2013 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
An Early and Unpublished Text on Sun-worship
| Project/Area Number |
25370057
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Research Institution | Kyoto University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
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| Keywords | Tantricism / Manuscriptology / Sun worship / philology |
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| Research Abstract |
In the last academic year, I finalized a critical edition of the first four chapters of the Saurasamhita as I had proposed in my original application.
Actually, I have at hand a preliminary edition of the entire text of the Saurasamhita prepared on the basis of the oldest palm-leaf manuscript alone. I started to work on the project with this preliminary edition. First I collated the first four chapters of this preliminary edition against all other four manuscripts, which are actually transcripts of the oldest palm-leaf manuscript of the text. For the collation work, I used digital images and finalized a critical edition of this part of the text.
In the first-half of August 2013 I visited Prof. Sthaneshwar Timalsina at University of California, San Diego, and received his help in interpretation of some significant portions of the text in the first chapter of the text, the portion I had by that time edited critically.
In March 2014 I visited National Archives, Kathmandu, and checked the 10th century palm-leaf manuscript of the Saurasamhita to be clear on certain points. From National Archives I also acquired microfilm copies and an official permission for the publication of two Pancaratra manuscripts on which I worked during 2011-2012; for this I had received JSPS support. I needed such a permission to include manuscript images in my edition of three Vaisnava texts to be published this year in “Collection Indologie” from French Institute/EFEO, Pondicherry. In the same period I spent a couple of days in Benares and talked to people about the tradition of sun worship.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
I am fully satisfied with my progress in the research project. I was able to prepare a critical edition of the first four chapters of the text as planned. As I was able to collect digital images of the manuscript in the past, I could begin my work in time. Help from my colleagues and international friends, too, was instrumental. I also was fortunate that the staff at National Archives of Nepal were co-operative. Thus, I was able to work on my project smoothly and I am hopeful that it will be so in the next year also.
I am also happy that my edition of three Vaisnava texts, which is a result of my previous JSPS research project (23820023) conducted between 2011-2012, has been accepted for publication this year in “Collection Indologie” published by the French Institute/EFEO, Pondicherry. I managed to revise that edition following the suggestions of two reviewers. This will open path for the publication of the result of this project in the same series in future. Therefore, I think, my progress in the research work is very much satisfactory.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In the current academic year I will focus on finalizing the next four chapters of my critical edition of the Saurasamhita. Like the last year I will collate the other four manuscripts against my preliminary edition prepared from the oldest palm-leaf manuscript. Likewise, I will visit National Archives, Kathmandu, to read problematic portions of the text directly from the manuscript. If possible, I will take colour photos of the oldest palm-leaf manuscript of my text preserved there. While in Kathmandu I will also visit some other manuscript libraries and museums. I also plan to visit the Central Library of M.S. University, Baroda, India, to check one of the manuscripts of my text. I will utilize this opportunity to visit some places of sun-worship in the adjacent area.
This year I will begin working on the history of Sun-worship in India which will be part of the introduction to my edition of the text.
I will definitely go to Academy of Sciences, Vienna, this year to take part in the annual meeting of the contributors to a dictionary of technical terms from Hindu Tantric literature. I had not managed to do so the last year. This is necessary also to consult my collaborator friend, Prof. Dominic Goodall of EFEO, Paris. I had originally planned to discuss my research matters with Prof. Goodall during his stay in Kyoto as visiting professor. But unfortunately, he was forced to cancel his trip because of a medical emergency. Therefore, I will spend a few days discussing my matters with him either in Paris, or in Vienna in the venue of our meetings for the dictionary project.
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| Expenditure Plans for the Next FY Research Funding |
A book I planned to buy did not arrive from India.
It will be spent to buy books.
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