Rgveda Darsana- Volume Sixteen (Yaska’s Nirukta)

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Vidyalankara Sastra-Chudamani, Sangita-Kalaratna Professor Saligrama Krishna Ramachandra Rao is a well-known scholar who combines traditional learningwith modern research.Well versed in Sanskrit, Pali, Ardhamagadhi and several modern Indian Languages and acquainted with Tobetan and some European languages, ghe has written extensively on Vedanta, Buddhism, Jainism, Indian culture, art and literature.

In his professional career, however, he was a Professor of psychology. He has headed the department of Clinical Pschology in the National institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, and the Department of Indian Culture in the Callison College Study Centre of the University of the Pacific (USA). At present, he is one the visiting Faculty of National Institute of advanced Studies ( Indian Institute of Science), Bangalore.

He has been Member of the Karnataka State Lalith Kala Academi and Sangit Nritya Academi: he has been member of the Karnataka StateLalith Kala Academi and SangitNritya Academi he has servedon the agama Board ( State Govverhment). He is President of Silpa-Kala Pratishthana. The State Government has honoured him with the 1986 Rajyotsava Award.

He has written more than fifty books in Kannada, a play in Sanskrit, and a Pali Commentary on a Buddhist classic. One of the Books on Iconography in Kannada has won the state saitya academi award, as also another of his books on the tirupati temple.

Among his numerous English publication are three volumes of Encylopaedia of indianMediicine, ( Poplar Prakashan, Bombay), Tibetan Tantrik Tradition and Tibetan Meditation ( Arnold Heinemann, Delhi),m Consiciousness in Advaita, and a series of six books on Indian temples ( IBH Prakashana, Bangalore), Origins of Indian Thought (Bangalore University); Kalpatharu Research Academy has published his Pratima-Kosha in six volumes, Agama-kosha in twelve volumes, Art and Architecture of Indian Temples in three volumes. He was awarded D. Litt. Honoraris Causa by the Karnatak University (2005)

Hhe is at present engaged in the 30 volume project Rgveda-Darsana ( sixteen volumes of which have appeared). He is also a musicologist, a sculptor and painter, and has held some one-man shows.

It is well –known that Rgveda cannot be understood without the help of vedangas like Siksha, Kalpa, Vyakarana, Jyotisha, Nirukta and Chhandas. Among these aids Nirukta occupies the pride of place. It is indispensable for the student of Veda. So it was though useful to bring out a separate volume on Nirukta in Rgveda-Dasrsana project series. We are greateful to Dr. S.K. Ramachandra Rao for having kindly prepared this publication.

Kalpatharu Research Academy is proud that it is contributing significantly to the cause of indology through these publications. Each volume is being highly appreciated by the scholarly world, and we are gratified.

We are indebted greatly to jagadguru His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji, of Sringeri Sharada Peetham, chief patron of the Academy and to the keen interest evinced by Shri V.R. Gowrishankar, Administrator of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham and chairman of the Academy.

We are also beholden to the generous financial Assistance from the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Departmen of Education, Govt. of India New Delhi, and Dept. of Education, Govt. of Karnataka, Bangalore.

The Omkar Offset printers merits our greateful thanks for the splendid production this volume.

Rgveda, the very source of Indian culture, contains meanings and mysteries, which can only be apprehended and appreciated with the help of Nirukta, which is an etymological and semantic treatise meant only for this purpose. Among twelve niruktas that we have references to, it is only Yaska’s that is available to us. And we have fortunately the text intact. There is also an extensive commentary on it by Bhagavad Durga (Durgacharya) and some glossatorial notes by Skanda-svamin.

The present publication provides the complete text of the third kanda of this great work. Daivata-kanda (the first two padas in this volume) together with Skanda-svamin’s commentary (part I), Durgacharya’s commentary (part II) and amy translation of the text into English along with extensivenotes and explanations.

I am greateful to Sri Daivajna K.N. Somayaji, director and chief Editor of Kalpatharu Research Academy for having given me this opportunity. I am also indebted to Jagadguru His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Bharathi Theertha mahaswamiji of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham and the chief patron of the Academy, the administrator of the Peetham Sri V. R. Gowrishankar, the chairman of the Academy.

I thank my friends in the Omkar offset Printers for their courtesy and cooperation.