Manuscriptology is an important branch of knowledge concerning old manuscripts: the original hand—scripts. materials used for writing, subsequent copying and recopying of the original texts, their collections, preservations cataloguing and finally preparing their critical editions. In the course of their journey MSS suffer many changes like textual corruption, missing. wrecking and displacement of folios, etc., posing great problems to the later editors for preparing their critical editions,. Most of the manuscripts remain unnoticed and finally go to oblivion. Very few of them get the fortune of attaining M0/crit. i.e. publication in critically edited form. It was really an order of the Providence that l developed a keen interest for preparing critical editions of some Vedic texts which were yet unknown. I devoted a considerable period of my academic life in this field. More l devoted time in critical text—editing work, more I became acquainted with manuscriptology in general and the problems encountering in the work of critical text—editing in particular.
Knowing that was engaged in critical edition Vedic texts, l was invited by several institutions to deliver lectures on Manuscriptology in general and problems concerning preparation of critical editions of Vedic texts in particular. New l feel a great pleasure in presenting my those lectures/papers, which l had delivered/presented in Seminars conferences, in a revised form in this book for the benefit of the students of Manuscriptology.
I am grateful to the authorities of the Asiatic Society, Calcutta (March 8-10, 1990), the Centre of Advanced Study in Sanskrit. University of Poona (Jan. 21-23, 1992) and the institute of Asian Studies, madras (Jan 1l-l3, 1995). Who had invited me to deliver those lectures in the Seminars, orgnised by them. I place on record a word of appreciation for `Yogesh, my youngest son. for his nice type—setting of _ the book. l express my thanks to Dr. Raghbir Singh, Reader in the Deptt. of VVBIS & IS, (P.U.) Hoshiaipur for taking pain in correcting the proofs.
Preface | vi | |
1. | Manuscriptology: Post and Present | 1-38 |
I. | Historical Background | 1 |
II. | Preparation of Mss | 7 |
(a) Necessity of preparing Mss: their copying and Recopying | ||
(b) Materials used for writing Mss | 10 | |
1. Birch-bark (Bhurjapatra) | 11 | |
2. Bark of Aloe tree (Sancipal) | 11 | |
3. Palm-leaves (Tadapatra) | 12 | |
Processing of Palm-leaves | 13 | |
Kumbhi-Bark | 14 | |
5. Kumbhi-Bark | 14 | |
6. Cloth | 15 | |
7. Paper | 15 | |
(c) Instruments used for Writing | 15 | |
1. Stylus | 15 | |
2. Reed Pen | 17 | |
(d) Norms followed in preparing Mss | 17 | |
(e) Ancient Centres for Manuscript-collections | 18 | |
(f) Traditional Methods of Preserving Mss | 22 | |
III. | Modern Areas of Manuscriptology | 23 |
(a) Collection of Manuscripts | 23 | |
(b) Cataloguing | 25 | |
(c) Preservation and Conservation of Mss | 26 | |
1. Air-conditioning | 27 | |
2. Fumigation chamber | 27 | |
3. Lamination | 27 | |
4. Use of Cellotape and Tissue Papers | 27 | |
5. Use of Insecticide oil | 27 | |
6. Microfilming and Computerization | 27 | |
(d) Preparation of Critical Edition | 29 | |
IV. | Recent Efforts made for Pupularishing Manuscriptology | 30 |
1. Important works done in the field | 30 | |
2. Seminars | 30 | |
3. Workshops | 34 | |
4. Courses started in Manuscriptology | 37 | |
2. | Manuscripts in Punjab | 39-61 |
I. | Nature of literature composed in Punjabi | 39 |
II. | Centres of Manuscript-collections | 45 |
1. Sikh History Research Department. Khalsa College, Amritsar | 46 | |
2. Language Department, Patiala | 47 | |
3. Punjab Archives, Patiala | 47 | |
4. Motimahal Palace Library, Patiala | 47 | |
5. Khalsa College Library. Patiala | 47 | |
6. Mahendra College Library, Patiala | 47 | |
7. Gurudvara Motibag, Patiala | 48 | |
8. Shiromani Gurudvara Prabandhak Committee Amritsar | 48 | |
9. Khalsa College Library, Amritsar | 48 | |
10. Motilal Nehru Municipal Library | 48 | |
11. Central Sikh Museum, Amritsar | 48 | |
12. Punjab Sahitya Academy, Ludhiana | 48 | |
13. Panjab University, Chandigarh | 48 | |
14. VVBIS & IS (P.U.) Hoshiarpur | 48 | |
15. Khan Singh Pustakalaya, Nabha | 48 | |
16. Sikh Kanya Mhavidyalaya, Ferozepur | 48 | |
