Select Contents of Oriental Journals
Summary
This article is a bibliography of selected contents from various Oriental journals, covering a wide array of subjects in Indology and Indian history. The main argument is not a singular thesis but rather a comprehensive survey of contemporary academic research in Sanskrit philology, religious studies, history, political thought, and literary criticism. The evidence consists of detailed abstracts of articles published in journals such as the Journal of the American Oriental Society, the Journal of the Bihar Research Society, the Journal of Indian History, and various university publications. The sources discussed span ancient and medieval India, as well as the early modern period. For instance, P. Tepeško examines the morphological variant *amredaya* in Sanskrit and its connection to Prakrit and Ardha Magadhi roots. Louis Renou discusses the transition from the Brahmanas to the Upanishads, while 3. 2. Majumdar details the Lakulīśa Pāśupatas, their temples, and their use of black dress and Vaisheshika philosophy. D. C. Sircar analyzes two Prakrit epigraphs, including one near Kofam from the first century B.C. and the Mathura Pillar Inscription of Sodasa from the first century B.C. Viswanath Prasad Varma explores the theory of the divinity of the king in ancient India, and K. K. Dutta examines the 1857-59 Indian movement in Bihar. Bankey Bihari Misra provides an account of the East India Company's judicial administration in Bengal from 1765-1782. Religious and literary studies are heavily represented. Bimala Chandra Law discusses Parsvanatha's life and doctrine. R. C. Hazra analyzes the Bhāvishyottara Purana, assigning its compilation to the end of the eighth century. S. N. Sen discusses Yaksa worship in early Jaina literature. H. D. Velankar renders ten hymns to Indra from Mandala X of the Rgveda into English. G. K. Bhat examines instances in Bhasa's plays that do not conform to Bharata's Natyaśāstra, suggesting Bhasa preceded it or followed a different tradition. A. D. Pusalkar questions the authenticity of the Kṛṣṇacarita, noting its mention of Matrgupta and the Fourth Buddhist Council. R. N. Dandekar traces the evolution of Rudra in Vedic literature, linking him to pre-Vedic proto-Indian, proto-Dravidian, and Indus Valley deities. Vasudeva Saran Agrawal studies the geographical data in Pāṇini's Aṣṭādhyāyī and the textile fabrics in Bāṇa's Harsacarita. Other articles discuss Vrata rites in Bengal, the Aitareya Aranyaka, and the place of Vedic deities in domestic rites. Finally, G. R. Ranganathan's work on Sri Kṛṣṇa in Indian thought and culture is noted, published by V. O. Sarcar & Sons in Calcutta.
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Conclusion
This compilation of Oriental journals highlights the vast and diverse landscape of Indological research, spanning linguistics, history, religion, and literature. Key findings include the morphological evolution of Sanskrit and Prakrit roots, the historical spread of the Lakulisha Pasupatas across medieval India, and the complex character of the Vedic deity Rudra, whose attributes are traced to various pre-Vedic proto-Indian traditions. The articles also provide critical insights into early Buddhist and Jain texts, the political and judicial administration of the East India Company, and the geographical data found in classical works like the Aitareya Aranyaka. These studies underscore the significance of meticulous philological analysis, epigraphical discoveries, and historical contextualization in deepening our understanding of India’s ancient and medieval intellectual and cultural heritage.