It is hardly possible to overestimate the value of scientific indexing, especially of works which are considered as forming the basic literature for the cultural study of a nation. From this point of view the Epics and the Puranas occupy the foremost position. Much has been done of late in this direction-trough more still remains-for the Mahabharata by such eminent scholars as Hopkins and Sorensen, but the Ramayana seems to have received but scant attention. The labours of Weber, Jacobi and others in connection with the Ramayana, like those of Holtzmann, Dahlmann, etc., for the sister Epic, are indeed laudable, but they cannot render a thorough Indexing (descriptive, nominal and topical) of these works unnecessary. In the present work the writer has given a descriptive account of all the proper names that occur in the Epic and in the "Topical Index", which is to follow as a separate work very soon, an attempt has been made to sum up, under specific heads, the entire contents of the Text. It is expected that this will greatly facilitate a closer study of the Ramayana.
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