A History of Indian Literature (In 3 Volumes)

VOLUME-I Nearly seventy-five years ago Moriz Winternitz, the famous Austrian Scholar and Professor of Indology and Ethnology at the German University of Prague (Czechoslovakia) wrote the first volume of his History of Indian Literature in German. This was followed by the second and third volumes after a few years. About two decades after the publication of the first volume, the author revised it and this revised version was translated into English by Mrs. Ketkar. This English translation is based on the original German work and has been revised in the light of further researches on the subject by different scholars in India and elsewhere. The present work, volume I, presents introduction, Veda, Epics, Puranas and Tantras; Volume II includes Buddhist as well as Jaina literature; and Volume III covers the history of classical Sanskrit literature and scientific Indian literature and scientific Indian literature with its characteristics, Grammar, Lexicography, Philosophy, Dharmasastra, Architecture, Sangita-sastra, Kama-sastra, Ayurveda, Astronomy, astrology and Mathematics and also has an appendix. VOLUME-II This part of the monumental work entitled A History of Indian Literature by the famous Austrian Indologist Maurice Winteritz comprises Buddhist and Jaina literature. Translated into English from the original German by V Srinivasa Sarma. VOLUME-III The present work is an English translation of the two parts of Volume III of M Winternitz’s well-known History of Indian Literature from the original German. Part I covers the history of Classical Sanskrit Literature comprising ornate poetry, dramatic poetry, narrative literature and Champus, Part II covers the characteristics of the Scientific Literature, Grammar, Lexicography, Philosophy, Dharmasastra, Arthasastra (Nitisastra), Architecture, Sangitasastra, Kamasatra (Erotics), Ayurveda, Astronomy, Astrology and Mathematics. This part also contains a useful Appendix surveying briefly the modern Indian literature in Tamil, Panjabi, Hindi Marathi and Bengali. The work is meant alike for the beginners and the advanced students of Sanskrit literature. It helps the reader to make himself aware of what is and what is not of lasting importance and what standard should be applied to distinguish between more valuable and less valuable work. The author has tried to provide the reader with a clear and lucid representation of every type of Sanskrit literature and to introduce him to the pulsating heart of the spiritual creations of India. He gives solid grounds on which further researches may be carried on.