AYUSH Manuscripts Advanced Repository (AMAR)
Web based Electronic repository of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Yoga, Naturopathy, Siddha Manuscripts
A manuscript is a handwritten composition on paper, bark, cloth, metal, palm leaf or any other material dating back at least seventyfive years that has significant scientific, historical or aesthetic value. Lithographs and printed volumes are not manuscripts. Manuscripts are found in hundreds of different languages and scripts. Oen, one language is written in a number of different scripts. For example, Sanskrit is written in Oriya script, Grantha script, Devanagari script and many other scripts. (http://namami.nic.in). Manuscripts are distinct from historical records such as epigraphs on rocks, firmans, revenue records which provide direct information on events or processes in history. Manuscripts have knowledge content. It is pertinent to note that there is a treasure house of Indian Traditional Knowledge systems viz., Ayurveda, Vrikshayurveda, Ashvayurveda, Gajayurveda, Siddha, Yoga, Dhanurveda, Sangita, Natya, Sthapatyaveda, Shilpashastra etc., in millions of manuscripts in private collections or in Intuitional repositories across length and breadth of India. Government of India through NAMAMI (National Manuscript Mission) and Ministry of AYUSH through Central Scheme “Acquisition, Cataloging, Digitization and Publication of Text Book & Manuscripts of Ayush” are working relentlessly to bring out this treasure to the utility of common people. As part of the same drive AMAR has been created.
“AMAR” is developed by National Centre of Indian Medical Heritage, Hyderabad working under the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Ministry of AYUSH, and Government of India. It is a unique and dedicated institute for preservation and showcasing of “Indian Medical Heritage” in its all possible forms viz., Archeological artifacts, Manuscripts, Textual studies, Ethnomedical/botanical practices and any other source deemed fit. As part of the mandate of the Institute, it has worked extensively on collection, digitization and cataloguing Manuscripts of Medical importance specially related with Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Yog&Naturopahty. In between 2009-13 the institute has carried out extensive field work under ““Acquisition, Cataloging, Digitization and Publication of Text Book & Manuscripts of Ayush” sponsored by Ministry of AYUSH (then Dept. of AYUSH) and successfully digitized manuscripts. The outcome of the work was published as “Descriptive Catalogue of Collection and Digitization of Medical Manuscripts from South India, Maharashtra and Madhyapradesh (2013). Similarly a project entitled “Survey, cataloging and Digitized inventory of Medical Manuscripts in Eastern India (Orissa, West Bengal & Bihar” which was carried out by CCRAS Hqrs., and National Research Institute of Ayurvedic Drug Development, Bhubaneshwar. The outcome of the work was published as “Descriptive Catalogue of Medical Manuscripts (3 volumes) in the year 2010-11. However due to sheer size of these catalogues it was envisaged to bring out the information in digital catalogue format so that more number of users can access the same. The result is development of AYUSH Medical Advanced Repository (AMAR).
AMAR is immensely useful for the scholars of Basic Principles, Classical textual based specializations of AYUSH (e.g. Samhita Siddha for Ayurveda), Scholars of Indology, South Asian Studies, Medial Historians, Language experts and other enthusiasts who share passion of traditional knowledge. AMAR can be access at: http://niimh.nic.in/amar