लघुप्रबन्धसङ्ग्रहः Laghu-Prabandha-Sangraha (An Old & Rare Book)

Mr. J. P. Thaker collaborated with me in the preparation of the Lexico graphical Studies in Jaina Sanskrit' which was serially published in the Journal of the Oriental Institute (VIII. 2; IX. 3-4; X; XI and XII. 1) and then was brought out in a book-form in 1962 as M. S. University Oriental Series, no. 5. It dealt with three most well- known Prabandha-texts, viz. the Prabandha-cintamani of Merutungasuri (1305 A.D.), the Prabandha-kosa of Rajasekharasuri (1349 A.D.) and the Puratana-prabandha-sangraha. It is a matter of gratification that Mr. Thaker has continued his researches in this particular branch of Sanskrit literature and prepared a critical edition and a comprehensive study-lexicographical, historical and cultural-of an unpublished Prabandha-text which is probably the oldest so far as our present knowledge goes. The Laghu-prabandha-sangraha is a valuable addition to the corpus of Prabandha-texts published so far, and I trust that it will be useful in a variety of ways to the researchers of mediaeval Sanskrit literature and especially of its peculiar idiom known among scholars as Jaina Sanskrit' and also to the students of mediaeval Indian History and Culture.

The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda has started a series of publications called M. S. University of Baroda Research Series'. In this series will be published selected research-works of high quality of the teachers, and the theses of the research students of this University. The research-work 'The Laghu-prabandha-sangraha' by Shri J. P. Thaker, Research Officer, Oriental Institute, Baroda is published in this Series. We acknowledge with thanks the financial help received from the University Grants Commission, New Delhi which gave us a grant of half the cost of this publication.

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