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it may even be earlier. Nakamura presents various comparisons, Democritus and the Jain (p. 145) in the context of the ‘atom’ (anu/ Meister Eckhart and Sańkara, about the Absolute (p.444) and Zen Buddhism (p.417), the conflict between MahaySna and HTnayftna on the one hand and Judeo-Christian and the later Christian dogmas on the other (p.371 ff) and similar tendencies in Islam (p.38 ff). The whole effort is illuminating. However, one feels, independent judgemenl has been waiting in the wings in important cases.

Sadashiv A. Dange

VEDALAK$ANA - VEDIC ANCILLARY LITERATURĘ, PARAMESWAR AITHAL, published by Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, 1993. (First published by the South Asia Institute of Heidelberg University, Stuttgart, 1991),

pp. vi+755, Rs. 750/-

This is a descriptive bibliography of the Vcdalaksana works. ⁴Vedalaksana ' is the namc for a elass of the Vcdic traditional literaturę, which is mostly prescrved in orał tradition in South India. Most of these works are available in manuscript form only. Hcnce scholars have taken very little interest in them. Only a few scholars have published stray articles on topics from this literaturę. In the books on History of Sanskrit Literaturę, these texts are just referred to in passing. Compilers of descriptive catalogues of Sanskrit manuscripts have not shown much interest in them. Excepting a few scholars like Prof. Renou and Prof. K.V. Abhyankar, modern scholars also have not shown interest in this elass of literaturę. Though some of these texts have been published sińce the 19lh century they have gone mostly unheeded and there is oflen a confusion regarding the aulhorship, titles and extent of these texts. Dr. Aithal has prepared this bibliography taking care to avoid all such confusion.

During the Vedic rituals the orał tradition alone is accepted as authoritative. Therefore the Vcdalaksana literaturę uses some peculiar melhods and devices for preservation of the traditional leaching of the recitation of these texts. Il is well-known that the indigenous tradition of the Vedic recitation is becoming extinct. Hcnce for a proper study of the Vcdic recitation, the Vadalaksana works are indispensable. They are also important for understanding the various methods and dcvices used in the traditional teaching. Efforts must be madę to preserve this literaturę. Dr. Aithal has rendered a very valuable service to this literaturę by publishing this exhaustive and comprehensive bibliography. He has taken immense troublc for preparing it. The bibliography covering 653 pages gives dctails of morę than 1600 titles. He has collected information about these works by visiling nearly 35 libraries ,in India and abroad. He has also gathered materiał from private libraries in possession of different individuals and dilTerent rcligious centres. He has not missed even different