FOREWORD

In the past, when knowledge grew in enormous proportions, it was made available in the form of Vedic literature. But, handling this knowledge was a difficult task, as it was like an ever-expanding spiral. At the same time, our predecessors could not leave this valuable knowledge to perish by it. Hence, they struggled very hard to preserve this information to the posterity. Vedic literature has been handed down or transmitted to us orally, from generation to generations in India carried from person to person through mouth and ear, and all early literature that now available in printed form originally handwritten i.e., in the form of manuscripts, which is the basis for the learning of science & technology. Hence, it is forced to grant a top place of honor to the science of Manuscriptology and can be concerned as 'Science of Sciences'.

The term 'manuscript' in a broader sense means any document written or incised by hand such as documents or texts written on materials like Tala Patra (palm-leaf), Bhurja Patra (birch-bark), Kumbhi-bark, Sacipat (Agarutvak), Leather (animal skin), Cloth, Tulapat (a type of paper made out of cotton), paper and inscriptions on rocks, pillars, potteries, copper plates etc.

The ancient traditional knowledge of healing art is hidden in the form of manuscripts, which is practiced since centuries by thousands of practitioners in different parts of the world, based on the fundamental principles laid down by the sages in classics. These records on Ayurveda and ancient Indian Medicine are lying unrevealed in the form of Manuscripts, which are scattered through out the world. Unfortunately many of the manuscripts have misplaced or lost or unidentified by the predecessors of the authors due to ignorance of their importance and improper preservation and unorganized documentation. These manuscripts are commonly found in places like Palaces, residences of Zamindars, temples, monasteries and families of priests, astrologers, traditional architects, and traditional Vaidyas.

They act as the indispensable tool for the acculturation of the society. They are also the means of preserving and disseminating cultural heritage. Loss of books on a particular branch of knowledge especially on Medicine is like the washing away of the bridge connecting the two shores of an inundated river.

Considering this, Department of AYUSH is sponsoring Extra Mural Research projects entitled "Acquisition, Cataloguing, Digitization and Publication of Text Books and Manuscripts" and entrusted a project entitled 'Collection and Digitization of Medical Manuscripts (CDMM) from South India, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh'. This is a very encouraging and bold attempt by Department of AYUSH, Government of India, with an objective to develop a centralized repository of medical manuscripts at NI IMH, Hyderabad.

I hope this work will bridge the gaps in wide dissemination of Ayurvedic literature and will serve as a potential literary treasure for the Research Scholars, Physicians and Scientists.

Outcome of the project is the result of three years untiring efforts of the institute in tracing the manuscript resource centers/ persons & seeking permission, digitizing, and in the preparation of informative catalogues. I appreciate the sincere efforts of Dr. Ala Narayana, Director, National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage, Hyderabad and his team for bringing out highly useful collection of Medical Manuscripts, Rare medical books, journal issues and Descriptive Catalogue, which are well preserved in digital form and systematically catalogued. Such prestigious projects on Ayurveda will be continued by the Institute to further explore and collect the valuable