Jyotisa-Ratna-Mala of Sripati Bhatta: A Marathi Tika on his Own Sanskrit Work (An Old and Rare Book)

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My interest in the text of Jyotisaratnamala is neither astrological nor literary. As a student of language, I edit it without any claim to expert knowledge in the science of astrology. I have tried my best to be reasonably well-informed for the job on hand; for, I am acutely conscious of my limitations.

Due to its priority to Jnanesvari by a little more than 250 years Jyotisaratnamala and its author Sripati both deserve more attention from the historian of Marathi literature. Hitherto JRM and Sripati have been only referred to by V. L. BHAVE, and the Supplement to his Maharastra Sarasvata has inadvertently neglected them, when sufficient material about Sripati was published by 1937 and RAJWADE brought to light a part of the Marathi text of JRM as early as in 1914 A.D. It is hoped that the history of Marathi literature in the process of being written under the auspices of the Maharastra Sahitya Parisad will take due cognizance of JRM and its author.

I should like to make it clear that I prefer to call this edition of JRM as authentic and not critical for reasons specified in the Introduction. Editorial principles towards the end of the Introduction will stand testimony to the fact that it has been my endeavour to make the text intelligible taking least liberty with Ms. material and effecting reasonable changes only where it was necessary. One may come across certain offensive readings which could ordinarily be corrected but I prefer to leave them as they are for want of Ms.-support for their correction. I am aware that many scholars here may not agree with me; but that does not disturb my principles. So far the tendency has apparently been almost to rewrite the text rather than to edit it.

**Contents and Sample Pages**