Select Contents of Oriental Journals

Summary

This section summarises noteworthy articles from contemporary oriental journals to inform readers about ongoing research across disciplines. A paper from the Journal of the Oriental Institute of Baroda examines the syntax of tenses in the Rāmāyaṇa, analysing how verb forms convey temporal relations in the epic. Another article investigates the origins of Jain practices, drawing on literary and archaeological evidence to argue that elements such as Śramaṇa monasticism, yoga and ritual nudity predate the Vedas. M. Govind Pai contributes an essay on the date of the Buddha’s parinirvāṇa; after reviewing Aśoka’s Minor Rock Edict and Burmese sources, he concludes that the Buddha passed away between 504 and 496 BCE, possibly on 15 April 501 BCE. P. C. Divanji surveys the Karmayoga tradition, tracing the doctrine’s origin and transmission among Kṣatriyas, with corroboration from Purāṇic and Vedic literature, and suggesting that Kṣatriya princesses later sought instruction from Brāhmaṇa sages. J. T. Parikh writes on the orthodox tradition regarding the origin of Sanskrit drama, retelling the Nāṭyaśāstra story of how Brahmā created the drama at the gods’ request, with dialogues, songs, acting and dance, and how the first performances were the Amṛtamanthana and Tripuradāha. Further contents include J. T. Pandya’s discussion of Kālidāsa’s indebtedness to Vālmīki, arguing that the great poet drew extensively on the Rāmāyaṇa, and C. S. Srinivasa Aiyangar’s exploration of Pāṇini and Kātyāyana. There are notes on rare inscriptions, linguistic studies of Prakrits, historical analyses of ancient Persian influence and numerous other topics. By providing capsule summaries, the section alerts scholars to developments in philology, epigraphy, philosophy and history published in journals such as the Journal of the University of Bombay, the Journal of the Asiatic Society and the Journal of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute. It serves as a bridge for researchers who may not have immediate access to these periodicals.