S. Srikanta Sastri

Sondekoppa Srikanta Sastri () (5 November 1904 - 10 May 1974) was an eminent Indian historian, Indologist, epigraphist and polyglot who worked as Professor of History and Indology at the University of Mysore. He was fluent in over 14 languages spanning Latin, Greek, Hittite, Assyrian, Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit among others. Among the early pioneers in the field of deciphering and interpreting Indus Valley Scripts, he published numerous articles, monographs and reviews putting forth his views on the Hattili Hieroglyphics & Proto-Indic Scripts and the Studies in Indus Scripts. His scholarly erudition is reflected in the many books, numerous articles, monographs and reviews that he authored. A strong proponent of the argument against the Aryan invasion theory, his article titled "[http://www.srikanta-sastri.org/#/the-aryans/4558280679 The Aryans]" published in the Bharatiya Vidya in 1947 served to illuminate on certain historical facts hitherto ignored.
Early life
Ancestry
Sondekoppa Srikanta Sastri was born to brahmin parents of Mulukanadu origins in the small town of Nanjanagud near Mysore. The family were immigrants from Andhra Pradesh in the 16th Century and settled in the Nelamangala region of Karnataka. An ancestor on the paternal side - Yagnapathi Bhatta was a famous court poet in the court of Immadi Kempegowda. The family stayed in the few acres of land given by Kempegowda for nearly a century. S.Srikanta Sastri's maternal lineage were descendants of the Vellala Motaganahalli clan. An ancestor on the maternal side by name Umamahesvara Sastri was a court poet in the court of King Devaraya of Vijayanagara empire. Umamahesvara Sastri's famous work "Bhagavata Champu" earned him the title of Abhinava Kalidasa. His maternal uncles Motaganahalli Mahadeva Sastri, Vidwan Ramshesha Sastri and Vidwan Sankara Sastri were eminent court poets in the Mysore Palace. Vidwan Ramshesha Sastri was the first person to translate "Bhagavata" to Kannada from Sanskrit. His other works include "Mudra Rakshaka" and "Mukundananada Bhana", "Balika Gitavali", "Karnataka Hitopadesham" and a script for Gubbi Veeranna titled "Pandava Vijaya". Vidwan Sankara Sastri taught at "Rao Bahadur Arcot Narayanswami Mudaliar patashala" and is credited with the composition of "Vedanta Panchadarshi" later quoted by D.V.Gundappa. His son Asthan Vidwan Motaganahalli Subramanya Sastri, editor of "Ranga Bhoomi" is credited with "Karnata Malavikagnimitra" and "Jayachamarajendra Granthamalige".
Education
The second child (among seven children) of parents Ramaswamy Sastri (father) and Seshamma (Mother), S.Srikanta Sastri had his childhood spread out across the districts of Kolar, Nanjanagud and Chickaballapur in Karnataka owing to his father's (a civil servant) frequent transfers. S.Srikanta Sastri passed his matriculation exam in 1915 and gained admission to a course in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) at Maharaja's College, Mysore. After securing a bachelor's degree in Arts, he embarked on a in History (M.A) under the tutelage of J.C.Rollo, B.M.Srikantaiah (Kannada faculty), Prof V.L.D'Souza (English faculty), S.V.Krishnaswamy Aiyangar (Political Science), S.Krishna Rao (Greek History), N.Subba Rao (Economics), [http://www.srikanta-sastri.org/#/prof-svvenkateswara/4572647888 Prof S.V.Venkateswara] (History), R.Shamashastri and M.H.Krishna (Ancient History). After completing his master's degree in History, he appeared for the Civil Services Exam and passed it. Unfortunately, owing to poor health, he was deemed unfit.
Academician
Spanning three decades between 1930 and 1960, S. Srikanta sastri was affiliated with the Department of History and Indology (currently renamed as Department of Ancient History & Archaeology) at University of Mysore under different designations ranging from Tutor (1930), Lecturer (1935), Professor (1954-59 under the auspices of Vice-Chancellor K.V.Puttappa) and ultimately Head of the Department (1959-60) where after he retired in the same year. A simple open coat, shirt and a traditional dhoti completed his quintessential attire.
