Descriptive Catalogue of Sanskrit Manuscripts in Tanjore Vol 19

SR No.: 020244
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: P P S Shastri
Publisher: Government of Madras
Publication Year: 1934
Total Pages: 260
Language: English, Sanskrit
Classification: Catalogue
File Size: 14 MB

Page 12

IV HISTORY OF SANSKRIT LITERATURE
FROM 1500 A. D. TO 1850 A. D. (based on the Manuscripts available in the
Tanjore Palace Library). It is well-known that all the existing histories of Sanskrit Literature generally stop with 1200 A. D. with but a few references to works or authors of a later period. Macdonell's History of Sanskrit Literature deals elaborately with Vedic Literature and Epic Literature whilst its treatment of Classical Sanskrit Litera. ture is neither detailed nor beyond 1000 A. D.. Dr. Keith's History of Sanskrit Literature deals more systematically with the authors and works of Classical Literature but it comes down to only 1200 A. D., though here and there there are references to a few individual authors and works, ranging from 1200 A. D. to 1500 A. D.
With the Muhammadan invasions and the consequent un. settled state of the country politically, Classical Søpskrit Literature seems to have languished principally in North and Middle India for want of royal patronage and encouragement. South India, which had been comparatively free from such disturbing influ. ences up till very recent times, seems to have enjoyed complete peaco under the Hindu Sovereigns whether they ruled large kingdoms or petty principalities. These Hindu Potentates continued to patronise the learned arts and encouraged the concourse of learned scholars in their assemblies and courts.
Among such contres of learning in the South, the Vijayanagar Empire and its dependencies in the southern-most parts like Tanjore, idysore, Vellore, Madura ete. continued to foster Sanskrit Learning even as did the ancient kinge in pre-Mohammadan daye. of the rulers at Vijayanagar, Ksaņa Deva Raya (1809-3529 A. D.) was the greatest scholar, in wbose court learned pandits and scholars daily met and diseoursed. On his death, the principality of Tanjoro was taken possession of by the Nayak Rulors who xaled Txajore from 1535 to 1673 A. D. Fron the Nágaks the