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EDITOR OF THE BHAGAVAT GITA, IN SANSKRIT AND CANARESE

PANCHA TANTRA, KATHA MANJARI, SHABDA MANI DARPANA, ETC.

MADRAS

HIGGINBOTHAM AND CO

1871

[All rights reserved.]

REGISTERED UNDER ACT XXV OF 1867.

PRINTED AT THE ASYLUM PRESS, BY WM. THOMAS-1871.

PREFACE.

NO STUDENT of Indian Literature, whether he has studied it in its ancient classic tongue, the Sanskrit, in which its earliest and most original works are written; or has derived his acquaintance with it from the scantier range of some modern Indian vernacular, but has felt the difficulties that arise from the frequent mention of mythical personages, places, and objects, whose very names are so utterly unknown to him that he often even fails to recognise that they are proper names (oriental characters having no capital letters to indicate this) while of the facts concerning them he has little or no means of information. Hence he has to trust to such information as he can obtain from his Múnshi -information mostly very imperfect and often quite incorrect. The course of many years' reading gives the desired knowledge, but it is acquired at the cost of much time, labour, and research-nearly all of which might be saved did any such work exist for the Indian student, as the classical learner has long had in his "Lempriere," and now has in the well-known and far superior Dictionaries of Dr. WILLIAM SMITH.

The Universities in India have placed the Sanskrit and some of the vernacular languages, in the same position as

the Universities of Europe have assigned to the languages of ancient Greece and Rome. A knowledge of ancient Hindu Literature is therefore now necessary to the attainment of University honours. At present there is no work in existence in the form of a Classical Dictionary, designed to afford direct aid to a student in acquiring a knowledge of the Mythology and Antiquities of India.

To supply in some measure these wants is the object of the present work, It contains an account of all the Hindu deities, and all the mythical personages and objects, that are likely to be met with in the study of Hindu Literature, whether Sanskrit or vernacular. The various terms of Brahmanical and Buddhistical theology and ritual, and of the schools of Indian philosophy, will be found briefly explained. Such information as can be obtained on the subject of ancient Indian Geography has been given. It may be thought that many names of comparatively obscure persons and places have been included. But the Hindus attach great importance to their genealogical lists, and the present work was intended to contain every name occurring in their ancient books, though nothing is recorded of them but the line or family to which they belonged. No doubt many names, some probably of importance, have been omitted; but this is only what might be expected in the first edition of a book of this nature.

The work was commenced about twenty years ago, and most of the legends were at first taken from the vernacular writings current in Southern India; but when the valuable

work of Dr. JOHN MUIR,* came under the writer's notice, he felt it his duty to exclude all the traditionary and imperfect accounts previously collected, and to substitute for them extracts from the authentic writings of the Hindus, which alone can furnish a reliable knowledge of their religion, mythology, and historical traditions. As however the materials of the work have been picked up at intervals, and put together as opportunities occurred, it is possible that the critical reader will discover many defects; though it is doubtless very much more trustworthy than it could have been had it been published before the appearance of Dr. MUIR'S volumes.

The writer has also been greatly indebted to Professor WILSON'S Translation of the Vishnu Purána, as well as to the Essays on Sanskrit Literature, and on the Religion of the Hindus, of the same distinguished scholar. The editions of the Mahábhárata and Rámáyana published by Mr. TALBOYS WHEELER, have also been laid under contribution, The Poetical Translation of the Rámáyana by Mr. GRIFFITH, Professor of Sanskrit at the Benares College, the 'Idylls from the Sanskrit,' and 'Scenes from the Rámáyan' by the same author, have served to enrich and enliven the volume with many passages of great beauty; while Mr. GRIFFITH'S own Notes, and others selected by him from SCHLEGEL, GORRESIO, and others, have thrown light on several difficult points.

"Original Sanskrit Texts, on the Origin and History of the People of India, their Religion and Institutions."

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