17. Collection of Punjabi Mss in Private possession | 49 | |
18. Punjabi Mss outside Punjab | 49 | |
19. Other Places | 50 | |
III. | Catalogues of Punjabi Mss | |
1. Catalogue of Mss deposited in Sikh History Research Department, Amritsar | 50 | |
2. Catalogue of Punjabi Mss prepared by Language Department, Patiala | 50 | |
3. Catalogue of Mss under the possession of Gurudvara Prabandhak Committee, Amritsar | 54 | |
4. The Catalogue of VVBIS & IS (P.U) Hoshiarpur | 55 | |
IV. | Language and Scripts of the MSS | 57 |
V. | Textual Problems concerning Editing of the Punjabi Mss | 59 |
3. | Survey of Manuscripts in North-western Zone | 62-71 |
I. | Jammu Kashmir | 63 |
1. Raghunath Temple Library, Jammu | 63 | |
2. Raja Ram Singh’s Manuscript Library | 65 | |
3. Raja Amar Singh’s library | 66 | |
II. | Punjab | 66 |
1. Govt. Oriental College/Panjab University, Lahore | 66 | |
2. D.A.V College research Department, Lahore | 67 | |
3. Vishveshvaranand Vedic Research Institute, Hoshiarpur | 68 | |
4. VVBIS & IS (P.U.), Hoshiarpur | 69 | |
5. Sikh History Research Department. Khalsa College, Amritsar | 73 | |
6. Punjab language Department, Patiala | 73 | |
7. Shiromani Gurudvara Prabandhak Committee, Amritsar | 74 | |
8. Central Library, Patiala | 75 | |
9. Punjabi University Library, Patiala | 75 | |
10. Private Collections of the Kings | 75 | |
11. Prof. Pritam Singh’s collection | 75 | |
12. Other places | 75 | |
III. | Haryana | 76 |
IV. | Himachal Pradesh | 76 |
4. | Some Problems En countered in Editing of the Vadhula-Srautasutra | 78-87 |
(i) Problem of understanding the real nature of the text | 79 | |
(ii) Problem of filling the gaps and reconstructing the tex t | 80 | |
(iii) Problem of ascertaining correct reading | 84 | |
(iv) Problem of ascertaining the length of the Sutras | 84 | |
(v) Problem of numbering the Prapathakas. Anuvakas and Patalas | 86 | |
5. | Problems of Editing Vedic Commentatorial Texts: With Special Reference of Aryadasa’s Commentary on Vadhula Srautasutra | 88-101 |
1. Problem of identifying and procuring Mss | 91 | |
2. Problem of displacement of the folios | 94 | |
3. Some of the important features of Aryadasa’s commentary on Vadhss | 97 | |
Index | 102-105 |
Manuscriptology is an important branch of knowledge concerning old manuscripts: the original hand—scripts. materials used for writing, subsequent copying and recopying of the original texts, their collections, preservations cataloguing and finally preparing their critical editions. In the course of their journey MSS suffer many changes like textual corruption, missing. wrecking and displacement of folios, etc., posing great problems to the later editors for preparing their critical editions,. Most of the manuscripts remain unnoticed and finally go to oblivion. Very few of them get the fortune of attaining M0/crit. i.e. publication in critically edited form. It was really an order of the Providence that l developed a keen interest for preparing critical editions of some Vedic texts which were yet unknown. I devoted a considerable period of my academic life in this field. More l devoted time in critical text—editing work, more I became acquainted with manuscriptology in general and the problems encountering in the work of critical text—editing in particular.
Knowing that was engaged in critical edition Vedic texts, l was invited by several institutions to deliver lectures on Manuscriptology in general and problems concerning preparation of critical editions of Vedic texts in particular. New l feel a great pleasure in presenting my those lectures/papers, which l had delivered/presented in Seminars conferences, in a revised form in this book for the benefit of the students of Manuscriptology.
I am grateful to the authorities of the Asiatic Society, Calcutta (March 8-10, 1990), the Centre of Advanced Study in Sanskrit. University of Poona (Jan. 21-23, 1992) and the institute of Asian Studies, madras (Jan 1l-l3, 1995). Who had invited me to deliver those lectures in the Seminars, orgnised by them. I place on record a word of appreciation for `Yogesh, my youngest son. for his nice type—setting of _ the book. l express my thanks to Dr. Raghbir Singh, Reader in the Deptt. of VVBIS & IS, (P.U.) Hoshiaipur for taking pain in correcting the proofs.
