Panchikarana Vartika

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This book title 'Panchikarana Varttika' is a collated and critical version of two very old manuscript one of which was found in the archeive of The Asitatic Society, Kolkata (IM 918) and another imcomplete one (G9026A ) After searching long in other archeives and personal collections in India, it appeared to me that probably I shall have to work on a single manuscript till I found direction of another preserved at Bodlean Libreary, Oxford University (d567(6)27ff) under share Jung Nepalese manuscript collections. Fortunately, I was appointed as Shivadasani Fellow at the Center for Hindu Studies Oxford University, for Hindu Studies Oxford University, for Michaelmas Term in 2008. While working there, I spent most of my evenings and weeks-end in Bodlean Library to find surprisingly an exact copy of the manuscript found in the Asiatic Society collection.

This book contains two original texts. First one is the famous 'Panchikarana' written by Adi Shankaracharya and the second one is the Varttika by Sureshvaracharya on the first text. In between these two primary texts, two more texts have been found by me in these manuscript. In colophon they have been citied as 'Japa – paranamadi – kritya' and 'yoga – patta – vidhih'. These two additional texts elaborate only on how one should prepare himself to go into the traditional primary himself to go into the traditional priamary texts authorized by the 'Sampradaya – Guru's starting with Adi Shankaracharya and his senior – most disciple Suresvaracharya. It appears that these additional texts were documented for the purpose of teaching proper method of learning traditional texts. Specially the spiritual ones or 'Moksa – Shastra', meant for attainment of liberation from all pains through self – realization or knowledge about real nature of Self,i.e., 'Atma – jnana'

Dr. Piyali Palit, Professor, Department of Philosphy, Jadavpur University is well known for her works on traditional and classical Indian Philosophical texts. She had her training in interpretation of Sanskrit texts from long. Her latest interest in manuscripts of Indian philosophy in particular opened the door for many collaborative original research works in the area. She is also well-versed in recent trends in Indian Philosphical studies through interdisciplinary humanistic studies through she focused on Advaita Vedanta as the main subject for teaching and research, her interest spread in other allied darshana – shastra ,i.e., Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimasma, Vaisheshika Formal Outology, Philosphy of Languages and Manuscriptology. She was appointed as ICCR Chair of Professor in Sanskrit and Indian Philosphy for her expertise in the subject mentioned. She has authored another book titled Basic Principles of Indian Philosphy of Language apart from number of articles published in various books and Anthologies Professor Palit is also associated with Gaudiya Mission Paravidyapeetha Research Institute, Kolkatta and construction of Sri Chhaitanya Mahaprabhu Museum under Gaudiya Mission, Kolkatta.

This book titled 'Panchikarana – Varttika' is a critical edition of two very old couplet manuscript under the same title originally authored by Adi Shankaracharya and his disciple Sureshvaracharya. For the purpose of wide information of these texts and easy access to them, I have tried my best to translation invariably keeps the taste of the original literature at a bit lower tune. Keeping this in mind I have put the original text in Sanskrit attached in Devanagri script in this book, I also have picked up some folio, specially with colophons, in photographic image to get the readers touch of the texts in their original forms.

I express my gratitude to my family member and my students as constant source of inspiration while doing this difficult job. I am also grateful to my colleagues and members of Center for Advocate Studies in Philosophy, Department of Philosphy, Jadavpur University, for recommending my book for publication under UGC Publication Grant offered at the Centre.

My heartfelt thanks to Sm. Chaitali Das for her sincere assistance in collating the manuscript and other technical helps without which it would not have been possible for me to shoulder this extremely difficult job alone. I would also extend my thanks to the Asiatic Society, Kolkata, and, The Bodlean Library, Oxford University, for sending me Xerox and photocopy of the original manuscript preserved in their archeives.

Now, I offer my pranam to all teachers – Pandit Pancham Shastri, Pandit Srimohan Tarkatirtha, Pandit Sukhamoy Saptatirtha, Pandit Dinesh Chandra Shastri, Professor Gopinath Bhattacharya, Professor Sithanath Goswami, Professor Pradyot Kumar Mukhopadhyay, Prof. Krishnanath Chaterjee, Professor Karunasindhu Das and Professor Kalpika Mukhopadhyay – who raised my interest in studying Advaita Vedanta and other traditional texts of Indian Philosphy and taught me how to maintain their grace and authenticity through constant vigilance to safeguard from misunderstanding and misrepresentation. I have tried my best to follow their instructions in this regard. But as myself being a student with should be counted as my faults or limitations only and no one's else.

