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316
Annals BORI, LXII (1981)
INDIAN LEXICOGRAPHY; by Claus Vogel (In the series A History of Indian Literature, ed. by Jan Gonda, Vol. V, Fasc. 4), Otto Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden, 1979, pp. 303-401.
This is a very useful account of the Indian Lexicons, both general and special, as also bilingual and multilingual, and the commentaries on them. The whole account is neatly presented in a small compass of less than huadred pages. The author gives a brief introduction and then narrates the characteristic features of Indian lexica: the principles followed by the authors of the lexicons in organizing the lexical matter and the method of structuring individual items in this organization. This is followed by systematic information about the individual authors and their works. In supplying this information to the reader, the author has, apparently, brought together all available material on the subject.
Jain Education International
In the opening statement the author says that Indian lexicographic work started with the compilation of word-lists (nighantu) giving "rare, unexplained, vague, or otherwise difficult terms culled from sacred writings." The well-known specimen of this kind, however, contains, besides the words of the above description, lists of synonyms and also a section called the daivatakända.
Madhu Vidya/644
For Private & Personal Use Only
M. A. Mehendale
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