Original Sanskrit Works of Modern Scholars from Karnataka State

I am extremely happy to place this informative wok at the holy hands of the admirers of Sanskrit and readers. With the kind directions of Prof. D. Prahlada Char, Former Vice chancellor, Rashtriya Sankrit Vidyapeetha, Tirupati, I have prepared this text, for the benefit of those associated with the study and teaching of Sanskrit outside Karnataka and foreign educationists of Sanskrit field. I hope this will shed new light on original Sanskrit writers of Karnataka State.

It is needless to say that Karnataka State is not only well-known for its pleasantly moderate climate and rich cultural heritage but it is also acclaimed for its unimaginable contribution to the field of Sanskrit. This state is shining like an ocean containing thousands of gems in its depth. Even though Sri Shankaracharya was born in Kerala, he established the prestigious Dakshinamnaya Peetha in Sringeri in Sringeri in Karnataka. Sri Ramanujacharya also extended his academic activities in holy Melukote of Karnataka. Sri Madhvacharya, the protector of Dvaita philosophy, was born in Karnataka and spread the Vedic values all over the country. Many Jain scholars like Kundkundacharya and Samanta Bhadra, and commentators of six philosophical systems, were born in Karnataka and are a great asset of Karnataka.

The Karnataka state has produced ingenious engineers like Sir M. Vishvedhvariah and scientists like C.V. Raman, Prof. C.N.R. Rao, Prof. Roddam Narasimhan,. Jananapeetha awardees like Kuvempu (K.V. Puttappa), D.R. Bendre, Shivarama Karanth, Masti Venkatesha Iyenger, U.R. Anantamurthy, Girish Karnad and Chandrashekhar Kambar who enriched the field of education. This state is not only well known for poets (scholars in literature) but has also produced hundreds of poet-philosophers like Madhwacharya, Vadirajatirtha, Sarvajna, Someshwara, Keladi Basavaraja, Sumatindratirtha and Satyakama.

In this volume we have recorded the data of only those who have made original Sanskrit contributions in Karnataka. Thousands of scholars are available here who have made significant contribution in English and Kannada about the Sanskrit literature. Contributors Pandits who have composed original Khanda-kavya/ Maha-kavya/ drama/ Champu/ Suprabhata/ Stotra or original commentary on philosophical work or independent contribution in the Shastric field, are included here. Most of the previous books in this line were only concentrated on scholars in literature. Here we have included philosophers and their contribution also. The material is compiled with sincere effort. I have spent more than six months discussing with Karnataka scholars and collected information with keen interest. Special care has been taken in its presentation. Despite these efforts a few scholar's data may have been missed or essential information left out owing to human errors. I request the readers and scholars to provide such information which will be of help when the next edition is planned.

I express my Pranamas to H.H. Sri Vishveshatirtha Swamiji of Sri Pejavara Matha, Udupi, fornder of this research centre and blessed our activities.

I express my sincere gratitude and offer my Pranamas to Prof. Radha Vallabh Tripathi for giving continues Mandiram. Under his valuable guidance, all institutions working under the scheme have shown progress in various aspects of Sanskrit education and literature. Prof. Tripathi has protected the scholars' rights and enhanced the status and prestige of scholars and institutions by his encouragement and loving guidance. Once again I express my gratitude for his continuous encouragement. I also record my gratitude to Prof. Subbarayudu, the Registrar of Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, for his cooperation and guidance in the field of publication.

Dr. M.K. Sridhar, Principal of National College, Bangalore, Dr. Janardana Hegde, Editor of Sanskrit Sambhashana-sandesha, Shatavadhani Dr. R. Ganesh, Dr. Krishnamurthy Nitilapura (Karanth) have all given me valuable reference books for the preparation of this valuable edition text. I never forget their kind in preparation of this informative book.

Kum. Sangeetha has made data entry with great interest and helped me in preparation of the text. I pray Lord Sri Krishna to bless her. Dr. P. Vinyacharya, HOD, Danskrit, Sheshadripuram College, Bangalore and Prof. H.V. Nagaraja Rao, Rshtrapati Awardee, Mysore, went through the manuscript and gave valuable suggestions in publication. I express my gratitude for to these two scholars. I am also thankful to Sri Subrahmanian, an Advaita scholar of Bangalore who helped me in proof reading given offered valuable suggestions. Lastly I express my sincere thanks to Vidwan Vyasaraj Joshi, Office Asst. Of Poornaprajna Samshodhana Mandiram, who has taken great pain in putting diacritical marks, layout, correction of proof etc. I pray Lord Sri Krishna to bless him for his honest dedicated service.

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