Review: Siddhabharati or the Rosary of Indology
Summary
This review examines a commemorative two‑volume collection titled Siddhabharati or the Rosary of Indology, produced by the Vishveshvaranand Vedic Research Institute to honour scholar Siddheshwar Varma on his sixtieth birthday. The volumes contain 108 articles contributed by academics from India and abroad and are arranged in sections covering philology, Vedic and Avestic studies, literature, philosophy and religion, literary history, general history and miscellaneous topics. The reviewer observes that such volumes are often lavish but reach a limited audience, so he outlines the contents to draw scholarly attention. He notes that the classification of papers is sometimes unclear and that some items seem misplaced. Selected highlights include studies on foreign names in Indian languages, Malabar influences in Sanskrit, pre‑Pāṇinian lexicography, Vedic textual criticism, and analyses of epic and Purāṇa topics. Other papers explore Indian philosophy, history, socio‑economic practices and even modern Hindi literature. Despite uneven quality, the reviewer praises the Institute for completing the volume amid the difficulties of relocation after the partition of India. He concludes that Siddhabharati represents a rich, if eclectic, resource that showcases the breadth of contemporary Indological research and merits wider readership.
Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.
Conclusion
Petech’s investigation shows that there was no Mughal embassy to China in 1656; the purported mission was a delegation from Turfan misreported by European travellers. His work underscores the need to corroborate travel narratives with local sources and serves as a cautionary tale about accepting early modern European accounts at face value.