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consider music and other fine arts as very important ones. In India, music did not develope as a secular entertainment; music in India is a fundamental phase of religion; rather music has become a religion itself, with a philosophy attached to it. The musical notes are the physical manifestations of the Highest Reality termed Nāda-Brahman. Music is not a mere accompaniment in religious worship; it is religious worship itself, likes Yāgas and Temple worship. In India there has never been an antethesis between aesthetics and morality; there has never been developed an æsthetic doctrine which was not acceptable to the most orthodox follower of religion. Thus the Sangitaratnākara and other works on music undertaken for publication by the Adyar Library are presentations of orthodox phases of Hindu religion and of Indian civilization as much as the commentaries on the Vedas and the works on religion and philosophy like the Ahirbudhnya Samhita and the Vedāntaparibhāsā. Through our publications we desire to exhibit the unity of Indian culture and the harmony that exists among the various phases of the Culture.
Now what remains for me is to acknowledge the help that has been received in the preparation of this edition. Our gratitude to Pandit S. Subrahmanya Sastri, who prepared the edition is far beyond words to be adequately expressed. His whole life was spent in scholarly pursuits; it is a great privilege for me to be able to associate myself with this great work even in this very humble capacity. Dr. G. Srinivasa Murti,
Scanned by Gitarth Ganga Research Institute
