Somewhere in 1988-89, a pair of mss caught my attention while I was casually going through the manuscript catalog of the Vaidik Samshodhan Mandal, Pune. It was the Laksanacandrika (LC), a commentary on the Taittirlya Pratisakhya. This particular text was not recorded by the then-authentic sources. I observed that it quotes many important yet lost Siksa texts. For this reason, I planned to edit the text critically. I worked on the Taittirlya Padapatha for my Ph.D. degree. Working on the Taittiriya Pratisakhya was certainly a beneficial boost for me in understanding the ancient Indian tradition of phonetics and phonology as well as methods of preserving the sacred texts. The results of the same are presented here in book form.
1. The first part is introductory and gives general information about the development of phonetics and phonology in ancient India. The contributions of the texts like the Siksas and Pratisakhyas are spelled out in comparison to modern phonetics. Besides, the Taittirtya tradition of the Pratisakhya and commentaries is briefed along with some notable features of the same. Peculiarities of the commentary Laksanacandrika and its relation to the other texts are discussed in detail.
2. The second part presents the critically constituted text of the Laksanacandrika. This particular edition is based on six mss. The text is appended with two appendices- sutra-index, and bhasya passages quoted by the LC-besides bibliography. I did not include notes and translations of the Taittiriya Pratisakhya in this volume. These will be included in my forthcoming edition of the Vaidika- Bharara, a commentary on the Taittirlya Pratisakhya.
Many persons have helped me cordially to bring this particular commentary in book form. At the very outset, I must pay my sincere thanks to the U.G.C. authorities for selecting me for the award of Research Scientist. Because of it, I got an opportunity to work tension free in my favorite field of research, besides enjoining all the necessary facilities.
I would like to pay my sincere thanks to my teacher, Prof. Y.N. Jha, Director. C.A.S.S. for guiding me from time to time for my Ph.D. dissertation as well as for the present volume. I would be ever grateful to him for his valuable guidance and would like to repay his gururna by contributing to my capacity in the field of research. I am also thankful to him for allowing me to study and teach 'Ancient Indian Phonetics and Phonology' in the inter-disciplinary M.A. Course of Sanskrit Linguistics. It helped me in comparing the Eastern concepts with those of the modern ones. Because of it, I could understand the text of the Taittirlya Pratisakhya in a better manner. Many of my basic doubts are removed by Dr. Sharma and by Dr. Patyal. I am very much thankful to both of them.
I would like to acknowledge the help extended by the late Prof. M.P. Rege, the then President, of Prajna Pathasala, Wai, for providing me the Xerox copies of the manuscripts. I am also thankful to Dr. T.N. Dharmadhikari, the then Director, Vedic Samshodhan Mandal, Pune, and to Shri M.K. Kulkarni, ex-librarian, Deccan College, for allowing me to handle the original mss and for providing the xerox copies of these. It is the cooperation of all the authorities of various libraries in Pune, which has transformed these manuscripts into a book.
I would be ever grateful to my teacher Prof. S.D. Joshi (former Director, C.A.S.S.) and Prof. S.D. Laddu (Curator, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Pune) and Dr. Goswami, ex-librarian, C.A.S.S. I am also thankful to all my friends and staff of C.A.S.S., who always encourage a lazy person like me.
Lastly, I extend my sincere thanks to my family members, especially my in-laws who encourage me by appreciating and helping me now and then. I would be ever grateful to my father, Prof. D.A. Ambiye, as he has encouraged me to pursue Sanskrit studies despite many adverse situations.
At last, I must thank Mr. C.P. Gautam of Bharatiya Kala Prakashan for printing this book neatly and on time.