Select Contents of Oriental Journals

Summary

Select Contents of Oriental Journals summarises articles from several scholarly periodicals. It begins with Kalpalata Munshi’s study of the Maḥiṣas and Maḥiṣakas, tribes mentioned in the Purāṇas as buffalo‑worshipping peoples who migrated from northern Sindh to the Vindhya and beyond. A.P. Karmarkar’s piece on Purāṇic culture and tradition examines how religious narratives reflect social conditions and educational practices. Dines Chandra Sircar’s contribution on sectarian differences among early Vaiṣṇavas analyses inscriptions that refer to the worship of different aspects of Viṣṇu, suggesting diversity within early Vaiṣṇavism. Mahendrakumar Vaishakhiya’s article discusses the depiction of Kṛṣṇa in the Jaina canon, noting how Jain texts adopt and modify popular Hindu stories, often elevating Nemi over Kṛṣṇa. Another note by A.P. Karmarkar studies the Paṇis—a merchant tribe mentioned in the Ṛgveda—portraying them as enterprising cattle raiders. Finally, P.K. Gode’s article explores the use of glass (kāca) in ancient Indian pharmacy, tracing references in Sanskrit medical treatises and highlighting its applications in drug preparation. Each summary encapsulates the main argument and significance of the original paper, providing readers with an overview of current research trends in Indology, archaeology, philology and social history. Together, they demonstrate the breadth of scholarship appearing across Oriental journals and encourage readers to consult the full articles for details.