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South Asian Manuscripts at the Library of Congress

Indo-Aryan Ms. series (Sanskrit)

This is a guide to the South Asian Rare Book Collection's largest subset of manuscripts, namely, the “Indo-Aryan Ms.” series of 472 manuscripts. These are chiefly in Sanskrit but with a few in other languages, such as Marathi (e.g., Śukāstakaṭīkā) and Prakrit (Kalpasūtra). Some manuscripts are complete (e.g., Māṇḍūkopaniṣadbhāṣyaṭīkā); some are partial (Gajendramokṣa); and some only have one or two folios (Upāṅgalalitāpūjā). The dates of composition for manuscripts in this collection range from 1598 to 1904, while the vast majority are dated roughly to the nineteenth century. The majority of these manuscripts were acquired between the late 1930s and 1940s by Dr. Horace Poleman, the project director of the Library of Congress’s first major initiative to collect materials from South Asia. More information on Poleman and some of these manuscripts can be found on the Library’s 4 Corners of the World blog in a post from January 2018.

Items in the “Indo-Aryan Ms.” series cover a range of different subjects, and many are relevant to the study of Hindu traditions in South Asia. Each catalog record will indicate a manuscript's subject, broadly defined. These subjects include:

  • Selections from the four Vedas, various Upaniṣads, and various Purāṇas
  • Hymns and other works of praise (stotra, stuti) to a particular Hindu deity
  • Descriptions of rituals for the worship (pūjā, pūjāvidhi) of a particular Hindu deity
  • Works pertaining to other ritual matters, such as bathing (snāna) and astrology (jyotiṣa)

Note that titles of manuscripts are rendered according to the ALA-LC Romanization Table for Sanskrit. Each catalog record contains more information pertaining to a manuscript’s author and date (if provided in a colophon), size, and number of folios. The use of brackets indicates uncertain titles, dates, or descriptive phrases supplied by the cataloger. Some manuscripts lack their first and last folios, resulting in the bracketed provisional title [Unidentified Sanskrit text].

Advance appointment (5 business days) is necessary to view items in the South Asian Rare Book Collection.  Please use the Asian Division’s Ask-a-Librarian online inquiry form to schedule an appointment.
Manuscript Number Title (select title to link to the full bibliographic record in the online catalog) Date
Indo-Aryan Ms. 1 Āśvalāyanaśrāddhasaṃkalpaprayoga 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 2 Ṛṣipañcamīvrata from the Bhaviṣyottarapurāṇa, Kṛṣṇa Yudhiṣṭhira saṃvāda 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 3 Śivasahasranāma from the Rudrayāmala 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 4 Cāturmāsyavratāraṃbhakāla 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 5 Aśvattha upanayana (sic) 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 6 Sarasvatīstotra 1809
Indo-Aryan Ms. 7 Lakṣadīpavidhāna from the Bhaviṣyottarapurāṇa, Ṛṣi Nārada saṃvāda 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 8 Rāmastuti 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 9 Anantapūjā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 10 Pūjā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 11 Śrāddhasaṃkalpa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 12 Śukāstakatīkā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 13 Caturthīvrata from the Skandapurāṇa 1778
Indo-Aryan Ms. 14 Śāradīnavarātra prathamadinakr̥tya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 15 Śrīguruhr̥daya from the Viśvāgama (?) 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 16 Prāṇapratiṣṭhā 19th century

Indo-Aryan Ms. 16 Prāṇapratiṣṭhā. 19th century. Library of Congress Asian Division.

This manuscript concerns prāṇapratiṣṭhā, or the ritual that establishes a divine presence in an image of a Hindu god or goddess. When a new image is brought into a temple or home, the recitation of a powerful verbal formula (mantra) in this type of text is part of its consecration. The term refers to the life-giving breath (prāṇa) that is installed (pratiṣṭhā) in a deity’s image.

Indo-Aryan Ms. 17 Śvetāśvataropaniṣadiṣṭonuvāka 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 18 [Upaniṣadgrantha] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 19 Rāmastuti 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 20 Gaṅgāṣṭakastotra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 21 Maṇikarṇikāṣṭakastotra / by Śaṅkārācarya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 22 Hanumatstotra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 23 Śrībaṭukabhairavastotra from the Kālasaṅkarṣaṇītantra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 24 Tulasīpūjana 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 25 [Collection of ritualistic texts and mantras] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 26 [Text on pūjā] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 27 Muṇḍakopaniṣad ; itimahāvākyavivaraṇa 19th century

Indo-Aryan Ms. 27 Muṇḍakopaniṣad. 19th century. Library of Congress Asian Division.

The Muṇḍakopaniṣad is one of the principal Upaniṣads, a genre of Hindu philosophical and speculative works that begin to emerge very roughly around the eighth/seventh century BCE. The Muṇḍakopaniṣad, however, probably dates from the last few centuries BCE. One of its prevalent themes is the differentiation between two types of knowledge: the lower knowledge encompassing rote memorization of the Vedas, grammar, astronomy, linguistics, etc. and the higher knowledge of the imperishable and omnipresent brahman.

