The volumes of the PROJECT OF THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE, PHILOSOPHY AND CULTURE IN INDIAN CIVILIZATION aim at discovering the main aspects of India's heritage and present them in an interrelated way. These volumes, in spite of their unitary look, recognise the difference between the areas of material civilization and those of ideational culture. The Project is not being executed by a single group of thinkers and writers who are methodologically uniform or ideologically identical in their commitments. In fact contributions are made by different scholars with different ideological persuasions and methodological approaches. The Project is marked by what may be called 'methodological pluralism'. In spite of its primary historical character, this Project, both in its conceptualization and execution, has been shaped by many scholars drawn from different disciplines. It is for the first time that an endeavour of such a unique and comprehensive character has been undertaken to study critically a major world civilization like India.
The period AD 300-1000 is often described as the 'golden age' of Indian history. Phenomenal and all-round intellectual advancement was perhaps the distinctive characteristic of this age. Vigorous religious, cultural and philosophical pursuits encompassed every sphere of life-the arts, architecture and music, dance and literature. Such activity resulted in competition and rivalry that were never irrational, soulless or destructive. Indeed the central spirit was one of tolerance, mutual respect and even co relational adaptation and reciprocal acceptance. It is equally interesting to observe that the rise and fall of dynasties and political powers, big or small, did little to hamper the growth and activities of religious sects, an