Overview for Asvalayana-Samhita of the Rgveda, with Padapatha, Detailed Introduction and Two Indices (In 2 Volumes)
Among the twenty-one Sakha-Samhitas of the Rgveda, as mentioned by Patanjali, only seven Samhitas were known by name and among these too, only one Sakala-Samhita was available in printed form so far. Now with the publication of the present edition of the Asvalayana-Samhita a complete picture of a new Sakha-Samhita will come to force for the first time. In comparison to the Sakala-Samhita, the Asvalayana-Samhita has 212 additional mantras among which some occur in the common suktas and others form 16 additional complete suktas. Among these additional suktas special mention may be made of Kapinjala-sukta (II. 44), Laksmi-Sukta (V. 88-89), Pavamana-Sukta (IX. 68), Hiranya-sukta (X. 130), Medha-sukta (X. 155) and Manasa-sukta (X. 171). The book in two volumes presents the full text of the Asvalayana Samhita of the Rgveda with padapatha, marked with proper accent marks. The additional mantras of the Asvalayana Samhita followed by their translation in English and Hindi are also provided at the end of the Samhita text. In a detailed introduction of the text the learned editor has examined theexistence of Sakha-Samhitas of the Rgveda as mentioned by the Puranas, Patanjali, Mahidasa and other authorities, scrutinizing textual evidence in support of them. The focus is, however, on the Asvalayana-Samhita, with a background on Acarya Asvalayana and exploring the antiquity, treatment of accent and padapatha of the text by referring to various sources.
B.B. Chaubey (Editor)
Professor B.B. Chaubey, recipient of Certificates of Honour from the President of India, is an eminent Sanskritist and an authority on Vedic language, literature and culture. He was Professor-Director of Vishveshvaranand Vishva Bandhu Institute of Sanskrit and Indological Studies, Panjab University, Hoshiarpur. He has been elected several times as the Sectional President of the All India Oriental Conference for Vedic Section; Religion and Philosophical Section; South-East Asian Studies; Technical Sciences and Fine Arts; and the Manuscriptology Sections (twice). Professor Chaubey has received several state and national level honours and awards including the Himotkarsh Parishad's 'National Integration Award' in 2000 and the 'President's Award' in 2004. He has also been honoured with 'Sastra-Vidvanmani-Sammana' by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams and 'Siromani Sanskrit Sahityakara Puruskara' by the Language Department of the Government of Punjab. Recently he has been conferred the title of 'Professor Emeritus' by the Panjab University. He has edited and authored more than 30 books related to Vedic literature which include critical editions of the Bhasikasutra with the commentary of Mahasvamin and Anantabhatta; Asvalayana Srautasutra with the commentary of Devatrata; Vadhula-Srautasutra; Vadhula Anvakhyana; Vadhulagrhyagamavrtti-rahasyam of Narayana Misra; and many other texts belonging to the Vadhula tradition for the first time.
Bagchee
