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WORLD August 28, 1999 VNN4604 Comment on this story Save Them From The Cockroaches BY SWAMI B.V. PARIVRAJAK INDIA, Aug 28 (VNN) — (Few tips about the Vrindavan Research Institute) An invaluable service opportunity is always open to all the devotees from any part of the world. And it is indeed also a great responsibility. I am talking about the importance to preserve the culture of Braj. I would say more, it is a sacred duty and who can object to this? In November 1968 an institute was founded for this purpose, the Vrindavan Research Institute. In this article I have gathered few tips about it so that interested Vaishnavas may direct some of their energies to help preserve the cultural heritage of Braj. Rest assured that sooner or later so many of the rare works which are part of the large library collection of the VRI will be translated into all the foreign languages, or at least in English. It is a question of time only. Therefore be generous with yourself and the others and do not neglect this inestimable service opportunity. The VRI is a museum for the preservation of manuscripts and other research materials from the Braj area. It also aims to promote advanced studies in Indian literature, culture and civilization. For about a decade since its foundation the Institute was financially supported through the personal resources of the late dr. Ram das Gupta of the school of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Subsequently, realizing the significance of the aims of the VRI and appreciating its achievements, the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Central Government provided some help for its activities. The VRI owns a remarkable collection with twenty-six thousand manuscripts in Sanskrit, Hindi, Bengali and other Indian languages, about 250 miniatures, historical documents in the Devanagari and Persian scripts, a large number of old stamps, postcards and envelopes and some coins and sculptures. Most of the manuscripts in the collection belong to the centuries from the 16th to the 18th and are of considerable value in the study of the Medieval literature of Northern India. Some of them are very old and valuable, such as a manuscript in the handwriting of Sanatan Goswami dated 1534 AD, and quite a number of them are of unknown and unpublished works. Much of the material is related to the history and literature of the Gaudiya sampradaya. There are autograph manuscripts of the most prominent followers of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, namely Rupa Goswami, Sanatan Goswami, Jiva Goswami and Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami. The collection has also manuscripts of many important works of the other sampradayas, that of Nimbarka, Ramananda, Vallabha, Hit Harivansh and Swami Haridas. There are several palm leaf manuscripts in the Oriya, Bengali and Devanagari scripts and also on birch-bark. Notable are also two works in block printing on palm leaf, a Vedic Sandhyavidhi and the Gitagovinda of Jayadev Goswami. Most of the miniatures in the collection belong to the Kangra, Chitore and Mughal schools of art, and are mainly religious or historical in subject matter. Rare paintings show Akbar and Tansen visiting Swami Haridas; Sri Chaitanya and Sri Nityananda with Advaitacharya; and Krishna massaging Radha's feet. There are some very old portraits of well known scholars, priests and their disciples, belonging to the Gaudiya or Vallabha sampradaya. Paintings in lacquer on wooden boards portray Sri Chaitanya amongst His followers and their congregational chanting of God's names. These date from the late 16th or early 17th century. Almost all the material has been collected from temples, priests and private houses in the Mathura, Agra and Aligarh districts. A vast amount of research material has been found in heart breaking conditions. Hundreds of manuscripts have been rescued from dust, humidity and cockroaches. They were piled up in corners and untouched for years or decades. Human ignorance will cause the gradual disappearance of a priceless heritage, if these treasures are not preserved in time. The Vrindavan Research Institute hopes to be able to face these difficulties. The late Dr R.D. Gupta stated, "No other country faces a greater problem in preserving its cultural heritage than India, and of all areas in India, this is especially true of the Braj which is, on the one hand, so rich in unique and invaluable manuscripts and other cultural objects, and, on the other hand, so poor in means that every day hundreds of manuscripts are sold as waste paper for wrapping goods and food, or are burnt for preparing tea and meals. It would be impossible to estimate how many thousands of manuscripts have been disposed of over the last few decades in the traditional way of consignment to the holy rivers, or by burial. This is not a loss to India, but also to Orientalist scholars from all over the world." I would add here that this is a loss also for all the Vaishnavas because the VRI has no sectarian concerns. All should help regardless of one's own religious faith. The Institute has indeed a conservation laboratory where manuscripts are treated efficiently and preserved for the benefit of posterity. Several scholars from India and overseas have utilized the resources of the VRI and their monographs have been published or are in the process of being published. Fellowships are also awarded for research. The VRI organizes also lectures, seminars, exhibitions and film shows in India and abroad. Some of its future projects include the establishment of an ideal Vaishnava Museum and manuscript library, a center for advanced research in religion, culture, history, philosophy, Indology, art, folklore, etc., critical editions of important texts and post-graduate diploma courses in oriental Manuscriptology. For more information about the activities of the VRI please contact its Secretary, Sri Gopal Gosh, at the following E-mail: Sri Gopal Gosh vrindak@nde.vsnl.net.in Comment on this story  Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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