History of Oriental research institute and manuscript library

 

Oriental Research Institute and Manuscripts Library is an academic department of the university of Kerala. It has a history of about a century, and now done substantial work in the field of Indological studies. It has come in to existence out of royal interest. The kings of Travancore, as a rule, were valorous as well as lovers of art and literature. Srimulam Tirunal was mainly responsible for the spread of Oriental literature through out the world. It was he who instituted the department for the publication of Oriental manuscripts which in due course grew into the present institution.

Situated at the beautiful scenario of Kariavattom Campus, the Department is symbolically the converging point of Eastern and Western architecture. The building became a reality, due to the timely efforts of former Central Minister, Dr.S.Karan Singh. His dreams came true in 1982, when the department was officially inaugurated at Kariavattom.

 

  

In 1903, His Highness Sri Moolam Thirunal appointed Dr. T. Ganapathy Sastri, then Principal of Sanskrit College, and a Scribe to publish the manuscripts under the royal collection. Next year the first of the Trivandrum series, “Daivam” with Purushakara commentary was published. Though “Bhaktimanjari”, the book of hymns composed by His Highness Swati Thirunal, eulogizing the tutelary deity, Lord Padmanabha, was printed first, the King wanted the book to be combined along with, “Syanandurapuravarnana prabandha”, a realistic portrayal of the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram.

In the year 1908, the department came into Independent existence with Dr.T.Ganapathi Sastri as the Head at Lakshmi Vilasam Bungalow, with an aim to publish not only the royal collections, but also with the view of bringing into light those in the private libraries of ancient families. This year, the department is proud in celebrating its centenary. Its noteworthy here that Mahamahopadhyaya Dr.T.Ganapathy Sastri, was awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Tubingen University, Germany for his edition of Bhasa plays for the first time.

“The University Manuscripts Library” was started under the Travancore University in 1938. Then the department was renamed as Oriental Research Institute & Manuscripts Library and was converted into a research centre for Indological Studies in 1966. The building was shifted into the present premises in the year 1982.

 

This Department owes much to the blue blooded royal line of Travancore rulers who had always taken attention to treasure the legacy of their ancient literary output, cultural heritage and had cared to pass on the scientific outlook to the successive generations too. Significance

This Institution is considered to be the first largest manuscripts Library of our country having about 65000 Manuscripts in different subjects like Jyotisa, Ganita, Silpa, Vedanta, Vyakarana, Mimamsa, Tantra, Natya, Itihasa, Purana etc. Majority of the works are in Sanskrit Language. The second position is for Malayalam and then comes Tamil. The rest include manuscripts from all other Indian languages and a few from Burmese and Indonesian.

The ORI & MSS. Library is better known for its rare and archaic collection with manuscripts in ancient scripts like granthas, Nandinagari, vattezhutt etc. This department has the unique status of unearthing the maximum number of works which are hitherto hidden in darkness, but at the same time are of paramount importance, and also for getting them published under T.S.S. 

 

The Dramas of Bhasa, the famous treatise Aryabhatiya, Bhashakautaliayam, acknowledged by Dr.Radhakumud Mukharji as one of the most useful work for writing his book ‘Chandragupta Maurya and his Times’.Aryamanjusrimulakalpa, one of the source books utilised by Dr.K.P.Jayswal to write his ‘Imperial History of India’ are only a few examples for such valuable ancient works. Other publications include grammatical treatises like Bhartruhari’s Vakyapadiya, Narayanabhatta’s Prakriyasarvasva, Astangahrdaya the renowned Ayurvedic treatise, Arthasastra of Kautalya, Manusyalayacandrika, and important work on Indian Architecture and Tantrasamuccaya. it is in recognition of such valuable publication especially the plays of Bhasa, the then curator Sri. T Ganapatisastri was awarded honorary Doctorate degree from the Tubingen University . Also the then president of India and a scholar of international repute Dr.S.Radhakrishnan came in person to this University for unveiling the portrait of Ganapati Shastri on 30th Marh 1949.