Talk:Mysore Oriental Research Institute
By Swami Harshananda
Foundation[edit]
The temple town of Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh is not only a place of pilgrimage but also a place of Oriental learning. The management of the Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthānams has been spending a part of the surplus funds for the propagation of education and spread of religion and culture. As a part of this, the Oriental Research Institute of Tirupati came into being in A. D. 1941.
Affiliation with University[edit]
When the Śri Venkateshwara University started in A. D. 1954, Tirupati became its seat. The Institute was handed over to it in A. D. 1956. The Institute promotes research and textual studies in the areas of Sanskrit, Telugu, philosophy, religion, ancient history and culture.
Contribution[edit]
The following are the fields of its activities:
- Publication of rare manuscripts
- Preparation of well-documented and authenticated reference works like historical dictionaries
- Encyclopedic indexes and anthologies
- Publication of Oriental Journal
- Preparation of descriptive catalogs of manuscripts
- Good library with important books, journals and some modern facilities
- Conducting diploma courses in manuscriptology and epigraphy
- Holding seminars and summer courses in culture
Publications[edit]
The Institute has brought out sixty-five books in Sanskrit, English, Telugu and Tamil. In A. D. 1955, the fourth Sanskṛta Viśvapariṣad[1] was held under its auspices. The institution moved into its own new premises in A. D. 1977 which is now known as ‘Tiruppāṇ Ālvār Bhavan’. Its library contains 26,000 printed books and 17,000 Manuscripts. Facilities have been provided for research work by scholars and specialists.
Prospective Projects[edit]
Some of the long-term projects taken up by the Institute are:
- An Encyclopedic Dictionary on Ancient Women
- Alphabetical index of quotations given by the various commentators on the prasthānatraya called as Vedāntabhāsyodāharanakośa
- Purānakośa in Telugu
- Veñkateśvara Temples, a Study in English
- Bibliography on the Bhagavadgitā in English
- Descriptive catalogs of Sanskrit manuscripts
Courses Offered[edit]
A one-year Post-graduate Diploma Course[2] in epigraphy is another useful activity of the Institute. Other courses in subjects like manuscriptology are also being contemplated.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore