Indian Antiquary Vol 41

This collection, The Indian Antiquary, Vol. XLI (1912), edited by Sir Richard Carnac Temple and Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar, and published by Swati Publications, is a rich compilation of scholarly articles on various aspects of Oriental research. While the title itself might not explicitly focus on Jainism, the volume contains significant contributions that touch upon religious history, philosophy, linguistics, and epigraphy, which are relevant to understanding the broader cultural and historical context in which Jainism developed and existed.

The table of contents reveals a wide array of topics explored by prominent scholars of the time. These include:

• Religious and Philosophical Studies:

  • "The Origin of the Bhakti School" by D. R. Bhandarkar.
  • Discussions on the "Ajivikas" (a heterodox Indian religious sect) by D. R. Bhandarkar and K. B. Pathak, exploring their relationship with Buddhism.
  • "The Religion of the Iranian Peoples" by R. C. Temple.
  • Asoka's edicts and their connection to Buddhist texts ("Asoka's Bhabra Edict and its references to Tipitaka passages" by Prof. Dharmananda Kosambi).

• Historical and Epigraphic Contributions:

  • Numerous articles on unpublished inscriptions, such as the Hansi Stone Inscription of Prithviraja and the Anavada Stone Inscription of Sarangadeva, by D. R. Bhandarkar, which offer crucial insights into political and social history.
  • "The Cholas and the Chalukyas in the Eleventh Century" by Bhattanatha Svamin.
  • "King Lakshmana Sena of Bengal and his Era" by Prof. Nalinikanta Bhattasali.
  • "The Coins of Ajayadeva and Somaladevi" by Pandit Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha, which contribute to numismatic history.
  • "The Town of Hanjamana, referred to in Three Silahara Grants of the 10th and 11th Centuries" by Jivanji Jamshedji Modi, which sheds light on early settlements and possibly foreign elements.
  • "Mayuraja" by Bhattānatha Svāmin, focusing on a poet from the Gupta period.
  • "Kalidasa and Kamandaki" and "Kalidasa and the Hunas of the Oxus Valley" by A. F. Rudolf Hoernle and Prof. K. B. Pathak respectively, discussing literary chronology and historical interactions.
  • "A Historical and Descriptive Account of Ajmer" by Har Bilas Sarda, providing insights into a significant historical city.

• Linguistic and Lexicographical Studies:

  • "Progress Report of the Linguistic Survey of India up to the end of the year 1911" by G. A. Grierson.
  • "Contributions to Panjabi Lexicography" by H. A. Rose, a multi-part series offering detailed linguistic data.

• Cultural and Social History:

  • "The Antiquity of the Canarese Practice of taking simply the Names of Places as Surnames" by D. R. Bhandarkar.
  • "Dakhini Pandits at Benares" by H. P. Shastri, detailing the influence of South Indian scholars on the cultural landscape of Benares.
  • "A Short Note on the Hinduization of the Aborigines" and "The Swelling of the Chandala Caste" by Prof. Vanamali Chakravartti, exploring the processes of cultural assimilation.
  • "The Castes in India" by E. Senart, a significant translated work discussing the origins and nature of the caste system.

• Other Notable Contributions:

  • Discussions on ancient Hindu music ("Contribution to the Study of Ancient Hindu Music" by Rao Sahib Prabhakar R. Bhandarkar).
  • The "Vedic Calendar" by R. Shamasastry, delving into astronomical and calendrical practices.
  • An account of "Sir Abraham Shipman, The First Governor of Bombay" by Col. J. Biddulph, providing a historical narrative of early colonial encounters.

The volume serves as a crucial resource for understanding the intellectual currents of early 20th-century Indology, providing primary source material and scholarly interpretations of India's rich and complex past. The interdisciplinary nature of the articles, covering religion, language, history, and social customs, makes this volume a valuable reference for anyone studying the history and culture of India.