________________ Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra www.kobatirth.org Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir PREFACE This Department was inaugurated more than quarter of a century ago for bringing into light the precious manuscripts treasured in the Palace Library of His Most Gracious Higlines The Mahiraja of Travancore, more especially those admirable treatises composed by the members of the Royal Family. The private manuscript libraries in various parts of the State play a silent but conspicuous part in the steady growth of the Department by their readiness to lend their. literary treasure. The enornious collection of rare and unpublished manuscripts thus made called for immediate publication lest they should be lost to the world for ever. And when some of thoz * precious gems saw the light of day, their radiant effulgenye naturally attracted the profound attention of the scholarly world eliciting warm and unstinted appreciation and encomium from all distinguished orientalists. It is also noteworthy that the owners of manuscript libraries spare no pains in inducing other custodians of manuscripts as well. to place them at the disposal of this Office and that quite recently Bralimasri Kasi Vidhyar of Mahadinapuram has presented to this Department twenty. five rare manuscripts. These eminent works covering as they do all phases of literature have in no small measure added to "the prestige of this Department. Although these manuscripts are collected on loan and have been returned to the owners in due course For Private and Personal Use Only
