Descriptive Catalogue of Sanskrit Manuscripts Asiatic_Society Vol 01 Part 01

SR No.: 020266
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Narendrachandra Vedanttirtha
Publisher: Asiatic Society
Publication Year: 1969
Total Pages: 376
Language: English, Sanskrit
Classification: Catalogue
File Size: 15 MB

Page 6

PREFACE
The present volume of the Catalogue of Sanskrit manuscripts in the Indian Museum collection under the care of the Asiatic Society contains descriptions of manuscripts No. 1 to 516. The Dharmasastra or Smṛti works treated here range from the Manusamhita-the upper limit of the age of composition of which according to Bühler may be placed roughly in the 2nd century B.C.-to the Kayastha-paddhati and such other works composed towards the end of the 19th century. During this long period of nearly two thousand years the Smrti literature may be divided into four broad sections (1) Long metrical works, generally in ślokas of 32 letters (anuṣṭubh) from the 2nd century B.C. to 1200 A.D., (2) Commentaries on the metrical works from 400 A.D. to 900 A.D., (3) Comprehensive commentaries forming something like Digests ranging from 700 A.D. to 1400 A.D., and (4) Nibandhas or Digests from 1000 A.D. to the present day. The last class is the most extensive and most important. The works began to be composed during the advent of the Mahommedans into India and the purpose might have been to preserve the Hindu Society in tact, by codifying its Laws, Regulations and Rules of conduct in life.
Smrti derives its authority from the Śruti (Vedas) and follows it faithfully. It is called Smrti beacause it was derived from the memory of great sages of ancient india. If Smrti ever contradicted a well-known Śruti, the theory of the lost Śruti held good in ancient times in preference to that of the Smrti; the modern scholiasts, however, are more inclined to reconcile the contradiction by means of new interpretations.
The Sūtra works of Smrti such as Gautama's Dharma-Sūtra are not included in this catalogue of manuscripts. For them the reader is requested to see H. P. Sastri's Catalogue, Volume III published by the Society.
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