Finally, as we offer the holy water of Ganga while worshipping the Divine River, I offer this handful of reniditon of Advaita text to the incarnate of Paramaguru Shiva, seeking his blessing in his kripa – dristi.

In 2007, I was awarded with a UGC –Major research project titled 'Indian Philosphy & Research Methodology'. This project continued for three years from 2007 – 2010 AD. Key objectives of this project were –

1. Comutation of philosophical text in Sanskrit and Pali and usage of the languages in AI and ordinary level;

2. Handling and critically editing unpublished available original Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit texts and manuscript on Nyaya, Vaishesika, Vyaskarana, Purva Mimamsa, Vedantam, Buddhism and Jainism;

3. Inter – disciplinary studies in different areas, and development of Research Methodology in Indian Philosphy and text interpretation.

4. Genrating skills in student through rigourous training under experienced resource persons in the above mentioned area;

5. Associating retired teachers in academic pursuits as part – time resource persons for handling manuscript as well as publication of the same;

6. Facilitating emergence of a nodal center in North East region in collaboration with other eminent research institutes like the Asiatic Society, MRC, Calcutta University, Sanskrita Sahitya Parisat, CIIL, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, CDAC, National Information Center &c.

To fulfil the objectives of this project, which later turned to be a mission of my life, I spent hours in archeives in search of rare manuscripts, namely archeivs of The Asiatic Society, Kolkata, Sanskrita Parishad, National Council of Bengal, Navadwip Public Library, National Mission for Manuscript of Philosphical texts through this searching one of which took shape of the present book titled 'Panchikarana Varttika'

This book title 'Panchikarana Varttika' is a collected and critical version of two very old manuscript one of which was found in the archeive of The Asiatic Society, Kolkatta (IM 918) and another incomplete one (G 9026A). After searching long in other archeives and personal collections in India, it appeared to me that probably I shall have to work on a single manuscript till I found direction of another, preserved at Bodlean Library, Oxford University (d567(6)27ff) under Sher – e – Jung Nepelese manuscript collections. Fortunately, I was appointed as Shivadasani Fellow at the Centre for Hindu Studies, Oxford University, for Michaelmas Term, in 2008. While working there, I spent most of my evening and week – ends in Bodlean Library to find out surprisingly an exact copy of the manuscript found in the Asiatic Society collection.

Both the manuscripts are written on handmade papers (Tulot Kagoj) with black ink in a bit deep, flattened handwriting which indicates that both of them dates. Back to first stage of manus data. Both contains of thirty five all these thirty five folio were very clear, nearly written and preserved very well. Photocopy of some folio of both these manuscript will be displayed at at the end of the text of this book.

This book contains two original two texts. First one is the famous 'Pancikarana' written by Adi Shankaracharya and the second one is the 'Varttika' by Sureshvaracharya on the first text. In between these two primary texts, two more texts. In between these two primary texts, two more texts have been found by me in those manuscripts. In colophon they have been citied as 'Japa – pranamadi – kritya' and 'Yoga – patta – viddhi'. These two additional texts elaborate only on how one should prepare himself to go into the traditional primary texts authorized by the 'Sampradaya – Guru's starting with Adi Shankaracharya and his senior – most disciple Suresvacharya. It appears that these additional texts, were documented for the purpose of teaching proper method of learning traditional texts, specially the spiritual ones or 'Mokes – Shastra', meant for attainment of liberation from all pains through self – realization or knowledge about real nature of Self, i.e., 'Atma – jnana'

The first primary text 'Pancikarana' authored by Adi Shankaracharya is in prose style which is rare as most of his brief or short writing are in verse or 'Shloka'. In fact, it is only his Bhasyas on Brahmasutra, Ten Principal Upanishads and commentary on Mandukya – karika by Gaudapada, that Adi Shankaracharya wrote in prose. On the contrary, the 'Varttika' authored by Suresvaracharya on this text is complete in sixty four verses.