Descriptive Catalogue of Sanskrit Manuscripts in Tanjore Vol 05

SR No.: 020230
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: P P S Shastri
Publisher: Government of Madras
Publication Year: 1929
Total Pages: 525
Language: English, Sanskrit
Classification: Catalogue
File Size: 19 MB

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paper. Having been frequently handled by ignorant and careless men the manuscripts became mixed up, and the owner, who despaired of restoring order among them, made them into bundles and tied them with cloth. About two years ago, Mr. Kuppuswami Sastri, to whom examinatian of Sanskrit manuscripts is a labour of love, prepared a tentative list of the contents of these bundles. When I went to Tanjore on the 2nd January, Jambunathabhaṭṭa showed me about one hundred of these bundles. A cursory inspection of them satisfied me that the Library was an important one and it should be carefully examined. This meant that not only should these works which were still complete be registerd in my list but that an attempt should also be made to put together pieces which, through careless handling, had got out of their places."
In 1922, the Library received other valuble collections of rare interest, known as the "Kigalkar" and the "Patanga Avadhuta" collections. The former is about 159 and the latter, about 100 years old. The collection made by the Kagalkar family of learned Sanskrit Scholars of Tanjore especially versed in Sanskrit Grammar (4) contains the autograph copies made by some of them of the works composed by themselves and others. Its prominent feature is the collection of works on Sanskrit Grammar. The collection made by Patangāvadhūta whose descendants settled at Tiruvada narudür in Tanjore District contains a large number of works on Vedants () and Bhakti (:), Beth. these collections comprise several Manuscripts which do not already exist in this Library.
The attention of the Government of India, and through it, of the Government of Madras, was directed in 1868 to the importance of the examination, purchase or transcription of Sanskrit Manus