About the Book Bhoja's Spiedra Prak dia is the biggest work in the field of literary criticism and in the whole range of classical Sanskrit literature In presenting and interpreting the contents of this encyclopaedic work. Dr. Raghavan has, in his turn, produced the largest work in Sanskrit literary criticism and aesthetics. Bhoja's work is noteworthy not only for its new and unique theory of aesthetics, but also for a mass of data relating to all branches of Sanskrit literature and precious citations from many lost classics of great importance. In addition to the several chapters of Dr. Raghavan's exposition being complete accounts of the history of the respective concepts of Alarhkara Sastra, the analysis and collation of the references and the reconstruc- tion of views and works given here make the present work a thesaurus of information in the field of Sanskrit literature.

The Hindu, Madras: "A great work sees the light... Dr. Raghavan has brought into a historical discussion the various theories on the philosophy of poetry ranging from Bharata to Anandavardhana and far later too... will be greatly valued as a kaleidoscopic representation of the masterminds of India's poetical thoughts." PROF. M. HIRIYANNA, Mysore:

is written in a simple and straightforward style; and though abounding in details, it is throughout quite interesting... This has necessitated in your surveying the whole range of Alarikara literature (sometimes, as in Chs. XV and XVI, the survey extends even beyond); and the result is not merely comprehensive but also exhaustive... is full of valuable information, and students of Sanskrit will ever feel grateful to you for publishing it. The publication will be an indispensable companion to those who undertake research work in the subject; and... will also serve as an excellent reference book."

PROF. L. RENOU, Paris: "V. Raghavan whose works on poetics are authoritative... his long study on the Srigara Prakasa of Bhoja in which he has revealed to us the most encyclopaedic Indian text on Sanskrit poetics."... Journal of Oriental Research, Madras: "... must be accepted on all hands as a great contribution to the thought on Sanskrit literary criticism....".

About the Author Born in 1908 at Tiruvarur, Tanjore Dt.; graduated from Presidency College, Madras in 1930 with 3 College Prizes and 5 University Medals.

Took his M.A. in Sanskrit Language and Literature with Comparative Philology and four schools of Indian Philosophy under Mahamahopadhyaya Prof. S. Kuppuswamy Sastri; specialised in Alamkara and Natya Sastras and Sanskrit Aesthetics and earned his Doctorate in 1934-5 from Profs. S. Levi, F. W. Thomas and A. B. Keith; studied Sanskrit on the traditional lines also and won medals and prizes for Sanskrit speaking and writing.

Preface BESIDES revision, the present edition carries much additional material, particularly in the chapters on Bhoja's predecessors and successors, works and authors in the different Sastras whom Bhoja has cited or drawn upon and Sastraie discussions I had recently taken up an edition of the Sanskrit text of the Spigara Prakala of Bhoja for the Harvard Oriental Series under a project supported by the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, New Delhi. In that connection I had collected palm-leaf Mss. of the text from Kerala and examined the work afresh, particularly in the first nine chapters which are full of Sistraic discussions. The new material collected during this work has been incorporated in the present edition, with additional page references (upto ch. IX) to my coming edition of the Sanskrit text in HOS.

Two of my former students have assisted in the reading of the proofs, Dr. S. S. Janaki and Dr. M. Narasimhacharya. As there is difference in the page numbers between the second and third editions, the revision of the Index required arduous work. Here again Dr. Janaki has been very helpful.

The Vasanta Press, Theosophical Society, Adyar, who printed the second edition of this book, agreed to print its third edition also. To the authorities. of the Society and Sri K. Ramanathan, Manager of the Press and to Ms. V. T. Rajan & Co.. Paper Merchants, I must express my appreciation of their co- operation.

This publication had imposed a heavy strain on me owing to the rocketing of the costs of paper and printing. I must therefore express my gratitude to the Ministry of Education and Social Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi, for their financial aid. I must make special mention of my two 'putra-ratnas Cirañjivins Sri R. Kalidas and Dr. R. Charudattan whose 'pitr-bhakti has made possible since 1971 the uninterrupted continuation of my academic activities and research and publication work, and of my wife Saubhagyavati Sarada, the full witness at home these years of my work round the clock and on diverse fronts.