Contemporaries
During his tenure at Maharaja's College, University of Mysore between 1930 - 1960, S.Srikanta Sastri's bastion of friends and colleagues included a star line up of intellectuals and pioneers in their respective fields. These included the likes of M.H.Krishna (Ancient History & Archaeology), A.R.Krishnashastry (Kannada writer and litterateur), Rallapalli Anantha Krishna Sharma (Carnatic singer & composer), V. Seetharamaiah (Kannada litterateur), K.V.Puttappa (Kuvempu-Kannada writer and poet), D.L.Narasimhachar (Kannada litterateur), T.A.Purushottam (Philosophy) and M. Yamunacharya (Philosophy).
M.H.Krishna
Mysore Hatti Krishna Iyyangar was one of the pioneers in the field of Archaeology & Indology in Mysore state. Elaborate training in the west enabled him to lead the Department of Archaeology for nearly two decades, during which time the famous Halmidi Inscription was unearthed. He authored a few works in both English and Kannada. M.H.Krishna(identified here in the group photo) was a close friend and colleague of S.Srikanta Sastri over two decades.
A.R. Krishnashastry
Ambale Ramakrishna Krishnashastry was a famous Kannada writer and litterateur, who is best remembered for his rendition of the "Mahabharatha" - Vachana Bharatha. Author of numerous novels and biographies, he was awarded the Sahitya Academy Award and a D.Litt from Mysore University. A.R.Krishnashastry and S.Srikanta Sastri were colleagues at Maharaja's College, Mysore for nearly a decade.
Rallapalli Anantha Krishna Sharma
Singer, composer of Carnatic music known otherwise as Sangita Kalanidhi, Rallapalli Anantha Krishna Sharma is best remembered for his "Annamacharya" keerthanas. He was appointed official Telugu Pandit at Maharaja's College, Mysore by Principal Cattamanchi Ramalinga Reddy where he stayed on till 1949 during which time he was closely associated with S.Srikanta Sastri.
V. Seetharamaiah
Born on 2 October 1899, Venkataramaiah Seetharamaiah hailed from a poor Brahmin family in rural Bangalore. He completed his Bachelor in Arts degree in 1920 and Master of Arts in 1922. He served as a school teacher at Mysore's Sharada Vilas High School between 1923-28. Between 1928 to 1955 he served as Lecturer and Professor at various colleges including , Mysore where he came in close contact with S.Srikanta Sastri. He was additionally head of All India Radio, Bangalore division between 1964 to 1968. Author of several Kannada works ("Deepagalu", "Neralu-Belaku", 'Drakshi-Dalimbe", "Hejje Padu", "Aralu Baralu", "Beladingalu", "Asvathamann") he was conferred the Kendra Sahitya Academy Award for "Aralu-Baralu" in 1973.
Kuvempu
K.V.Puttappa was a Kannada writer and poet and a recipient of Jnanpith Award for Kannada and the Padma Vibhushan from Government of India. Revered as "Rashtrakavi" (state poet), he always wrote under the pen name of "Kuvempu". He was an alumnus of Maharaja's College, Mysore and graduated in 1929 specialising in Kannada. He would later serve as faculty at Maharaja's College, Mysore as Lecturer (1929), Professor (1946), Principal (1955) and ultimately as Vice-Chancellor in 1956 in which function he continued till 1960 where after he retired. It was under his Vice-Chancellorship that S.Srikanta Sastri would be elevated as Professor and ultimately as Head of the Department of History & Indology where after he retired in 1960. The two great intellectuals shared a cordial and warm relationship during their years at University of Mysore.
D. L. Narasimhachar
Doddabele Lakshminarasimhachar was a famous Kannada writer, editor and teacher. His teaching career spanned across three institutions-namely "Oriental Research Institute", Mysore, Central College, Bangalore and again at Mysore University, Mysore where he came in close contact with S.Srikanta Sastri. He is best remembered for his editing of Kumarvyasa Bharatha and his pioneering work in bringing out a comprehensive Kannada dictionary. He was conferred a D.Litt in 1960 and two felicitation volumes were released in his honour.
