Sangita Ratnakara

...consider music and other fine arts as very important ones. In India, music did not develop as a secular entertainment; music in India is a fundamental phase of religion; rather music has become a religion itself, with a philosophy attached to it. The musical notes are the physical manifestations of the Highest Reality termed the Divine Sound (Nāda-Brahman original: "नादब्रह्मन्"; the concept that the entire universe is a manifestation of sacred sound.). Music is not a mere accompaniment in religious worship; it is religious worship itself, like sacrificial rituals (Yāgas Ancient Vedic fire sacrifices and ceremonial offerings.) and Temple worship. In India there has never been an antithesis between aesthetics and morality; there has never been developed an aesthetic doctrine which was not acceptable to the most orthodox follower of religion. Thus the Saṅgītaratnākara The "Jewel-mine of Music," the most influential 13th-century Sanskrit treatise on Indian music and dance. and other works on music undertaken for publication by the Adyar Library are presentations of orthodox phases of Hindu religion and of Indian civilization as much as the commentaries on the Vedas The most ancient and foundational scriptures of Hinduism. and the works on religion and philosophy like the Ahirbudhnya Saṃhitā A sacred text of the Vaishnava tradition dealing with the power of God and ritual philosophy. and the Vedāntaparibhāṣā A classic 17th-century manual explaining the logic and knowledge-theory of the Vedanta school of philosophy.. Through our publications we desire to exhibit the unity of Indian culture and the harmony that exists among the various phases of the Culture.

Now what remains for me is to acknowledge the help that has been received in the preparation of this edition. Our gratitude to Pandit S. Subrahmanya Sastri, who prepared the edition, is far beyond words to be adequately expressed. His whole life was spent in scholarly pursuits; it is a great privilege for me to be able to associate myself with this great work even in this very humble capacity. Dr. G. Srinivasa Murti...