The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda is publishing a series of publications called " M. S. University of Baroda Research Series". In this series, we are publishing selected research works of high quality prepared by the teachers and the students of this University. The Ph.D. Thesis entitled "Srikanthacaritam-A Study" by Dr. B. N. Bhatt, Research Officer, Oriental Institute, M. S. University of Baroda is published as fourteenth volume of this series.
Mankha's Srikanthacaritam (= Sc.) is one of the difficult poems in Sanskrit, comparable to the poem of Magha. Moreover, its study from Critical and Cultural point of view has been neglected so far. Excepting only one translation in German (by Elizabeth Kreyenborg-Der XXV Gesang des Srikanthacaritam des Mankha, Ein Beitrag zur altindischen Literaturgeschichte. Diss. Munster 1, W. 1929) and that too of the twenty-fifth canto only of this poem no other translation in any other language is available. What to talk of a Critical study of the poem? An intensive study of this poem where all the questions regarding the poem and its author as well as cultural gleanings from the work are discussed was a long felt desideratum. This is my humble attempt to make good this deficit. I have divided my work into two parts-the first dealing with the text and the author while the second with the cultural and literary study of the poem. I have also discussed some controversial topics such as the genuine works of the author etc. I have attempted to give a picture of the society as reflected in the which is a source of useful information for the cultural history of medieval India. It is in this way that my humble contribution tends to the general advancement of knowledge. In the preparation of the present work, I have drawn upon all the available literature in print. Acknowledgements have been fully made in all the cases and a complete bibliography has been also attached. I have studied the text, commentary and the relevant literature and have tried to express my own views in the light of this Critical study. As shown above the study of Sc. from Critical and Cultural point of view was taken up for the Ph.D. degree under the guidance of Dr. A. N. Jani, Professor in Sanskrit, M. S. University and this work was approved of for the award of the said degree in 1965 by the M. S. University of Baroda. Now it is presented with additions and modifications necessitated by further research.
I take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to the persons who have helped me in this my undertaking.First of all, I thank my preceptor Dr. A. N. Jani, Professor and Head of the Department of Sanskrit, M. S. University of Baroda, for his able guidance and valuable suggestions without whose constant goading and inspiration this work would not have come into existence. In spite of heavy pressure of work, he spent his precious time in discussing various debatable points connected with the thesis and has taken keen interest in going through every detail. Not only that but in the matter of publication of this work it was he who took the initiative and brought it to its present form. I owe to him more than what I can express by words.
My thanks are due to my friend Dr. S. G. Kantawala, Reader in Sanskrit, M. S. University of Baroda, for drawing my attention to an important article on the theme of this poem and for making some valuable suggestions. Og stoli I am highly grateful to my referees Prof. Dr. V. Raghavan, Prof. R. B. Athavale and Prof. J. T. Parikh for making valuable suggestions. Their useful suggestions have helped me a great deal to make improvements in my work. I am also thankful to Drs. B. J. Sandesara, U. P. Shah, R. N. Mehta, Shri J. S. Pade Shastri, Shri Lalachand Gandhi and Shri J. P. Thakar for their suggestions and kind help. THEG I am also highly thankful to the authorities of the M. S. University of Baroda for publishing this work in the M. S. University Research Series.dt My thanks are due to The Manager, M. S. University of Baroda Press for executing the printing etc. of this work in an excellent manner.
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