Nationalist
S.Srikanta Sastri involved himself in the ongoing Independence movement in the 1930s with patriotic fervour. He would often write scathing criticisms of the British Rule in different articles and reviews. One such piece was a foreword he had penned for Y.G.Krishnamurthi's "Independent India and New World Order" in 1940. This incidentally was mentioned along with few passing remarks on supposed anti-colonial stance on Berlin Radio by Adolf Hitler's propaganda chief-Joseph Goebbels., This was heard by many a listener both at home and abroad and saw the British conduct a due investigation in Mysore where upon they issued a stern warning to S.Srikanta sastri against any future writings which may be deemed as anti-British in sentiment.
Bibliography
As a young writer, S.Srikanta Sastri played around with a few poems and essays, many of which drew praise from his mentor at college B.M. Srikantaiah. Notable among these early essays were "Shivaganga Kshetra" and "Kannada Nayananda", the latter particularly attracting considerable attention from the likes of Prof S.V.Ranganna, Prof M.Hiriyanna and Dr A. Venkatasubbaiah. S.Srikanta Sastri published his first article at the age of 22 in the 1926, July edition of "" titled "South India-Dakshinadalli Shiladityana Vistarana Kramagalu (Conquests of Siladitya in the south) ". This was followed by a publication of a piece on Vijayanagara's Immadi Devaraya in "Indian Antiquary" and "Modern Review". Dr S.Srikanta Sastri authored about 10 books, nearly 300 articles in Kannada and English, few monographs and historical reviews.
List of books
* Sastri, S.Srikanta (1940)-Sources of Karnataka History, Vol I
* Sastri, S.Srikanta (1943)-Geo-Politics of India and Greater India
* Sastri, S.Srikanta (1944)-Iconography of Vidyarnava Tantra
* Sastri, S.Srikanta (1948)-Proto-Indic Religion
* Sastri, S.Srikanta (1949)-Roman Chakradipatya
* Sastri, S.Srikanta (1952)-Early Gangas of Talakad
* Sastri, S.Srikanta (1954)-Bharatiya Samskruti
* Sastri, S.Srikanta (1957)-Prapancha Charithreya Rupa Reshegalu
* Sastri, S.Srikanta (1960)-Purathatva Shodhane
* Sastri, S.Srikanta (1965)-Hoysala Vastushilpa
* Sastri, S.Srikanta (1973)-Festschrift Volume - Srikanthika
* Sastri, S.Srikanta (1975)-Samshodhana Lekhanagalu
* Sastri, S.Srikanta (1975)-Srikanteshwara Shatakam
* Sastri, S.Srikanta (1978)-Godana Anacalika Upanyasa
Sources of Karnataka history
Written at the request of the Maharaja of Mysore-Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, this book was the first in a series on Karnataka's
history across the millennia. The sources for such a vast work covered many inscriptions and scriptures in numerous languages spanning Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi and Sanskrit. The book traverses the length and breadth of Karnataka's history through the different ruling dynasties from Kadambas to Cholas and Pandavas. In the context of the Halmidi Inscription, the work assumes importance. The book attracted praise from Dr Barnett in the Journal of Royal Asiatic Society. Apart from Dr Barnett, Diwan Sir Mirza Ismail, R. C. Majumdar and P.K.Ghode also praised it. It was published in 1940.,
Sources of Karnataka History, Vol II and Vol III were written and remain in manuscript form. These works were started as enduring projects in 1928 by S.Srikanta Sastri as a postgraduate student in department of history under his professor and head S.V.Venkateswara (pictured above) at University of Mysore. Even though the project to encapsulate Karnataka History gathered momentum in 1928 under the vice-chancellorship of Brajendra Nath Seal, it was not until 1940 under the vice-chancellorship of N.S.Subbaraya that Sources of Karnataka History, Vol I saw its first publication. The book is multilingual covering Telugu, Kannada, Sanskrit and predominantly English and offers numerous sources as references ranging from inscriptions, stone tablets, temple carvings to recovered material at excavations.
