रूपमण्डन एवं देवमूर्त्ति-प्रकरणम् (मण्डन सूत्रधार - प्राचीन मूर्तिकला एवं देव-प्रतिमा लक्षण सटीक)

CHAPTER IV THE PRESENT EDITION The preparation of critical Editions of the Sanskrit Texts on Śilpa (or, Tantra) is beset with many difficulties some of which are of a very serious character. The language is, on the one hand, obscure and full of techni- calities ; extraneous aids—in the shapes of explanatory comments and notes which are fortunately so abundant in the cases of other branches of Indian Literature are sadly wanting in the cases of the Śilpa (and the Tāntrik) Texts. On the other hand, the Manuscripts of these branches of Sanskrit, are mostly corrupt or in mutilated state, due, not only to the loss of art traditions but also among other reasons, to the indifference of the hereditary craftsmen and artists themselves to the literary works on the subject. There, however, prevails an unfortunate and regrettable attitude of mind which looks down upon these hereditary craftsmen and artists who have carried on with love and veneration even when there were no encouragements, the sacred duty of keeping up for generations, the flames of Indian artistic tradition alive. The Brāhmaṇic theologians have cast down the artists and the craftsmen⁸⁸. The Nītiśāstra-kāras have enumerated

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88. Compare Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇam, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Adh. 10, Jātimālā. (From a MS., collected by the late Prof. Satishchandra Mitra), for the Daulatpur Hindu Academy, “জাতিমালা।” (?) অর্থাৎ পদ্মপুরাণ ও বহুবিধ পুরাণ শাস্ত্র হইতে সংগৃহীত। শ্রীমহেশ্চন্দ্র ( sic ! ) বিদ্যারত্ন কর্তৃক অনুবাদিত। হরিহর যন্ত্র। চিৎপুর রোড, বটতলা। সন ১২৭৪ সাল,৩২ আষাঢ়। Reprinted. বেঙ্গল রায় প্রেস। সন ১৩৩০ সাল। “জাতিকৌমুদী ও জাতিসঙ্কর।” শ্রীবেণীমাধব ন্যায়রত্ন কর্তৃক সঙ্কলিত। কুমুদবন্ধু যন্ত্র। সন ১২৯৩ সাল, ফাল্গুন।