Amrtadhara (Professor R.N. Dandekar Felicitation Volume) - An Old and Rare Book

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The present volume strictly academic in character, contains research papers on oriental topics covering in its wide range vedic studies. Indian Religion and Philosophy Classical Sanskrit Literature and Poetics. Inscriptions, Epigraphy. Buddhism and influence of Hindu culture on Asian countries & many other aspects, written especially for Prof. R.N. Dandekar's Felicitation volume presented to him on his 75th birthday by renowned Indologists and Sanskrit Scholars from all over the world.

It is hoped that Amrtadhara will prove to be the mirror of the contemporary oriental researches in all the fields.

Friends, Pupils, and colleagues of Professor R.N. Dandekar will rejoice to know that, no March 17, 1984, he completes seventy – five years of a life of untiring and devoted service to the Muse of Learning. Although all those who are close to Professor Dandekar know very well that he shuns all public demonstrations in his honour, it was felt by many of us who have been greatly benefited and inspired by his scholarship and teaching, that he could be prevailed upon to accept a small token of our esteem, of a strictly academic character in the form of a Felicitation Volume. This, verily is the genesis of the present Volume, which contains research papers specially written for the happy occasion of Professor Dandekar's Amrta – Mahotsava by eminent Indo-logists and Sanskritists from India and abroad, and which, therefore is fittingly named Amrtadhara.

Professor Dandekar occupies a prominent place among the Indologists and Sanskritists of the world for the impressively wide range of his researches. The volumes of his Vedic Bibliography and his other books and articles on such a variety of subjects as Vedic Mythology, the Great Epic, Ancient Indian History, and Religion and philosophy have won for him international reputation. His inspiring lectures at the University and in college classes and semi-public, meetings have, on account of his firm and beautiful delivery and lucid exposition of the themes, left a permanent impress upon the students and other audiences, and have always provoked some kind of original thinking among them.

It is a common observation that scholarship and administrative or organizational capacity do not generally go hand in hand. Here again it is remarkable that Professor Dandekar has proved himself to be a successful administrator at the University of Poona and the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, and an efficient organizer at the session of the all – India Oriental Conference and at the meetings of various National and International Bodies. He commands the knack of keeping every activity moving according to the schedule at the same time seeing to it that the academic standard of that activity is uniformly maintained. Individuals as well as Institutions have gained valuable training by working under his efficient supervision.

As a token of the many-sided indebtedness, respect, and affection which scholars entertain for Professor Dandekar, and as an humble tribute to all that he has done directly or indirectly to further the cause of learning form the highest levels down to the roots, this Volume of studies in being presented to him. And it is, indeed, most gratifying that it has become possible to make this presentation to him while he is still very much in the midst of various academic and administrative activities. Scholars all over the world look forward to many more years of a healthy and fruitful life him.

It was desired that this Felicitation Volume by formally presented to Professor Dandekar on the occasion of the Inaugural Session of the All-India Seminars in (i) Nyaya and Mimamsa, and (ii) Language Teaching Methods, which were being planned at the CASS to mark his 76th birth-day. I am, therefore, happy to be able to bring out this Volume at the right time and on the right occasion.

In making this possible I was greatly helped by the kind cooperation which I was fortunate to receive from the contributors to this volume from India and abroad who responded to my appeal readily and in time. I also gratefully acknowledge the readiness with which Shri S. Balwant of the Ajanta Publication Delhi undertook the publication of this Volume.

I am extremely thankful to Shri A. N. Gokhaley of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute for his assistance in reading the proofs of this work. I must also express my appreciation of the time and energy which Dr. S. K. Lal of the Centre of Advanced Study in Sanskrit had to expend on the preparation of this Volume. I am further indebted to Prof. S. D. Laddu, Dr. Smt. Saroja Bhate Dr. G. U. Thite, Dr. J. R. Joshi, and other members of the staff of the C. A. S. S. for their willing cooperation. My special thanks go to the Bhandarkaar Institute Press for seeing the volume through the press with great speed and efficiency.