The New International Encyclopædia/Senart, Émile Charles Marie

SENART, se-när′, Émile Charles Marie (1847—). A French Orientalist, born at Rheims. He studied Sanskrit in Munich and Göttingen, and except for a short period of political activity devoted himself entirely to the languages and literature of India. His most famous work, Essai sur la légende du Bouddha (1875-82), advanced the theory that the tradition in regard to Buddha represents an old sun myth. Senart's other works include Kaccayana et la littérature grammaticale du Pâle (1871), Les castes dans l'Inde (1896), and an edition of the Mahavastu (1892-98).