3 Review(s)

About The Book: This book explores The Hindu Law of Inheritance as detailed in the Saraswati-Vilasa, a comprehensive work encompassing Hindu religious, moral, and civil law. While known to European scholars of Hindu literature and English administrators of Hindu Law, its significance has long merited translation due to its standing alongside revered legal compendiums. It holds particular authority in Madras' territories, notably the Saraswati-Vilasa, which served as the standard legal reference during Prataparudra Deva's reign. In Southern India, Vijnyaneswara's Commentary prevails, but the Saraswati-Vilasa remains vital for understanding Hindu law and customs, acknowledged by authorities like Sir Thomas Strange and Sir Charles Grey. About The Author: Prataparudra Deva, the third Gajapati emperor of Odisha from the Suryavamsa Gajapati Empire, ruled from 1497 to 1540 A.D. A devoted Vaishnava, he followed the teachings of Sri Chaitanya. His reign was marked by constant military campaigns to defend his territory against invasions from Vijayanagar, Hussain Shahi dynasty of Bengal, and Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda, resulting in significant territorial losses and the decline of Odisha's imperial status. About the Translator: Thomas Foulkes (1826–1901) was a British priest and Indologist who worked in India. He initially served as a missionary in Tinnevelly, Madras, and Tamil Cooly mission in Ceylon. Later, he became a senior chaplain in Madras and London, also serving in various other locations. Foulkes was a fellow of Madras University and contributed to the fields of history, Sanskrit, and Tamil. He translated texts from Tamil and Sanskrit, and his publications included works on Vedantic philosophy, Shaiva religion, and the legends of Harihara. Foulkes also wrote articles on historical and epigraphical topics and edited Kalidasa's works. The Title 'The Hindu Law of Inheritance, According to the Sarasvati-Vilasa written/authored/edited by Prataparudra Deva, Translator: