Purana have been critically estimated to throw light on the advancement of different branches of science and technology during the period of the purana.
Chapter six of this book puts forth the puranic geographical account with special reference to the Niladri Mahodayam. The sthala purana Niladri Mahodayam of 14th century A.D. is out and out devoted to the cult of Lord Jagannatha. Like other puranic texts, it contains the historical geography of Bharata Varsa as well as the scheme of the world-geography based on mythology. This study opens up interesting informations on the nine-fold divisions of Bharat Varsa in general and the geographical features of odra-desa (Modern Orissa) in particular.
Publication of my research papers in different Indological Journals of National and International repute has tempted me to congregate those articles in a book-form. Actually. the credit goes to the research Institutes and organisations who have pioneered this project in publishing my papers in their Journals of established merit. Such institutions and organisations are the Secretariate, IXth world Sanskrit Conference, Melbourne, All-India Kashiraj Trust, Varanasi, Vishveshvarana-and Vishva Bandhu Institute of Sanskrit and Indological studies, Hoshiarpur, Punjab, Haryana Sahitya akademi. Chandigarh; Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona, Department of Culture, Orissa Government, Bhubaneswar, Institute of Orissan and Oriental Studies, Cuttack, Directorate of Information and public relations, Orissa, Bhubaneswar, the Secretariate, All-India Oriental conference, Poona; and All-Orissa Association of College Teachers in Sanskrit, Orissa. I am really indebted to all these institutions for their ungrudging help and co-operation.
I wish to record my deep sense of gratitude to my revered teacher and an erudite sanskrit scholar Late Professor Prahalad Pradhan for his constant encouragements and inspirations in taking up research projects. His advices and suggestions made me to stand in good stead. I owe my indebtedness to Prof. K. C. Mishra, retired Professor of Oriya, Berhampur University, Orissa for the illuminations received from his valuable work on Jagannatha-Cult. I am very much thankful to Dr. Marta Vannucci, a globally distinguished biological oceanographer whose ecological insights in vedic Writings has inspired me to analyse vedic environment. My obligations are due to Dr. S. N. Rajguru for providing me an opportunity to go through his learned works to trace the inscriptional evidences of Jagannathism.
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