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Manuscripts Temple in the Temples City || By Bhushan Parimoo || LIVE IMAGE |
Refer to anyone about
the City of Temples , in the state without batting an eye lid at once anywhere
in the Subcontinent .Abrupt response shall come the Jammu Tawi Winter Capital
of the state. But very few know that it possesses one of the greatest Storehouse
of Sanskrit manuscripts of rarest nature lies now in obscure in the city of
Temples .
It is now almost a scores of the m
onths passed that while in Delhi
for the routine Check Eye up, had a chance to recollect old days of Jammu city
and around with one of the acquaint from the State. Deliberating upon various
issues, recollecting gone by days, sweet and sour which carry life forward as
cherished memories. Continuation of tradition and relevant irrelevant matters.
Here in abruptly status of the Sanskrit Library cropped .Presumed this writer
lived most of the time nearby must be well acquainted with it.
To the utter
disbelief of this writer, was quite ignorant about it. What was most surprising
that had lived for about close vicinity at City Chowk for decades beside at
least once visit the premises daily to pay obeisance to the Place quite
ignorant of the Greatest abode of Literature. Back home first thing did visited
the Library in the premises of the Ragunath Temple… Except one Lt –Gen
Goverdan Singh who was once President Dharmarth Trust, or present officials
hardly anybody knew about it even not from the Department of History Jammu
University, other institutions beside cross section of the society. So much so
even Shopkeepers of Hari Market tenants of the Ragunath Temple, know mostly the
temple is constructed by the Maharaja Rambhir Singh and the liberary.
What is
left here is dedication of lower staff who guard it on petty sum.A painting Raj
Ragani, written in Golden letters was stolen, thief found but not retrieved. Dr
Karan Singh the Sole Trusty Observed during one of this visit to this library
on 4th week of Dec 2017, As This Library represents a unique heritage not only
of national but of international scholarship. Its history give back well over a
centaury The Dharmath Trust has the proud privilege of his great collection. We
must look after it Place of It once boasted to focus Sanskrit students world
over posses six thousand Sanskrit manuscript catalogued ‘Credited to any public
library of the west” .
History in making of one of the best manuscript libraries
of” Gods language’ Sanskrit as Stein put on the planet. Credit goes to Late
Maharaja Ranbhir Singh as a solid monument of the qualities in his remarkable
character for justice, good governance and inculcate the yearn for education
and knowledge. Out of 6 thousand books it has only 4 thousand left rest taken
away by the people who are called respectable ones. Inquest was conducted how
many of the locals know about it and why no interest is taken to keep it to the
international standard, which it once was A true follower of Rig Veda which
emphasis that let Noble thought come from anywhere. A desire to revive the
study of Vedic text in his dominions .which had practically ceased for
centuries in the land of Sages. Soon after ascending to the throne of the State
of Jammu and Kashmir in 1857.
Extensive search began under his orders to
procure the original or copies of all Kashmir Sanskrit Works .From anywhere at
any cost. Assignment was given to Pandit Rajkaka. Who entrusted his Scholars
with the task of to acquire the manuscripts books from all over the India
beside neighbouring places. According to Stein “ The beginning was made by
Pandit Assanada who by order of Maharaja is reported to have spent Rupees
fifteen thousand in procuring the manuscripts. Indicative of the fact his zeal
to enlighten not only his subjects but makes it available who seeks it.
This
led to the formation of the Ragunath Temple Library. Collections belonging to
Pandit Goplarama and Pandit Ramama krishna were added. With the death of Pndit
Vayasa a distinguished Scholar especially in medical lore in 1869.His widow
parted with on consideration the extensive collection of strong in Medical and
Kriya texts. Initially manuscripts thus procured were safely stored in the
adjustment room where Statue of Rama has been installed.
Stein when first
visited it in August 1888 found eight thousand manuscript wrapped in cloth as
bundles . He rightly called it a Sardh Khana as the store room had neither any
provision for natural light to peek in of any sort of ventilation but secured
from privy envious eyes .Later on his suggestion to Prince Amar Singh to build
the new library in Jammu to house the Sanskrit manuscript collection in a form
of a Temple.
Access to this Temple of rarest
manuscripts was not a cakes walk for him. He had heard about it from his master
George Bhuler, about collection of manuscript in Dogra capital. Under him he
did masters Degree in Sanskrit, Persian at Brilin. And Doctor of literature he
received from three British universities Oxford, Cambridge and London. And at
the age of 23 he was appointed Registrar of University of Lahore beside
addition charge of Principal of Orient studies.
George Buhler arrived Kashmir
on 11 th August 1875 and got an order issued from the Maharaja Ranbir Singh to
allow him to search Saharda Manuscript. Armed with a letters of recommendation
by the Resident Mr.W.F.Prideaux and State Secretary for the Maharaja for an
access to the private library of Sanskrit manuscript of Maharaja Rambir Singh
in Ragunath Temple ,Jammu. Was grated subject and asked his to describe his
farher’s treasure and the state of European Sanskrit studies. Discourse should
be in Sanskrit and recite Vedic verses from the books printed in Europe.
An
audience was given in an open Darbar with the Maharaja Partap Singh Stein was
given a seat on the right side and Prince Amar Singh to the left.Maharaja had
summoned the twelve most learned Pandits including Pandit Damodar, Pandit
Govind Kaul, Pandit Sahaz Bha from kashmir, Pandit Gokulachandra from jammu,
Pandit Harijalal from Jaiput and Pandit Bhaskra the Royal priest.
After half an
hour the audience was over .Maharaja was pleased and Guards fired a salute to
him. After winning confidence and permission the high priest of the temple was
upset at the desecration of the treasure entrusted to him. Stein master of
protocol manipulated the process of officialdom and struck a good report with
the priest. After examining the treasure he was of the opinion that this should
be accessible for research. With the help of the new Resident Mr R.Paarrey
Nisbet he submitted a plan for the preparation of systematic Standard
catalogue of manuscripts. State council by a resolution dated October 19, 1889
approved the plan and entrusted him the work.
He was aware that similar
cataloguing to Sanskrit manuscript has already
been carried by Professor Weber’s Catalogue of Chamber’s Manuscripts of Indian
Office’s Manuscripts Oxford , Dr Brunel’s Classified Index, Professor Aufrecht
and Dr Eggeling at Berlin, Oxford and Peterson. He sought and got the services
of two Kashmiri Pandit scholars Pandit Govind Kaul and Pandit Shaz Bhat of
Srinagar. whose knowledge and scholarly qualification he knew from their
assistance I on working on Rajtranghni. Six copyists were placed at their
disposal. The preparation commenced on in December 1889 and completed it in
1894.. Stein did pay a visit on December 18,1940 fifty half a century after
cataloguing the manuscript.
And found well preserved till then. A
few years back an offer had come as told to bring it in the Heritage status of
the Libraries in the World which was turned down by the management headed by Dr
Karan Singh a beacon of knowledge but to maintain the treasure leave much to be
desired. It could be made international study centre. A project has been
undertaken for some time with dedication to digitalise the left over
manuscripts, by one Mr Pandey from Malaysia, which seem out perturbing beside
why 2000 rich manuscript are not being retrieved who have taken them is duly
recorded. Some of them has been taken away to the Dogra Art Gallery subject to
verification. Many rich paintings artefacts are tucked away in trunks. Basic
principle of a Library is it should be open for 24/7 and no book allowed to be
taken out. Hastily adding staff gives best within resources
Bushan Parimoo
(The writer is a Jammu based environmentalist and a regular contributor to this Website.)
(Feedback at: blparimoo@gmail.com)
