In this collection of letters, one finds the author labouring hard on the chronology and religious set up of the Hindu Society right from the Vedic times. The main aim of the author is explicitly defined as to provide the much needed background of Hindu culture and ethos to the Church Missionaries and Administrators of the East India Company who were not acquainted themselves with the Indian Heritage. He rightly says that the aim of these letters is to remove the prejudices and suspicions of the Europeans on the great antiquity of the culture and Hindu religion. Vol. I of the work consists of four letters. There is a detailed account on the epic and Puranic heroes and the connected mythology. There is also a comparative analysis of Hindu and Egyptian (Hebrew) and Chinese mythologies. The origins of human ages, the Hindu Kalpas, Manvantaras and Yugas are extensively dealt with the Second Vol. begins with letter V. It has interesting accounts on the origin and manifestations of Prac Gods from Hindu as well as West Asian mythologies.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR I K Sarma
Dr. I.K. Sarma, M.A., Ph.D., P.G. Diploma in Archaeology from the Institute of Archaeology (b. 15th October 1937) has served in the Archaeological Survey of India since January, 1958. He is a native of Pallipadu village, Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh (Pin 524 314). He retired in October, 1995 after a distinguished service as Director (Archaeology) in the Archaeological Survey of India holding charge of Museums, Monuments, Antiquity Sections, Conservation and Temple Survey Projects. Subseqently he served as Director, Salar Jung participated in many Archaeological Excavations (Nagarjunakonda, Kalibangan, Surkotda and Pauni), and directed the excavations at the famous historical sites of Amaraavati, Gudimallam, Guntupalli and Peddavegi (the ancient Vengipura). He has also organized various Site Museums in India. Dr. Sarma is member and Office-bearer in several learned bodies and participated in various National and International Conferences, visited China, Japan, Thailand, Rome, London, Norway (Stavenger) and Nepal etc., as an official delegate. He has contributed over 250 Research Papers on various aspects of Archaeology in reputed National and International Journals. He presided over the VIth Session of the A.P., History Congress (1982); Vth Annual Session of the Tamilnadu Numismatic Society (1990); 79rh Session of the Numismatic Society of India (1991); XIXth Session of the Place Names Society of India (1998); and XXIIIrd Session of the A.P. History Congress (January 1999). He was also the President of the South Indian Numismatic Society. (1996-2001) Dr. Sarma has to his credit several published works. More important being, Coinage of the Satavahana Empire (1980); The Development of Early Satva Art and Architecture (1982); Buddhist Monuments of China and South East India (1985); Religion in Art and Historical Archaeology and South India (1987); Studies in Early Buddhist Monuments and Brahmi Inscriptions of Andhradesa (1988); South Coinage (A Review of Recente Discoveries) (1992); Temples of the Gangas of Karnataka (1992); Early Brahmi Inscriptions from Sannati (1993) Parasurmesvara Temple at Gudimallam – A probe into its origins (Nagpur, 1994); Numismatic Researches, (Critical Studies from Excavated contexts, (New Delhi, 2000); Roots of Indian Civilizations (New Delhi, 2000); and Science of Archaeology in India, (New Delhi 2001). Dr. Sarma has edited several Felicitaation and Commemmoration Volumes. He is presently residing in Hyderabad.
There are no reviews yet.