The Vajapeya of The Katha Sakha (An Introduction, The Text Index of Mantras and English Translation)

The Vaidika Samshodhana Mandala (Adarsh Sanskrit Shodha Samstha), Pune feels proud in bringing our this fourth work related to the Katha Sakha. Three out of these four are solely contributed by Prof. Dr. P.D. Navathe (Retired from Department of Sanskrit and Prakrit, Savitribai Phule University of Pune,). The others are the Katharanyakam (With text in Devanagari, Introduction and Translation) by Dr. Mrs. Bhagyalata A. Pataskar, The full moon and New- moon Sacrifices of the Katha Sakha (With an Introduction, the Text, Expiatory rites, Appendices, Index of Mantras and English Translation) Edited by Prof. Dr. P. D. Navathe and the Agnyadheya of the Katha Sakha (with an Introduction, the Text, Appendices, Index of Mantras and English Translation) Edited by Prof. Dr. P. D. navathe.

The Katha Sakha of the Krsna Yajurveda is so rare that it is neither practiced orally nor is it practiced in rituals. Even the katha Samhita has no commentary, no padapatha or separate complete brahmana. (p) In this situation the present work "The Vajapeya of the Katha sakha With An Introduction, the Text, index of Mantras and English Translation Edition by Dr. P. D. Navathe would pave a path for the further studies of the katha sakha. Prof. P.D. Navathe is renowned scholar of Veda and Srauta, which we find reflected in his exhaustive introduction to the work. He has divided the text into small parts and subparts. He has also added the lucid English translation to it which is arranged into parts and subparts corresponding to the text. The foot notes to the text and translation and the mantra index appended to the text enhanced the research value of the work.

We are very much sure that this work will receive a warm welcome from scholars. Researchers and students of Vedas in general and srauta in particular.

We sincerely thank Prof. Dr. P. D. Navathe for giving us this opportunity for publishing this work.

We sincerely express our deep sence of gratitude towards the authorities of the rashtriya samskrit samsthan, New Delhi for substantially funding the entire scheme of Adarsha Sanskrit shodha samstha, under which this work is being published.

We are grateful to Ms. Aditi Pandit for prompt and perfect typesetting. Our sincere thanks are also due to Ms. Vaijanti Dhole Patil and Surekha Wagle of Step in Services, Pune for Speedy Printing.

This is the third of my 'Kathaka' studies which is now being taken up for publication by the Vaidika Samodhana Mandala. I have the pleasure of recording my sincere gratefulness to the considerate authorities of the Mandala for the constant interest they have taken in my work.