Mysore Oriental Research Institute
The Mysore Oriental Research Institute (ORI) of Mysore in India is an institute that collects, exhibits, edits and publishes rare Sanskrit and Kannada manuscripts.
description
The institute was formerly known as the Oriental Library . The library was founded in 1891 on the instructions of Chamaraja Wodeyar , the Maharaja of Mysore . The institute is located at the end of Krishnaraja Boulevard in the architecturally interesting Jubilee Hall , which was built in 1887 to celebrate the golden anniversary of Queen Victoria's accession to the throne . Until 1961 the institute belonged to the Ministry of Education and then became part of the newly established University of Mysore . The Oriental Library was renamed the Oriental Research Institute in 1943 .
job
From 1893 until today the ORI has published almost 200 titles. The library has a rare collection such as B. the Encyclopaedia of religion and ethics by James Hastings , A Vedic Concordance by Maurice Bloomfield and critical editions of the Ramayana and Mahabharata . It was the first public library in Mysore City for research and publication of manuscripts. The focus is on Indology . The institute publishes an annual journal, the Mysore Orientalist . In 1909 the publication of Kautilyas Arthashastra , written in the 4th century BC, edited by Dr. R. Shamashastri, the institute an international reputation. The publications Sri Tattvanidhi , a collection of Shloka by Krishnaraja Wadiyar III, are also known. Three edited manuscripts Navaratnamani-mahatmyam (a work on gemology ), Tantrasara-sangraha (a work on sculpture and architecture ) and Vaidashastra-dipika (a text on Ayurveda ) were translated into English and Kannada and reprinted several times. Two other works, the Rasa -barkudi (on mercury medicine) and Paryayapadamanjari (Ayurveda dentistry ) have been edited and are to be published.
The ORI has over 33,000 palm leaf manuscripts . These manuscripts are made from the leaves of the Talipot palm , which are cut to a standard size of 15 cm by 3.5 cm. The brittle palm leaves were softened with a paste made from ragi and used for writing, similar to papyrus in ancient Egypt. This organic material rots easily and can be destroyed by silverfish . In ORI, lemongrass oil, which acts like a pesticide, is applied to the manuscript to preserve it . The lemongrass oil brings liquid into the brittle palm leaves and the hydrophobic properties of the oil keep the manuscripts dry. This will protect the text from the humidity .
The most common method of preserving manuscripts at ORI is by capturing them on microfilm . The institute also records the manuscripts digitally , which simplifies the restoration of the texts.
scientist
- AR Krishnashastry
- R. Shamashastri