Sanskrit studies are generally confined only to Vedas, Itihasas, Puranas, Kavyas, Natakas, Alankarasastra, Vyakarana, Darsanas and the like. It is not well known that Sanskrit has also a vast literature on scientific and technological subjects like astronomy and mathematics, architecture and engineering, medicine, chemistry and botany, music and dance, law and politics. Of course, studies of medicine (Ayurveda) and astronomy and mathematics (jyotissastra and ganita) were included in the syllabi in ancient and medieval India. And now also the practice is continued. But they have not been in the main stream. The result is: Scientists are not aware of the presence of this abundant literature in Sanskrit, and the Sanskritists are not competent to study and impart it to the world of Scientists. So there should be a conscious effort on the part of both the Scientists and Sanskritists to sit together and explore all possibilities that this bulk of literature contains. This volume will inspire Sanskrit scholars as well as Scientists to take up combined projects and to make substantial contributions to the studies on Scientific Heritage of India.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR N.V.P. Unithiri
Dr. N.V.P. Unithiri is one of the few scholars who have been engaged in the deep study of various facets of Kerala Sanskrit literature for the past three decades. In fact, his efforts can be regarded as conplementary to the work of the pioneers in that he focuses his attention on many fresh areas left untreated or inadequately treated. The present work, which is a collection of eighteen research papers, deals with many fascinating aspects of the Sanskrit heritage of Kerala. Sanskrit has been a medium of creative expression of some remarkably brilliant poets; it was also a language of Kerala?s philosophical thought. We have, again, turn to Sanskrit to decipher Sanskrit sources like inscriptions and Mahakavyas to find out the missing links in Kerala history. Last, but not the lest, our scientific heritage can be unearthed only when we can decode Sanskrit source books on Astronomy, Mathematics, Architecture and Medicine. In short, it can be stated without any exaggeration that the role of Sanskrit in molding the culture and lifestyles of Kerala has been versatile. Dr. Unithiri spares no pains in unearthing this vast output through his meticulously written papers, which are commendable for the rich insights they yield.
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