An Introduction to Commentaries on Patanjalis Mahabhasya

Pages: 94


Foreword

I hope I shall be excused if I betray a certain feeling of paternal pride and joy while introducing Dr. Pierre-Sylvain Filliozat who delivered “The Professor K. V. Abhyaukar Memorial Lectures (Fourth Series)” at the Bhaudarkar Oriental Research institute, ou July 18—20, 1989, for, he is the talented son of my long-time friend and colleague, Professor Jean Filliozat. Pierre Filliozat may no longer be described merely as a coming ‘ Indologist; he is, if I may coin the phrase, already an Indologist who has ‘come’. Even at an early age (1963), he became a Member of the prestigious Ecole française d’Extrme-Orjont, Since 1967 he has been working as Director of Sanskrit Studies at the Ecole pratique des Hautes Etudes, 4th Section, in Sorboune. What, however, could be of immediate Interest to us is his annual assignment (each extending over nearly six months) at the French Institute of Punditry, India. There, be has succeeded in developing an active centre of Ideological Studies which specializes in, among other subjects, Sanskrit grammar said archaeology.

The range of Pierre Filliozat’s publications Is quite impressive. I may just mention his editions of Vidynitha’s Prataparudrya and Nflk.ntba Dlksita’s works on poetics and his French translation of Patañjali’s Mahãbh,sya with Kaiyata’s Pradipa and Nãgea’s CdcIya (of which five volumes have been published so far). In coUaboration with his wife, Vasundhar, Pierre Filliozat has carried it archaeological investigations at Hampi-Vijayanagar and has iblisbed an interesting monograph on the Temple of Vithala situated there. His recent Grarnmtire saj’skrite pining. Penne will surely prove a very serviceable manual on the subject. Pierre Filliozat Is also a frequent contributor to resea