Geopolitics of India and Greater India
Written in 1943, this book was an insightful preview into the unfolding events in the geopolitical sphere in Europe, Asia and beyond. Though idealistic in its overtones, the book surmises and at times forecasts the conglomeration of countries bound by uniform geographical, cultural, political and economical realities. These predictions have now been realised decades later in terms of NATO, the now defunct Warsaw Pact, SAARC and BRICS associations. S. Srikanta Sastri widely quotes the likes of Karl Haushofer (author of "Zeitshcrift fur Geopolitik" −1925), Rudolf Kjellen and Friedrich Ratzel (author of "Politische Geographie" 1897) among others. The surmise that nations can no longer function in isolation and need to not only co-exist but additionally complement each other's interests for the greater regional good has been time and again proven beyond doubt. The concepts of "Vital Space", "Union" and "Supra-Union" find mention for the first time in a historical perspective as opposed to a nationalistic one. Quoted here from the book is an excerpt which best captures the intended message:
List of articles
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-The Aryans-Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay-1947, Vol III (New series)
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Studies in the Indus scripts-I, QJMS Vol XXIV-3
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Studies in the Indus scripts-II,QJMS Vol XXIV-4
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Hieroglyphic "Hattili" and Proto Indic scripts-Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay-1942, Vol IV, Part I
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Harappa-Town planning-Uttarpradesh-1961,
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Proto-Indian ceramics-Indian Historical Quarterly, Vol XVI 1940, Calcutta
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Hydo-Selenic culture-Man in India Vol XXI, 1941-Paper read at VIII Oriental conference
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Vrasakapi-Bharathiya Vidya, Bombay, Vol X, 1949 (K.M.Munshi Diamond Jubilee Commemoration Volume II)
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Proto-Indic religion-QJMS-July 1941
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Tantric Hieroglyphics-QJMS Vol LI-1 1960 (Historical Review: Original Home of the Tantras)
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Tantric Hieroglyphics-QJMS Vol LI-2 1960 (Vaishnavism)
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Tantric Hieroglyphics-QJMS Vol LXV-4 Oct-Dec 1974
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tantric_Hieroglyphics-IV_by_Dr_S.Srikanta_Sastri_(www.srikanta-sastri.org).pdf Tantric Hieroglyphics-QJMS Vol LXVI-3] Jan-Mar 1975
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-The Dharma of Ashoka and the Gita-("Karnataka Dharshana"-Volume presented to Sri R.R.Diwakar-1955)
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-The Gangas of Talakad-(525-725 A.D.)-QJMS, Vol XLIV April 1954
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Viraballala-II (New Indian Antiquary)
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Narasimha-II (New Indian Antiquary-Vol IV, No II, 1942)
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Salivahana Era and earliest date-Vol XVII, No IV, 1927
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Salivahana Saka-QJMS Vol XVIII, No II, 1928
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Devaraya-II (The Modern Review for Dec 1926)
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Gautamiputra, Rudradama and Kaniska-QJMS Vol XXIII, New Series, No 2
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-The Two Bhagavatas-Annals of The Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona-Vol XIV, Parts III-IV, 1933
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Paramarthasara & Sri Bhagavath (Indian Historical Quarterly, Vol XXII No 2-1946)
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Iconography of Sri Vidyarnava Tantra-1944
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-The Savisesabheda Theory-A Volume of Eastern & Indian studies in honour of F.W.Thomas, C.I.E
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Advaitacaryas of 12th & 13th centuries-Indian Historical Quarterly
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Logical system of Madhvacarya_Poona Oriental Series No. 75-A Volume of studies in Indology presented to Prof P.V.Kane on his 61st birthday-7 May-1941
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Jaina Traditions in Rajavali Katha-continued from Vol VII No.1 Page 47-Jain Antiquary-Vol VII No. II Dec
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Bhagavana Neminatha and the Bhagvad Gita-The Voice of Ahimsa-Jan-Feb 1951
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Identification of Tavanidhi-The Jain Antiquary Vol XI No 1, July 1945
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Savikalpaka and Nirvikalpaka Vada-Nanjanagudu Sri Raghavendra Mutt pontiff Suyamindra Thirtha Swamiji's 12th anniversary of ascension celebration souvenir
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Vadibha Simna and Vadi Raja-The Jaina Antiquary V Vol No III
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-The original home of Jainism-The Jaina Antiquary Vol XIV No 2, January 1949
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Some Jaina Gurus in Kannada Inscription-The Jaina Antiquary Vol IX, No 1, July 1945
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-The date of the Consecration of the image of Gomateswara-The Jaina Antiquary Vol V, No. 4, March-1940
