The great development of the study of sanskrit, during the later half of the 19th century has necessitated a Reverse Dictionary for all those scholars who devoted themselves to the social, religious and intellectual study of India and Indians. Realising this the author set to work upon planning this dictionary (1843-51) basing primarily on Amarkosa, Riddle`s English Latin Dictionary, Prof. Wilson`s sanskrit English Dictionary, the Marathi Dictionary of Captain Molesworth in addition to the code of manu works of Kalidasa, Ramayana and Mahabharata, with the collaboration of other scholars. The main object of compiling this lexicon is to offer an effectual help to the student in practising translation into the best Sanskrit for modern expressions and idioms, with their several equivalents, and with different shades of meaning. He has rightly endeavoured to include as many terms of religion, literature,mythology, sciences, etc. as would lead to a correct knowledge of oriental customs, habits of thought, religious tenets and ceremonial observances, which ultimately enhances a reciprocal sympathy between the East and West.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR M Monier-Williams
Sir M. Monier Williams, the Sanskrit Lexicographer and Indologist of international repute was born at Bombay in 1819. He was LL.D. of Calcutta, a D.C.L. of Oxford and Ph.D. of Gottingen. He was a pupil of the illustrious Prof. H.H.Wilson and was awarded the Boden Scholarship in 1843. In 1844 he was appointed the professor of Sanskrit, Bengali and Telugu at the East India Company's College at Haileybury, was elected the Boden Professor of Sanskrit at Oxford, in 1860, a post which he held till his death in 1899. During his tenure, he was able to set up the Indian Institute at Oxford in 1896 and also undertook three journeys to India in 1875, 1876 and 1883. His collection of Oriental Mss. and books numbering about 3000 was presented by him to the Institute. He died at Cannes in April 1899. Among the prominent Sanskrit texts and works edited and written by him are Kalidasa's Vikramorvasi, Sakuntala and The Story of Nala. Besides his famous Sanskrit-English Dictionary, English Sanskrit Grammar, A Sanskrit Manual, Indian Epic Poetry, An Easy Introduction to the Study of Hindustani, Practical Hindustani Grammar, Oriental Papers Illustrating the History of the Application of the Roman Alphabet to the Languages of India, The Study of Sanskrit in Relation to Missionary work in India, Indian Wisdom, Hinduism, Modern India and the Indians and Buddhism are some of his important publications.
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