3 Review(s)

The correct interpretation of the Vedas has posed a problem to both ancient and modern scholars. The Vedic scholars of ancient India put ritualistic, mythological, mystical and natural interpretations on these holy scriptures, while the modern scholars critical approaching the subject from a literary point of view subject them to linguistic, historical and cultural interpretations. The present volume puts the age-old problem of interpreting the Vedas in its proper perspective. It analyses the factors mainly responsible for divergent interpretations, traces the origin and development of various ancient Indian systems of Vedic Interpretation, gives a detailed account of the Vedic commentaries written by ancient and mediaeval Bhasyakaras, and highlights their salient features. Besides, it contains a history of Vedic studies in modern times, discusses current trends and tendencies in the realm of Vedic interpretation, and sums up the results of outstanding contributions made to Vedic studies during the last two hundred years. The present book makes a comparative assessment of the ancient Indian Veda-Bhasyas and modern exegetical studies in respect of their merits and demerits. In the light of a thorough and dispassionate analysis of the Vedic interpretations attempted hitherto, the learned author has for mulated fourteen cardinal principles for an objective, scientific and systematic interpretation of the Vedas.