* Sastri. S.Srikanta-The Date of Sridharacharya-The Jaina Antiquary Vol XIII, January 1948
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Gommata Raya-Mahamastakabhisheka Souvenir-1953
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Conquests of Siladitya in the south-Journal of The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland, July 1926
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Marula Siddacharya-Sarupa Bharati or The Homage of Indology-Dr Lakshman Sarup Memorial Volume 1954
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Vidyananda and sankara Mata-Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona Vol XII, 1937
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Taxila-An Ancient Indian University-Mysore Dasara Exhibition Souvenir-1961
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Development of Sanskrit Literature under Vijaynagar-Vijaynagar Sexcentenary commemoration Volume-1936
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-The date of Sikara Bhasya-Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona Vol XIX, 1938
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_Note_on_the_date_of_Samkara_(Adi_Sankaracharya)_by_Dr_S._Srikanta_Sastri.pdf A Note on the date of Samkara (Adi Sankaracharya)], QJMS, 1930
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-The age of Samkara-proceedings of All India Oriental Conference, Mysore, Dec 1935
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Date of Mudra Raksasa-Indian Historical Quarterly, Vol VII-Calcutta 1934
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-The date of jambudvipa Prajnapati samagraha-Jaina Antiquary-Vol IV, No. III, Dec 1938
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-The Hebbata Grant of Durvinita Ganga (contd from Vol XXXVIIII (in Early Gangas of Talakad) QJMS Vol XL,1949.
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Notes on the Belagutti records-QJMS, Vol XXXV, No. 4, April 1945
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Arjunvada Inscription of Yadavara Kannara; Saka 1182-Epigraphia India, Vol XXI, Jan 1931
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-The Uttara Kasi Pillar Inscription of Guha-New Indian Antiquary, Vol XXX, No.1, April 1940
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Two Grants of Kanthirava Raja of Mysore-Culture and heritage
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-"Constituent Assembly and Indian Federation" by Y.G.Krishnamurthy, 1940-foreword by Pandit Nehru, Introduction by Prof S.Srikanta Sastri
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-"Independent India and A New World Order" by Y.G.Krishnamurthy, foreword by S.Srikanta Sastri
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-The Glories of Karnataka-The United Karnataka
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Karnataka in Indian Culture-Deccan Herald-June 2, 1955
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Evolution of the Gandabherunda-Journal QJMS
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Mimetic Arts in Mysore-Mysore Dasara Exhibition Official book, Vol 31 (3-4), 1941
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Historical Vicissitudes of Bellary-"Welcome Bellary Souvenir" 1 October 1953
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Some forgotten Sanskrit poets of Karnataka - Silver Jubilee No., Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona. Vol XXIII, 1942
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Capitulation of Chitradurga-QJMS 1927, Vol 18-2 (1927)
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Karnataka Goddess of courage - Kittur Rani Chennamma - Deccan Herald
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-The Vitthala Temple at Hampi - QJMS, Vol XXXI, No 2, Oct 1940
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Karnataka in Legend and History-Deccan Herald-1956
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Kathana's Rajatarangani-Uttara Pradesh, Jan 1962
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Sri Samkara in Cambodia ?-The Indian Historical Quarterly, Vol XVIII, 1942, Calcutta
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Oswald Spengler on Indian Culture - The New Era, March 1929,
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Fortification in India in olden times - Uttara Pradesh, Vol.XIX July, 1961
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Indian Music - Souvenir in honour of visit to Mysore of Soviet Cultural Delegation, February 1954
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-The Art of Eating - The Hindu Illustrated Weekly, April 19, 1936
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Methods of Teaching - April 2, 1935
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Mulakas - QJMS, Vol.XXI, No. 1
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-The Archaeological importance of Nanjanagud (Garalapuri) - 12 July 1971
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-"The Lord's Science of Eternal Religion" (Shashvata Dharma in Srimad Bhagavadgita) by Magadal Ramachandra
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-The concept of Maya by P.D.Devanandan, Deccan Herald
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-"A (muddled ?) history of South India"- a review of "A History of South India" by K.A.Nilakanta Sastri, DH-1955
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-"The History of Indian Culture" by Dr R.C.Majumdar - Deccan Herald 02.10.1955
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-"The Basic beliefs of Hinduism" Ed., by Kenneth W.Morgan. Y.M.C.A publishing house, Calcutta. DH.
