PREFACE 

    The importance of the Camatkaracandrika was made known to scholars by Dr. V. Raghavan of the Madras University. While searching for the several contributions of Andhra scholars to Sanskrit literature and criticism, I undertook to bring out a critical edition of this work under the able guidance of Dr. C. Kunhan Raja. I am greatly indebted to him for his help in securing the manuscripts of the manuscripts of the work from Adyar and London. Later Sri N. Sivarama Sastry who was the Head of the Department took interest in the work and gave valuable suggestions which have been of great use in my editing and preparing the critical introduction to the text. He was also responsible for the inclusion of the work among the University publications, for which I extend my sincere thanks. Sri S.T.G. Varadachary, M.A. (Hons.) of Chittiguduru too recommended the text to the University and I thank him for the kind words written about the work by him. Lastly I thank the authorities of the University, the Vice-Chancellor Dr. A.L. Narayan and the Syndicate for accepting this to include as one of the University Publications. The manuscripts of the work have been secured from different libraries and individuals. The Adyar Library, Madras, The India Office Library, London, The Government Oriental Manuscripts Library, Madras, The Suryaraya Sarma of Adyar Library have been kind enough to lend their manuscripts and I am greatly indebted to them. The Andhra University Library has helped me in borrowing the manuscripts from the Adyar Library and the India Office Library and it has been of help to me for my studies connected with the preparation of this critical edition. I am also thankful to Sri G. Parthasarathy Rao, M.A., my colleague who helped me in collating the Manuscript of the India Office Library. I thank Prof. K. Viswanatham, Head of the Department of English and our esteemed colleague Sri A. Someswara Sarma,M.A., P.O.L., for their illuminating remarks on the introduction and the work. I am extremely grateful to Prof. V. Subbarao, Head of the Department of Sanskrit, who has kindly written the foreword to this edition. The authorities of the Andhra University Press have executed their job to a high degree of excellence and they amply deserve my gratitude. I thank all those that are directly of indirectly connected with the success of this, my first publication. As this happens to be the first of my attempts, the critical edition is bound to have several short-comings. I do humbly pray for the indulgence of the learned readers and request them to be kind enough to point them out so as to enable me to correct myself in may futurd undertakings. May the Lord Radhasoami bless us all. P. SRIRAMAMURTI, M.A., PH.D., Department of Sanskrit, Andhra University Colleges of Arts, Commerce and Law, WALTAIR (South India)