Preface | vi | |
1. | Manuscriptology: Post and Present | 1-38 |
I. | Historical Background | 1 |
II. | Preparation of Mss | 7 |
(a) Necessity of preparing Mss: their copying and Recopying | ||
(b) Materials used for writing Mss | 10 | |
1. Birch-bark (Bhurjapatra) | 11 | |
2. Bark of Aloe tree (Sancipal) | 11 | |
3. Palm-leaves (Tadapatra) | 12 | |
Processing of Palm-leaves | 13 | |
Kumbhi-Bark | 14 | |
5. Kumbhi-Bark | 14 | |
6. Cloth | 15 | |
7. Paper | 15 | |
(c) Instruments used for Writing | 15 | |
1. Stylus | 15 | |
2. Reed Pen | 17 | |
(d) Norms followed in preparing Mss | 17 | |
(e) Ancient Centres for Manuscript-collections | 18 | |
(f) Traditional Methods of Preserving Mss | 22 | |
III. | Modern Areas of Manuscriptology | 23 |
(a) Collection of Manuscripts | 23 | |
(b) Cataloguing | 25 | |
(c) Preservation and Conservation of Mss | 26 | |
1. Air-conditioning | 27 | |
2. Fumigation chamber | 27 | |
3. Lamination | 27 | |
4. Use of Cellotape and Tissue Papers | 27 | |
5. Use of Insecticide oil | 27 | |
6. Microfilming and Computerization | 27 | |
(d) Preparation of Critical Edition | 29 | |
IV. | Recent Efforts made for Pupularishing Manuscriptology | 30 |
1. Important works done in the field | 30 | |
2. Seminars | 30 | |
3. Workshops | 34 | |
4. Courses started in Manuscriptology | 37 | |
2. | Manuscripts in Punjab | 39-61 |
I. | Nature of literature composed in Punjabi | 39 |
II. | Centres of Manuscript-collections | 45 |
1. Sikh History Research Department. Khalsa College, Amritsar | 46 | |
2. Language Department, Patiala | 47 | |
3. Punjab Archives, Patiala | 47 | |
4. Motimahal Palace Library, Patiala | 47 | |
5. Khalsa College Library. Patiala | 47 | |
6. Mahendra College Library, Patiala | 47 | |
7. Gurudvara Motibag, Patiala | 48 | |
8. Shiromani Gurudvara Prabandhak Committee Amritsar | 48 | |
9. Khalsa College Library, Amritsar | 48 | |
10. Motilal Nehru Municipal Library | 48 | |
11. Central Sikh Museum, Amritsar | 48 | |
12. Punjab Sahitya Academy, Ludhiana | 48 | |
13. Panjab University, Chandigarh | 48 | |
14. VVBIS & IS (P.U.) Hoshiarpur | 48 | |
15. Khan Singh Pustakalaya, Nabha | 48 | |
16. Sikh Kanya Mhavidyalaya, Ferozepur | 48 | |
17. Collection of Punjabi Mss in Private possession | 49 | |
18. Punjabi Mss outside Punjab | 49 | |
19. Other Places | 50 | |
III. | Catalogues of Punjabi Mss | |
1. Catalogue of Mss deposited in Sikh History Research Department, Amritsar | 50 | |
2. Catalogue of Punjabi Mss prepared by Language Department, Patiala | 50 | |
3. Catalogue of Mss under the possession of Gurudvara Prabandhak Committee, Amritsar | 54 | |
4. The Catalogue of VVBIS & IS (P.U) Hoshiarpur | 55 | |
IV. | Language and Scripts of the MSS | 57 |
V. | Textual Problems concerning Editing of the Punjabi Mss | 59 |
3. | Survey of Manuscripts in North-western Zone | 62-71 |
I. | Jammu Kashmir | 63 |
1. Raghunath Temple Library, Jammu | 63 | |
2. Raja Ram Singh’s Manuscript Library | 65 | |
3. Raja Amar Singh’s library | 66 | |
II. | Punjab | 66 |
1. Govt. Oriental College/Panjab University, Lahore | 66 | |
2. D.A.V College research Department, Lahore | 67 | |
3. Vishveshvaranand Vedic Research Institute, Hoshiarpur | 68 | |
4. VVBIS & IS (P.U.), Hoshiarpur | 69 | |
5. Sikh History Research Department. Khalsa College, Amritsar | 73 | |
6. Punjab language Department, Patiala | 73 | |
7. Shiromani Gurudvara Prabandhak Committee, Amritsar | 74 | |
8. Central Library, Patiala | 75 | |
9. Punjabi University Library, Patiala | 75 | |
10. Private Collections of the Kings | 75 | |
11. Prof. Pritam Singh’s collection | 75 | |
12. Other places | 75 | |
III. | Haryana | 76 |
IV. | Himachal Pradesh | 76 |
4. | Some Problems En countered in Editing of the Vadhula-Srautasutra | 78-87 |
(i) Problem of understanding the real nature of the text | 79 | |
(ii) Problem of filling the gaps and reconstructing the tex t | 80 | |
(iii) Problem of ascertaining correct reading | 84 | |
(iv) Problem of ascertaining the length of the Sutras | 84 | |
(v) Problem of numbering the Prapathakas. Anuvakas and Patalas | 86 | |
5. | Problems of Editing Vedic Commentatorial Texts: With Special Reference of Aryadasa’s Commentary on Vadhula Srautasutra | 88-101 |
1. Problem of identifying and procuring Mss | 91 | |
2. Problem of displacement of the folios | 94 | |
3. Some of the important features of Aryadasa’s commentary on Vadhss | 97 | |
Index | 102-105 |