I have great pleasure in introducing the researchful and commending work "Contribution of Odisha to Sanskrit (Creative ative Literature)" produced by Dr. P.K. Panda to the world of oriental scholars and lovers of Sanskrit. Odisha has been a centre of Sanskrit learnings since the renaissance period of Sanskrit literature. Even before that Era history apprises us with the fact that Anga and Kalinga etc. were well known reputed Janapadas at the time of composition of great epic like Ramayana and Mahābhārata. In the Buddhist period, Kalinga became an advance centre for the propagation of Pali and Buddhism. I observed that if Pali was used as average spoken language, it was of that part of country only. The Oriya language has the sufficient impact of Pali on it. In medieval India, Odisha has produced a large number of Sanskrit works in different disciplines particularly Smrti, Dharmasastra, Mahakavya, Khandakāvya, Drama, Campu, Devotional poem, Medicines, Tantra, Music and Alamkarasastra etc. The outstanding contributions in these branches which began in Odisha during the Ganga rule over this holy land continued with full vigour in the subsequent centuries till the British occupation of Odisha in the beginning of the 19th Century. By a critical study of the cultural heritage of this land, it is widely understood that Śiva was the principal deity of this part of country earlier being replaced by Lord Jagannatha, against whom numerous works of Sanskrit literature has been originated and developed.
When I was at Puri as the Principal of Sadasiva Sanskrit Kendriya Vidyapitha, I noticed that Puri itself is a prominent centre for Sanskrit learning and there are hundreds of Sasanas of Brahmin family, where traditional pandits were provided all kinds of facilities to run Sanskrit Toles by the help of local rulers. Beside this, Sambalpur, Ganjam, Cuttack and Balasore districts of Odisha are also the prominent centre of Sanskrit studies and even more then hundreds of Sanskrit Toles are located in the various places of these districts only to provide Sanskrit education. It is a matter of great joy that a very good number of manuscripts have been recovered from remote villages of Odisha and a more big number is still awaiting. The followings are some of the important contributions of Odisha to Sanskrit literature that deserve special mention in this context.
Sanskrit, the language of Indian culture down the centuries, has been developed by the various parts of india, which vied with one another in cultivating and enriching it.
Among the many centres where sanskrit flourished with unabated enthusiam, Odisha is one of the most important and well-known centres for sanskrit learning. In this book I have tried to make a detailed survey of the literary contribution of Odisha to Sanskrit. An intensive study of the development of sanskrit literature in a particular locality is a prerequisite to the preparation of a complete history of sanskrit literature as developed all over the Country. So that sanskrit has a continous history of literary output from the most ancient times to this day. In this long process and rich and varied growth, sanskrit has been developed by every part of the Country. It has grown in to a natural language with a unique pan-Indian character by enriching itself with many an element of value and beauty in the different regions of the Country. For a complete picture of sanskrit litrature as well as for a full appreciation of it, it is neccessary to make an intensive study of the sanskrit literary activity in different parts of the country on the background of the local milieu.
The standard histories of sanskrit literature which have to cover a vast area and give emphasis on the writings from classical age, post classical period and even modern-day writings. It also not easy to appraisal of the post classical literature due to materials partaining to this period are scattered and known only in the respective localities, or in regional scripts and still mostly in manuscripts form.
For a full view of the extensive literary development in sanskrit, it is necessary to make a survey of later sanskrit writings during the post-classical ages. This study of the contribution of Odisha to sanskrit carried out in such a method that it will play a notable role in the cultivation and preservation of sanskrit.
The edition which embodies the result of my research and collection of manuscripts from the remote area of Odisha was published first time in 1987. In this volume I have tried to bring the notice of oriental scholars about the number of valuable works of Odisha, which are lost in oblivion and prepared a survey of the literary traditions in sanskrit creative writings. It has been found very informative and presents and illuminating picture about Odisha's valuable contribution to various branches of Sanskrit literature, which is also widely acknowledged.
regional scripts and still mostly in manuscripts form. For a full view of the extensive literary development in sanskrit, it is necessary to make a survey of later sanskrit writings during the post-classical ages. This study of the contribution of Odisha to sanskrit carried out in such a method that it will play a notable role in the cultivation and preservation of sanskrit.
to Godavari and from the Amar-Kantaka to the Bay of Bengal. Within this vast area there had been in ancient times the well-defined territories of Utkal, Kalinga, Udra, etc. where each of them not only self-contained but also astonishingly harmonious in civilisation and culture. The existence of these Kingdoms were also one of the causes for the rich contribution of Odisha to Sanskrit literature. Moreover, it is important to note that a large number of scholars who adorned the court of these ancient kingdoms and enjoyed a high patronage, contributed much by providing creative shape to Sanskrit learnings. So in this respect political rivalaries and fractions did not stand in the way of scholars since they solicited the patronage of kings in opposite camps too, on the contrary, such rivalries in many cases increased their opportunities. It is asserted that the golden age in the history of Sanskrit literature in Odisha really began from the region of Imperial Ganga and Suryavamsi rulers; who were not only proficient in Sanskrit beat also a great patron of Sanskrit literature. Such literary patronage of Odisha attracted not only scholars and poets of Odisha but also those from outside, especially from Bengal and Madras. Many of them visited Odisha, the holy land of lord Jagannatha and spent a considerable part of their life in this region. We also find the poets and scholars of ancient Odisha travelled various places in search of royal patronage.
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