Early History of Vaishnavism in South India

The following lectures presented to the public as the fourth course of Madras University Special Lectures in the Department of Indian History and Archaeology formed the subject on which the author intended to send a paper to the International Congress of Orientalists which was to have been held at Oxford but for the outbreak of the War. It was suggested as worth doing as the result of a discussion on the subject which the author had with Sir George Grierson who at the time was interesting himself in the subjects. He wanted more of Vaishnava literature should be made known to the European public and suggested the translation of Yatindramatadipika a manual of Vaishnavism and the Arthapanchaka of Filial Lokacharya. The translation work has been done since by the author’s friend Mr. A. Govindacharya of Mysore; and the historical part of the subject was awaiting study for various reasons among which other occupation was the principal contributary. The timely appearance of Sir R. G. Bhandarkar s treatise on Vaishnavism Saivism and Minor Religions made the taking up of the subject more urgently necessary. To avoid clumsiness in print transliteration in the body of the book has been given up. The necessary and the correct pronunciation is given in the index which the reader is requested to consult in cases of doubt or difficulty.