SANSKRIT IN ASSAM THROUGH THE AGES is an insight statement how Sanskrit had become the language of the Administration and literature in the eastern part of the Country, i.e. ancient Assam.
The author has made an attempt to bring to the light the life style and the belief of the people belonging to different races of ancient Assam, which was extended from the river Karatoya.
The work deals with the settlement of different races and tribes and the eastward migration of Sanskrit at the later Vedic age, which is followed by an account of the inscriptions issued from the seventh cen.A.D., and also the Sanskrit works composed and commented on in Assam, and the Purana tradition are also dealt with.
The author focuses the attention on the creative role of this age-old vehicle of culture which inspired the people in their hopes and aspirations and finally moulded their life.
Dr. BISWANARAYAN SHASTRI, a profound scholar, an indologist of international repute combines in him in depth traditional Sanskrit study and inquisitiveness of modern research. His specialisation in Indian philosophy including Buddhist and Tantra goes well with his deep knowledge in Ancient Indian History & Culture. He is awarded with the D. Litt. Degree for his thesis on Samavaya of Nyaya - Vaigesika philosophy.
Dr. Shastri is an educationist, statesman, a Freedom Fighter and a creative writer. His immortal creation AVINASI, a historical novel in Sanskrit on the theme of seven century India earned him name, fame and many Awards. He is a recipient of Certificate of Honour by the President of India. He is also a recipient of U.P. Hindi Sansthan Award, and Literary Pension from the Govt. of Assam.
He was elected more than once to the Parliament (Lok Sabha) and was the Vice Chairman of the State Planning Board, Assam.
He has published more than 55 volumes in Sanskrit, English and Assamese; and travelled all the continents.
The decision taken by the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, New Delhi to join the Golden Jubilee Celebration of fifty years of Independence of India by publishing a series of books is most appropriate and timely. Sanskrit sayings and literatures inspired the people of India to awake, get up and have what is their right. Vande-mataram served as the bija-mantra to the people to make India free from the foreign yoke. Therefore, it is quite fitness of the approach behind the project that books on and about Sanskrit, which will not only be a contribution to the National Heritage but also a contribution to the cause, which the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan serves.
Dr. Kamala Kant Mishra, the imaginative and energetic Director of the Sansthan, invited me to join the celebration by the Sansthan with a book, and he kindly allowed me to chosen a subject, if I so desire. I agreed to write a book and chosen have the subject: Sanskrit in Assam through the Ages. My association with the Sansthan since its incep-tion prompted me to accept the offer and I owe an explanation to the esteemed readers for selecting the subject.
I believe that emotion which is played on for national integration, falls quickly as it rises in a moment. It is like fire on straws. The element which forms the basis of culture lasts a long time, perhaps thousands of year’s inspite of political and administrative differences. India is one culturally, though it appears with different ethnic colours. That is to say, diversity in unity.
It has been observed that Assam had been never under any India Empire, except the last British empire, inspite of this Assam has the same culture shared by the people in other parts of India. The cementing force is Sanskrit, which has not been limited by time and space; it is a national language of India. It is why writing in Sanskrit in 4th or 3rd cen.B.C. Is the same which is written today, what is written in Sanskrit in Kerala or Kashmir or Kamariipa (Assam) is equally the literature of all the people of India, and for that matter outside India.
Assam, known as Pragjyotisa or Karnarftpa in ancient and mediaval period of India, though was known in the Mahablarata times (for participation of Bhagadatta in the Kuruksetra war) and at the time of Harsavarddhana (for his alliance with Bhaskaravarman, the king of Pragjyotisa) and for the shrine of the Goddess Kamakhya in Guwahati, the State becomes selectively known at the later period. Assam is the major State in the seven States of North-East Region and is gaining publicity now-a-days. However, to know the mind of the people one is to get into the thoughts of the people, and their behaviour.
With a view to prepare this work I have consulted almost all the original works in Sanskrit having bearing on Assam (Pragjyotisa and Kamarupa) and also the books published in modern times and worked hard to present a comprehensive and connected description about when Sanskrit gained currency in this region and its development through the ages. It is not a history. Hence, one cannot expect to find out all Sanskrit works produced and Sanskrit authors born in Assam.
I have great pleasure to present this volume of Golden Jubilee of India's Independence Series of Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan to our esteemed readers. The Volume verily represents the goodwill and co-operation, the Sansthan has all along been receiving from the distinguished scholars all over the country.
The Sansthan was established in October, 1970 as an autonomous apex body under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India with a view to promoting, preserving and propagating Sanskrit learning in all its aspects, with special reference to the indepth shastraic learning. Apart from conducting the regular courses of studies at the various constituents Vidyapeethas, it has been bringing out invaluable publications representing dissemination of knowledge contained in the Shastras.
Thanks to the continued help, encouragement and support from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India that the Sansthan has grown by leaps and bounds and has been able to render its services to promotion of Sanskrit learning at national and international levels. The Sansthan has decided to bringout 50 scholarly monographs by eminent Sanskrit Scholars of different fields as part of the academic programmes organised to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of India's Independence. In the 50'h year of India's Independence the Sansthan decided to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of India's Independence by organising various seminars, symposia, debates and also bringing out 50 Scholarly monographs under the Golden Jubilee of India's Independence Sanskrit Series in commemoration of the said grand occasion.
The present book Sanskrit in Assam through the Ages, presents the glory of Sanskrit tradition in Assam and highlights the contribution of Assam for the development of Sanskrit Studies through different scholars and their works including some of freedom scholars. It also unravels the
information contained in Sanskrit manuscripts preserved in the libraries, of old temples, of forts, of kings and Saktipithas-centres of Tantrasadhana.
We are highly grateful to the learned author and noted scholar Dr. Bishwa Narayan Shastri, recipient of the President's certificate of Honotir, Sahitya Academy Award Winner, Ex. M.P. & Former Vice-Chairman of Assam State Planning Board for contributing this valuable work for the Golden Jubilee of India's Independence Series of Sansthan.
Dr. Savita Pathak, Dr. Viroopaksha V.Jaddipal and Dr. R.C. Hota deserve special appreciation for their valuable services rendered in planning and bringing out the glorious series particularly the present book. Thanks are due to M/s Nag Publishers for printing the book on time.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
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