Studies in the Epics and Puranas c5.1

c5.1

The present book owes its origin and publication to the kind interest shown in my work by H. E. Dr. K. M. Munshi, who not only gave me constant encouragement and suggested the publication of my articles in book-form, but was actually responsible for the idea worked out in Chapter IV — the identity of Kuruśravaṇa and Kuru — which his creative imagination had foreseen. This volume is a collection of different papers which are intended to serve as an introduction to the study of the epics and Purāṇas. The papers appeared in different journals and books and I have taken this opportunity of revising them. The last paper on "Epic and Purāṇic Studies", which originally covered the period up to 1942, has been brought up-to-date. I have specially prepared an introduction for this volume dealing with the Mahābhārata, the Rāmāyaṇa, and the Purāṇas, which is expected to be of use to readers.