Obituary: Prof. Karl Friedrich Geldner

Batakrishna Ghosh

Obituary: Prof. Karl Friedrich Geldner

Vol. 5 · No. 1March - 1929pp. 170–171English

Summary

This obituary commemorates Karl Friedrich Geldner, a German scholar renowned for his translation of the Ṛgveda and his contributions to Avestan studies. The author traces Geldner’s academic career, beginning with his studies under the Indologist Roth. Geldner collaborated with leading scholars such as Pischel and made pioneering efforts to produce a critical edition of the Ṛgveda. The obituary recounts how Geldner defended the authenticity of Sāyaṇa’s commentaries while recognising Roth’s influence. It mentions his retirement to Marburg and his reluctance to accept honours, emphasising his modesty. The article also notes Geldner’s significant works, including his Avesta editions and numerous essays on Iranian religion. By highlighting his personal qualities and scholarly achievements, the obituary honours a figure whose philological rigour advanced the study of Indo‑Iranian texts.

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Conclusion

The obituary concludes that Karl Friedrich Geldner’s meticulous research and dedication to the Veda and Avesta have left an enduring legacy in Indology. His passing marks the end of an era, but his works continue to inspire scholars.

Key passages

Chosen by AI from the article's text. Each one is checked word for word against the text before it is shown.

“This great Vedic and Avestan scholar needs no introduction to-day to the world of scholars : in him the goddess of learning has lost one of her sincerest devotees and Germany one of the noblest members of her noble race of Gelehrtes”
“Geldner boldly declared in the preface to the first volume of the Vedische Studien that Roth himself has committed mistakes in many places where Sayana was right”
“All his life Prof, Geldner maintained his indomitable passion for the Rgveda of which he was undoubtedly the greatest interpreter”

Discussed in this article

People

Sayana 38
Roth 8
Karl Friedrich Geldner
Pischel 29
Alfred Hillebrandt
Max Miiller 19
Emile Senart 3
Lanman 3

Places

Marburg

Texts & works

Vedische Studien
Rgveda im Auswahl
Harvard Oriental Series

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In this issue

Vol. 5 · No. 1

1–5Fables in the Vinaya‑Piṭaka of the Sarvāstivādin SchoolJean Przyluski 6–14The Coronation of Candragupta MauryaJyotirmoy Sen 14–30A Buddhist Inscription from Bodh‑Gaya of the Reign of JayacandradevaNirad Bandhu Sanyal 31–35The Adipurāṇa and BrhatkathaA. Venkatasubbiah 35–48Madanapāla’s Coronation and Identification of CandraRadha Govinda Basak 49–80The Date of KanishkaHari Charan Ghosh 81–86Vasubandhu and the VādavidhiH. R. Rangaswamy Iyengar 86–102The Gahādavālas of KanaujAtul Krishna Sur 103–112On some points connected with the Land Revenue Administration in Bengal during the 5th–7th centuries A.C.U. N. Ghoshal 113–119Studies in the History of VijayanagarV. Narasimham 119–124The Karoura of PtolemyK. V. Krishna Ayyar 124–128Condition of Education and Architecture in the Bahmani KingdomJogindra Nath Chowdhuri 129–133A Note on the Vastrapatha‑Mahatmya of the Skanda PurāṇaHem Chandra Raychaudhuri 133–135Date of BallālasenaChintaharan Chakravarti 136–137Was the Equation of Time known to the Vedic Seers?Ekendra Nath Ghosh 137–138Date of the MṛcchakaṭikāJ. C. Ghatak 138–141MatilakamT. K. Krishna Menon 142–143Sankisa as a Jaina TirthaKamta Prasad Jain 143–144PrasnottararatnamalikaVidhushekhara Bhattacharya 145–153Notes on DravidianL. V. Ramaswami Aiyar 153–154Fifth All‑India Oriental Conference, 1928U. N. Ghoshal 155–164ReviewsDinesh Chandra Bhattacharya, Batakrishna Ghosh 165–169Select Contents of Oriental Journals 170–171Obituary: Prof. Karl Friedrich GeldnerBatakrishna GhoshCurrent article 172–172Bibliographical Notes

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