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Vol. XXV, 2002
REVIEW
217
out altogether any reference to the two outstanding literary critics Anandavardhana and Rājasekhara. Indian materialism is discussed in Krishna S. Arjunwadkar's 'The Ressurection of Cārvāka". He critically examines Debiprasad Chattopadhaya"s work, Lokāyata : A study in Ancient Indian Materialism, and A. H. Salunkhe"s three studies : Cārvākadarśana rather in aggressive and provocative language and combative spirit. He says that these studies are the outcome of a motivated research : Chattopadhaya is interested in establishing roots of Materialism in ancient Indian thought while Salunkhe sees in Cārvāka an ancient champion of anti-Brahmanism and anti-Vedism.
Valāhassajātaka and Telapattajātaka” by Siegfried Lienhard evokes the legend of the merchant Simhala. We come across many such fairy tales in the Buddhist and Jaina literature. Such fairy tales of mariners can easily find place in the voyage literature of the world. 'Notes on Avestic Asha Truth” ” by Helmut Humbach looks into the numerous phrases in the Avesta that have parallels in the Rgveda. Avesta is the sister language of Sanskrit and with careful observance of certain phonetic laws, entire stanzas may be converted from one language to another. N. M. Kansara"s 'Avestan Eschatology” is a lucid essay that deals with concepts of death and after-life in Zarathustra"s teachings.
B. V. Shetti"s essay, 'Manuscript Collection in the Asiatic Society of Bombay is the most informative of all the essays. After a brief history of the Society he goes on to present the Society's most extraordinary manuscript collection lovingly introducing each of the masterpieces like Dante Alghieri"s Divina Commedia of the mid fourteenth century or the illustrated Shāhnāmāh by Firdausi. The list of the rare manuscripts given at the end of the article will be extremely useful to scholars. Hukum Chand Patyal"s Concept of Sistācāra" discusses the concept of śistācāra (practice or conduct of the sistas or learned or virtuous persons) concludes the English section of this volume. The other section includes articles in Sanskrit by V. B. Bhagvat and in Gujarati by Jitendra Shah.
The articles are well researched and presented. However, there are some typographical errors, which should have been corrected. The entire volume is neatly organized and printing is pleasing to the eye. We heartily welcome this publication and congratulate the authorities of the Sharadaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre for bringing out this publication.
V. M. Kulkarni, Vidya Vencatesan
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