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-"Women saints of East and West" Foreword by Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit - Introduction by Kenneth Walker, DH-1956
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-"Indian Culture and Heritage" - The Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society - Culture and Heritage number, DH-1957
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-"The Hoysalas" by J.Duncan.M.Derrett - Deccan Herald - 19.06.1960
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-"Sri Krishna Katha Vipanchi" by Sri B.Rama Kavi - Introduction by Dr S.Srikanta Sastri
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-"Samskritiya Visvarupa" by A.N.Krishna Rao, Book Review in Deccan Herald on 15.10.1955.
Catalogue listings
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Library of Congress, Washington.D.C
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-Bodleian Library, Oxford University, England
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-University of Cambridge Library, England
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-University of Chicago Library, Chicago, USA
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-National Library of Australia, Australia
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-WorldCat Libraries
* Sastri, S.Srikanta-University of Mysore Library, Mysore
Recognition
Among the foremost Indian historians of the Pre and Post-Independence years, S. Srikanta Sastri's vast repertoire of historical knowledge saw him author works with far-reaching influences. He published his first article titled Conquests of Siladitya in the South at the young age of 22 in the "Journal of Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland". S. Srikanta Sastri was the first person in the Princely State of Mysore (and later Karnataka) to be honoured with a D. Litt. In 1958, he was asked to preside over the "Kannada Sahitya Sammelana" (Kannada Literature Congress) at Bellary, Karnataka. He was awarded the Kannada Sahitya Sammellana award in 1970. In 1973, in recognition of his lifetime contribution to History & Indology, University of Mysore brought forth a Festschrift Volume titled "Srikanthika" in his honour. Prominent historians, epighraphists and other intellectuals of his time penned articles in this volume. One of the authors - S. S. Raghavachar described the intellectual giant thus:
In the same year i.e. 1973, The Mythic Society of Bangalore celebrated its Diamond Jubilee year and had Governor of Karnataka Mohanlal Sukadia honour S. Srikanta Sastri with a Hoysala Memento (pictured). A numismatics conference was held in 1994 in honour of S. Srikanta Sastri's contribution to field of Archaeology. To mark his birth centenary (1904-2004), a symposium was held at Mythic Society, where leading littérateurs, intellectuals and historians presented papers on varied topics in honour of S. Srikanta Sastri. The event was graced by T. V. Venkatachala Sastry, Rama Jois, S. R. Rao and then Vice chancellor of Bangalore University M. S. Thimmappa among others. On completion of fifty years of statehood for Karnataka, the Government of Karnataka selected one hundred different works to be brought forth as reprints. Among these were S. Srikanta Sastri's magnum opus - Bharathiya Samskruthi.
Legacy
S. Srikanta Sastri's legacy stems forth from his vast writings and a bastion of scholars and intellectuals whom he taught and inspired during their student days. His books, many of which have been reprinted in successive volumes have found a wide readership among students of History and Indology in India & abroad. A concise presentation of world history titled Prapancha Charithreya Ruparekhegalu originally published in the 1950s with a foreword by the eminent Kannada Litterateur and Poet Kuvempu also underwent reprint in 2014. A Collection of his Kannada articles on Karnataka history, temple architecture, culture and language titled Samshodhana Lekhanagalu was reprinted in 2014. His work on Hoysala temple architecture titled Hoysala Vastushilpa came out in its third reprint in 2015. Many Manuscripts are yet to find their way into print. The scope of his works came at a cost. Such untiring perseverance and a steadfast scholarly zeal eventually took a toll on his health. Having borne the brunt of two earlier heart attacks and a debilitating paralytic stroke, S. Srikanta Sastri breathed his last on the 10th of May 1974, aged 70 years. In memoriam, a centenary celebration was observed at Daly Memorial Hall (The Mythic Society), Bangalore in 2004 (pictured).

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