The present Publication, the Gajasastram of Palakapya Muni, along with a Sanskrit commentary, named Bhavasandarsini by Anantakrsnabhattaraka as well as the English translation and 136 Illustrations, is a very rare and important work, which is still unpublished. The main contribution of the Book is the Sanskrit Commentary which is still in the form of a Ms. and its English translation-cum-paraphrase, possibly by the Scribe himself, viz. V. Vijayaraghavacharya. There are in all 19 chapters in this work and they contain information about: The origin of Palakapya; the Curses to the elephants; the forests in which elephants were found, the different peculiarities of elephants belonging to various geographical areas; the description of the elephants since their birth, through the different stages in their life, the major qualities of Elephants etc. etc. In short, it may be said without any kind of exaggeration that this is a very important work or almost an Encyclopaedia on Elephants, because, everything about Elephants, except their diseases and the treatment thereof, is described here with graphic accompanying sketches or illustrations, drawn by the scribe under the able guidance of the Enlightened King. H.H. Shrimant Bhavanrao Shrinivasrao alias Balasaheb Pant Pratinidhi, the Rajasaheb of the State of Aundh in Maharashtra.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Siddharth Yeshwant Wakankar
Dr. Siddharth Y. Wakankar (b. 1947) had his education in Mumbai. He was Awarded the Shridhar Ramakrishna Bandarkar Prize for Proficiency in Sanskrit Grammar at M.A. (1969) of the Bombay University. He taught Sanskrit, Ardhamagadhi and Ancient Indian History and Cuture in Colleges affiliated to the Bombay and Poona Universities. He taught Middle Indo-Aryan Languages and Linguistics at the Post Graduate level in the M.S. University of Baroda (1982-84). His English translation (1971) of the Allegorical Apabhramsa work, viz. Mayanaparajayacariu of Harideva has brought him credit and was admired by the students/teachers and researchers as well. He has nearly 80 Research papers and 3 books to his credit and is at present working on 5 rare works which are still in the form of Manuscripts. He was the President of the Section on “Technical Sciences and Fine Arts†at the 40th Session of the AIOC at Chennai, May, 2000 and also has been elected President of the Section on “Manuscriptology†(Puri, 2002)-a field in which he has been working since 1977. He has not only earned national recognition by delivering lectures in may Universities, Research Institutes, Museums, Libraries, Colleges etc. but, has been lucky to be the only one scholar from Baroda who is honoured with the Ramkrishna Sanskrit International Award for 2001, given by the Canadian World Education Foundation, Canada-in recognition of his Distinguished and Outstanding Contributions to Sanskrit Research and Teaching. He has widely traveled in India and Germany to deliver lectures. He was also invited to deliver Lectures/present papers in 5 International/Conferences. At present, he is the Deputy Director in the world famous Oriental Institute, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR V.B. Mhaiskar
Vaidyaraja Prof. B.V. Mhaiskar (b. 1929) topped the list of successful candidates at the Ayurveda Visarada (D.A.S.F.) Examination in 1952. He secured in 1958 the Ayurvidya Parangata (A.V.P.) Post-graduate Degree of the Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeetha, Pune, with a specialization in the subject of Kayacikitsa. Winner of the Captain Shrinivas Murthy Scietitst Memorial Award and silver Medal. Worked in different capacities. Teaching as well as Administrative posts-since 1952 till his retirement in 1987, as the Principal of the Govt. Ayurvedic College, Baroda. A Recognised Ph.D. Guide and actively engaged in research Published nearly two hundred papers and three books. Examiner in a number of Universities. Recipient of the “Lifetime Achievement Award†of the Rashtriya Shikshan Mandal, Pune (in 2002), for his distinguished services to Ayurveda-Research as well as Teaching. He is the National Professor (Acarya or Guru) of the National Academy of Ayurveda, New Delhi, in the Astangahrdayasamhita, since 1998 and is regularly invited as a Visiting Professor in different Universities Institutions in India and abroad. At present, a consulting Ayurvedic practitioner in Baroda and actively engaged in research.
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