Sanskrit and Prakrit Manuscripts in Rajasthan ORI Part 02 C

Author(s): Jinvijay
Publisher: Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute Jodhpur

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83,000, manuscripts, written in Sanskrit, Prakrit. Apabhramsa, Hindi, Old Rajasthani and Vraj etc. They deal with a variety of subjects including works on the Vedas, Brahmanus, Upanishads, Vedanta, Philosophy, Astrology, Logic, Grammar, Mimamsa, Nataka, Champu, Classical metres, Katha, Akhyayika, Kamasutra, Ayurved, History etc. etc. Some of them are very rare dating back to the 11th C. Some of these manuscripts are of exceptional exhibitory value being extensively illustrated representing certain broad characteristics of the various Rajput Schools of painting that flourished in the ancient and medieval times. Large amount, skill, time and patience would be required to bring out descriptive catalogues and reproductions of these illustrated works.
There is a reference liheary also, containing about 11,000 rare and valuable volumes on various subjects.
Equal attention is paid to the closely allied aspects of preservation and publication. Under the series styled "Rajasthan Puratana Granthmala" the Institute has so far published 70 works and a good many are under print. These works have been highly appreciated by eminent scholars in the country and abroad in that they make a definite advance in the exploring of the hitherto unknown material.
Lately, a scheme for the preservation and publication of important manuscripts in the Jain Grantha Bhandars at Jaisalmer was taken up by the Institute, The late President and the late Prime Minister both, after visiting Jaisalmer, had expressed their wishes for the preservation and proper study of these manuscripts. Consequently, the Government of Rajasthan took up the task through the Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute. In these Bhandars some of the manuscripts on paper belong even to the 12th and 13th centuries. A good number of palm-leaf manuscripts belonging to still earlier centuries is the main attraction of this treasure. In antiquity they perhaps surpass all similar collections in India, and it is said that we have at present only a remnant of what was at one time a still more splendid collection. The first European to have taken notice of these Bhandars was Col. James Tod- the pioneer annalist of Rajasthan. Dr. Buhler and Dr. Jacobi, afterwards, examined, took notices of, and copied out certain important manuscripts of these Bhandars. After a long gap of time, work on these manuscripts has been resumed by the Institute. Photo-stat copies of 258 manuscripts comprising 3.6 works in 27,297 leaves and 7,869 plates have been