Sanskrit Astronomical Instruments In The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

Under the auspices of The Late U.P. Shah Memorial Lecture Series, the Oriental Institute organizes lectures of eminent Scholars of Indology. Under this Series, Prof. Dr. S. R. Sarma, Ex-Professor, Department of Sanskrit, Aligarh Muslim University, presently residing at Germany, delivered two lectures on 1. Indian Astronomical Instruments, 2. Thakkura Pheru and his Scientific Writings on 16th and 17th October 2008. The venue for the Lectures was the Senate Hall of the M.S. University of Baroda. It was a grand function, presided over by Dr. Ramesh Goyal, the Vice-Chancellor, M. S. University of Baroda and Shri Suresh Oak, Ex Vice-President, Torrent Cables Pvt. Ltd. was the Guest of Honour. On the Second Day, the Lecture was presided over by Prof. S. M. Joshi, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, M.S. University and Guest of Honour of the Function was Dr. Anil Kane, Ex-Vice-Chancellor, M. S. University. The Lectures were attended by Scholars, Teachers, Students, Invited guests etc., assembled in large number in the hall. The book-1. Krtyakalpataru of Lakshmi dhara Santi Kanda (edited by Prof. M. L. Wadekar), 2. An Alphabetical List of Manuscripts in the Oriental Institute, Baroda Vol. IV (compiled and edited by Dr. Usha Brahmachari and Dr. Sweta Prajapati) and 3. Reprint of Ayodhyakanda of the Valmiki Ramayana (Critical Edition) were released on this occasion. The lectures were very interesting and enlightening on the Scientific literature of India. Prof. Sarma had made a minute and scientific study of the several Astronomical Instruments of the Oriental Institute and those of the Baroda Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya. As this was a new subject and the deep study of these Astronomical instruments was a desideratum. We suggested Prof. Sarma to write a booklet on the said topic, which would be published by our Institute.

Prof. Sarma has made a very meticulous study of the Instruments in Baroda, which is presented in this monograph. Prof. Dr. S.R. Sarma was born in 1937 at Ulichi, Andhra Pradesh. He is M.A. of Vishva Bharati, Shantiniketan (1959) and Dr. Phil. from Germany in 1966. He made a gradual progress from Research Officer to Lecturer, Reader, and finally rose to the position of Professor and Chairman, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. He was a Visiting Professor at many foreign Universities like Harward, Brown, British Columbia, Paris, Kyoto, Germany, Philipps etc. More than 13 books - most of them dealing with Astronomical Instruments and History of Science, are written by him. He has contributed more than 75 Research papers to several Indian and Foreign Journals. His exposition about the Astronomical instruments in Baroda, was first published as a part of the Journal of Oriental Institute, Vol. 58, No.1-2 and now it is presented in the form of this small booklet as the M.S. University Oriental Series No.24. We are confident that like all our previous books in this Series, it will be well-received by Scholars and Students. We thank the University Authorities for sanctioning the required grant for the same. We are also thankful to Shri P.N. Srivastava, the Manager, The M.S. University Press and his co-operative staff for neat and quick composing and printing. We are thankful to Dr. Sharmila Bagchi, Temp. Research Officer, for going through the proofs carefully.

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