Shaiva Siddhanta texts in UNESCO’s `Memory of the World’ register

PONDICHERRY: The collection of 11,000 palm-leaf and paper manuscripts in Sanskrit, Tamil and Manipravalam about Shaiva Sidhanta preserved at the French Institute, which is the largest collection of manuscripts of the Shaiva Siddhanta texts, has found a place in UNESCO’s "Memory of the World" register, according to Traja Virtanen, adviser for Communication Information, UNESCO, New Delhi.

Participating in a function to mark the inscription of the manuscripts of the Institute here, she said, "The unique collection is the source for scholars to reconstruct a chapter in the religious annals of humanity."

She said the collection of Shaiva Manuscripts has been entered into the International Register.

Apart from this entry, another national collection � The I.A.S Tamil Medical Manuscript � has also found entry into the register.

In his address Dominique GIRARD, the Ambassador of France in India, said the establishment of the French Institute here has helped broaden the field of French Indology studies. He urged the scholars in the Institute to continue their efforts.

Unveiling a plaque to mark the entry of manuscripts in the Memory of the World register, Lt Governor M M Lakhera said, "More and more texts on various branches of Indian literature, particularly those on science and arts, should be brought out in good text-critical conditions."

Jean-Pierre Muller, Director of the French Institute, said efforts would be made to make the collection better known and give access to those who wish to make use of its riches.