Indian Antiquary Vol 02

SR No.: 032494
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 428
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

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MARCH, 1873.]
being the oldest yet known to exist on the western side of India, dating probably from early in the second century B.C. These and other researches were undertaken with reference to a large and comprehensive work he has undertaken on the Cave Temples of Western India, which will be published, when complete, by the India Office-the Home Government of India having, with their accustomed liberality, undertaken to defray the cost of the work.
ORIENTAL RESEARCH.
In Madras, Dr. Hunter continues his career of usefulness. During the past year he, with his pupils, has made a complete and much more perfect set of photographs of all the Rock-cut Temples and Rock Sculptures of Mahavellipore, or the Seven Pagodas, and, having turned up some fragments broken off from the great rock-cut bas-relief, has proved incontestably that it was dedicated to Serpent-worship, and that only; though probably of a comparatively later date to other examples known. He has, besides, procured numerous photographs and casts of other interesting temples and sculptures throughout Southern India.
From private sources it is understood that General, Cunningham is pursuing assiduously, and with considerable success, the researches he was appointed to undertake; as, however, no report has yet been issued, the Council are unable to communicate to the Society any information regarding the results hitherto attained by him..
The operations of the Trigonometrical, Geological and other Surveys of India, are carried on more vigorously than ever, and their results are made public from time to time through reports and maps. To those unable to follow the details of official accounts, Mr. C. R. Markham's Memoir on the Indian Surveys affords a highly interesting and instructive historical sketch of the progress of operations of the various survey establishments.
While so much is done by the Government towards a scientific exploration of India, it is a matter of regret that the archæological operations in Ceylon, the promising aspect of which we were able to point out in our last report, have since come to a stop.
Two works recently published by Indian officers of more than ordinary experience have added greatly to our knowledge of the history, manners, and institutions of the people in some parts of India, viz., Dr. W. W. Hunter's "Orissa," being the continuation of the same author's "Annals of Rural Bengal ;" and Mr. E. Bowring's " Eastern Experiences." Of the latter work, which treats chiefly of Mysore and Coorg, a second edition has already appeared. In Mr. J. Fergusson's "Rude Stone Monuments" some light is also incidentally thrown on the ancient architectural remains of eastern countries.
Of the Durga Paja, or chief national festival of the Hindus of Bengal, Mr. Pratapachandra Ghosha has given a full and interesting account; and Mr. J. Garrett has published a Classical Dictionary,
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which is intended to embody the information we possess regarding the mythology, literature, and manners of ancient India. This manual, though necessarily imperfect as a first attempt, will no doubt prove a useful book of reference to the general reader.
The Council have observed with satisfaction the appearance of Mr. Burgess's Indian Antiquary, a monthly magazine, which may prove a useful medium of communication on matters of Indian research, and is calculated to awaken in English civilians, no less than in intelligent natives, a sense of moral obligation which will urge them to take each his share in the elucidation of the manifold problems of Indian history. It is a matter for congratulation to our Society that the number of native gentlemen desirous of joining us has been steadily increasing for some years past, and the Council rejoice to see them appear among the contributors to Mr. Burgess's periodical, side by side with the names of some of our best scholars in India.
The Pandit, a monthly periodical, issued by the Benares scholars, is continuing its course of usefulness in furnishing hitherto unpublished Sanskrit texts and English translations of Sanskrit works, a2 well as notices of Benares MSS.....
The search for Sanskrit MSS. and examination of libraries in India has been carried on with signal success during the past twelvemonth. Of Rajendralâla Mitra's Notices of Sanskrit MSS. three fasciculi have hitherto been received, describing for the most part sectarial and Tantrical works. Dr. G. Bühler has just issued, for the Bombay Government, the first part of a Catalogue, or rather classified list, containing 1433 entries of some very important works, chiefly Vaidic. This list, when complete, is to include upwards of 12,000 MSS., and will be very useful to Sanskrit scholars, giving, as it will do, a pretty complete survey of the MSS. contained in the Brahmanical libraries of the Northern Division of the Bombay Presidency. This, however, is merely intended to serve as a kind of index to a fuller notice of the various MSS., which is now being prepared on the model of the Calcutta Catalogue. Meanwhile the survey is carried on as briskly as ever; and Dr. Bühler already mentions that, since the compilation of the catalogue now printing, he has received further lists containing about 5,000 entries. The Brahmanical MSS. in the larger libraries of his division are estimated by him at upwards of 30,000. This, however, does not include the Jaina books, which are much more numerous, and may probably amount to four or five times that number. As this branch of Hindu literature is as yet very imperfectly known, Dr. Bühler proposes to give, in the first place, a list of the oldest works, the Sutras, with a brief alysis of each and a general survey of the