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Review
Joshi has rightly selected the evolutionary approach to Vedic Mythology, which has borne fruitful results. Moreover, he takes the aid of ritualistic literature as an additional source of information and confirmation. Hence his interpretation has attianed clarity, authenticity, accuracy and persuasiveness.
Dr. Joshi has selected thirteen typical divinities that strike him specially. They are - Bphaspati, Vena, Trita Āpya, Tvaşțra Viśvarūpa, Kubera, Śakti, Vršākapi, Apaḥ, The Moon, Sarasvatī, Aja Ekapās, Prāṇa and Wives of Gods. Each divinity is considered separately as a separate mythological entity. External form and internal qualities of each divinity are described and discussed. Black and white pictures of these divinities given in the book will serve as an aid to readers.
The method adopted in this study is as follows : First of all, there is a full objective statement of the material available from the Vedic mythology and ritual, regarding the divinity under consideration. After that, an account of the various earlier views on the subject is given. This is followed by a critical examination of these views. Then an attempt is made to reconstruct a definite picture anew with the help of all possible viewpoints. At last an interpretation of the material is made in the light of evolutionary mythology. The author has explained the concept of evolutionary mythology in the Introduction.
The present work by Dr. Joshi is a critical and comprehensive study of some minor Vedic deities. It makes a valuable contribution to the elucidation of Vedic Mythology. It is an unbiased study. The students of Vedic Mythology will certainly gain much understanding by going through the work,
- Nagin J. Shah
Kleine Schriften, Walther Schubring. Herausgeben von Klaus Bruhn, Glasenapp-Stiftung, Band 13, Franz Steiner Verlag GMBH-Wiesbaden pp. 497, 1977.
In this volume Dr. Klaus Bruhn has given full bibliography of the writings of Dr. Walther Schubring who was one of the greatest German Indologists. His main field of research was Jainology. In this volume Dr. Bruhn has classified the contribution of that great scholar thus- (1) The list of his 7-27 original researeh works as well as edited works in Prakrit. And out of this list, in this volume Kalpasutra, Die Jainas and Dasaveyālia sutta, are printed and thus these important works have now become available for the interested scholars.
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