"A Cultural Index to Vedic Literature endeavours to present a conspectus of what is known as the Vedic age in Indian history by collecting from various texts relevant data pertaining to all aspects of Vedic thought and culture, analysing and interpreting them in a historical perspective and arranging them under more than 1000 topics in alphabetical order. It serves as a supplement to the celebrated Vedic Index (2 vols., London, 1912) by Macdonell and Keith. The latter is a descriptive terminological glossary of Vedic antiquities, and as such can be used successfully only by those who have, to a certain extent, a comprehension of Vedic terms. The present volume contains subjectwise entries which are expected to be of greater use to the readers.
As far as possible duplication with Vedic Index has been avoided. But wherever necessary abridged renderings of certain entries have been taken from it because for many entries it is impossible to add anything more to what has already been collected, classified and interpreted by Macdonell and Keith. The diverse interpretations of the earlier scholars on entries pertaining to material to material culture, social institutions, economic conditions and related subjects have been retained in certain interesting cases but in other cases they have been replaced by modern views.
Many details about geographical and tribal proper names, and those of some of the Upanisadic thinkers whose views have relevance to the growth of subsequent Indian philosophical speculations, have been provided. Entries on religion and philosophy, as also on ethical, aesthetic and other higher aspects of life, have been given prominence in the volume.
The Index, drawing on a large body of literature/sources, provides very useful information on the social life, political and economic conditions, material culture, religion, mythology, art , medicine, science, technology and literature of the period making it a unique reference tool for researchers, teachers and students and general scholars alike." (jacket)
