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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
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 manuscripts in Indian Libraries and the framing of printed lists or catalogues of the same. (Proceedings of the Government of India in the Home Department (Publie), No. 4338-48, dated Simla, 3rd Novelu ber 1868).
In respect of magnitude as well as the range of subjects dealt with, not to speak of the diversity of languages employed the Tanjore Library is probably second to none among Oriental Libraries in India
In December of the same yose, the Government of Madras asked Mr. Pickford, Professor of Sanskrit, to carry out the instructions of the Government of India. He commenced to ostalogue the manuscripts at Tanjore; but he fell seriously ill and had to return
to Europe in March 1870 and never came back to India. It is · not known how much he had done as his unfinished catalogues could not be found. (Letter from the Professor of Sanskrit, Presidency College, Madras, to the Chief Secretary to the Govern. ment of Madras, 22nd May 1876, and Letter No. 1560, dated Madras, 7th June 1876, from the Director of Public Jostruction, Madras to the Chief Secretary to the Government of Madras).
Thereupon Dr. Burnell, District and Sessions Judge, was appointed in G. O. No. 71, dated 16th March 1871, to catalogue the Sanskrit Manuscripts in the Library at Tanjore. That learned Scholar devoted a great deal of research and labour to the task and his catalogue which he styled " A Classified Index to the Sanskrit Manuscripts io the Palace at Tanjore," was published in three parts between 1878 and 1880 in London. This is now the chief key to the huge Sanskrit collection in this Library. But unfortunately a great many manuscripts, above 4,000, seem to have been omitted and his catalogue cannot bo said to be complete.
During the course of his preparation of the catalogue Dr. Burnell wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Government of Madras from Bangalore on 6th August 1873 as follows:--
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