Indo-Aryan Ms. 28 Maṇḍaladevatāvāhanasthāpana 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 29 Prāsādavāstuśānti 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 30 Darśapūrṇamāsaprayoga, based upon Baudhāyana 1828
Indo-Aryan Ms. 31 Jalāśaya 1801
Indo-Aryan Ms. 32 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 33 Samāvartanaprayoga 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 34 Nārāyaṇabal̲i ; Nāgabalividhāna 1788
Indo-Aryan Ms. 35 Vināyakaśānti / by Vināyapanta 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 36 Kuṣmāṇḍahoma 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 37 Aśaucanirṇaya / by Trayambakaśāstrī 1789
Indo-Aryan Ms. 38 Hautra 1793
Indo-Aryan Ms. 39 Viṣṇoraprāmārjanastotra from the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 40 Ārādhanavidhi 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 41 Brahmatvam 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 42 Āgnīdhraprayoga 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 43 Darśapūrṇamāsahotra ; Hautr̥prayoga 1806
Indo-Aryan Ms. 44 Utsarjanaprayoga 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 45 Śayyādāna from the Kaustubha 1788
Indo-Aryan Ms. 46 Kūṣmāṇḍahoma according to Baudhāyana 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 47 Śrāddha [paddhati?] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 48 [Tīrthasnānavidhi] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 49 Vāruṇaṃ maṇḍalaṃ ṣoḍaśāracakraṃ 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 50 Vaṭasāvitrīkī 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 51 Śivakavaca from the Skandapurāṇa, Brahmottarakhaṇḍa 1855

Indo-Aryan Ms. 51 Śivakavaca. 1855. Library of Congress Asian Division.

Kavaca literally means “armor” or “sheath.” This is a devotional composition addressed to Śiva, a Hindu deity known both for his meditative equipoise and fearsome temper, for help in driving away problems and preventing adverse situations.

Indo-Aryan Ms. 52 Śāradīnavarātrapūjā 19th century 
Indo-Aryan Ms. 53 Ācārādarśa / by Śrīdatta 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 54 Tithitattva / by Raghunandana Bhaṭṭācārya 1628
Indo-Aryan Ms. 55 Dāyādhikārakramasaṅgraha / by Śrīkr̥ṣṇa Śarman 19th century 
Indo-Aryan Ms. 56 Vyavasthāsārasañcaya / by Nārāyaṇa Śarman 19th century

Indo-Aryan Ms. 56 Vyavasthāsārasañcaya. 19th century. Library of Congress Asian Division.

This manuscript, one of several in the Indo-Aryan series featuring Sanskrit in Bengali script, is a compendium of Hindu religious law, especially with regard to the astrologically appropriate days on which to perform rituals. This manuscript is written on paper bearing the watermark of the British papermaker Stacey Wise & Co., a sign that its production likely took place in Bengal during the British colonial period in the nineteenth century.

Indo-Aryan Ms. 57 Vivādacintāmaṇi / by Vācaspati Miśra 19th century 
Indo-Aryan Ms. 58 Kr̥ṣipaddhati / by Parāśara 19th century 
Indo-Aryan Ms. 59 Smārtavyavasthārṇava / by Raghunātha Sarvabhauma 1661
Indo-Aryan Ms. 60 Nānārthadhvanimañjarī / by Gadasimha 1841
Indo-Aryan Ms. 61 Āśaucasaṅkṣepa / by Madhusūdana Vācaspati 19th century 
Indo-Aryan Ms. 62 Dharmacandra. Vedakanikā / by Kṛṣṇatarkālaṅkāra Bhaṭṭācārya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 63 Śrutismr̥tisārasaṅgraha. Pūrvārddha / by Bālavratyānanda 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 64 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 65 Śrutismr̥tisārasaṅgraha. Uttarārddha / by Bālavratyānanda 19th century 
Indo-Aryan Ms. 66 Daśakumāra Pūrvapīṭhikā / by Vināyaka 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 67 Jyotiṣmatīkalpa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 68 Rudrakalaśasnānapaddhati / by Nārayaṇa Bhaṭṭa, son of Rāmeśvarasada 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 69 Ātharvaṇopaniṣadbhāṣyaṭīkā / by Vyāsatīrtha, pupil of Jayatīrtha 1598

Indo-Aryan Ms. 69 Ātharvaṇopaniṣadbhāṣyaṭīkā. 1598. Library of Congress Asian Division.

This composition comes from the dualistic (dvaita) school of Hindu philosophy known as Vedānta. In the thirteenth century, the philosopher Ānandatīrtha, also known as Madhvācārya, wrote a commentary (bhāṣya) on the Ātharvaṇa Upaniṣad, and his commentary became the subject of another exegetical work (ṭīkā) by Vyāsatīrtha, who lived between the late fifteenth and early sixteenth century. Pictured here are the manuscript’s first and last folios, the latter of which bears the date in its colophon of the year 1655 in the Vikram Samvat calendar, or 1598 CE in the Western calendar.

Indo-Aryan Ms. 70 Māṇḍūkopaniṣadbhāṣyaṭīkā / by Vyāsatīrtha, pupil of Jayatīrtha 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 71 Ātharvaṇopaniṣadbhāṣyaṭīkā / by Vyāsatīrtha, pupil of Jayatīrtha 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 72 Vaiyyākaraṇasiddhāntaratnākara / by Rāmakr̥ṣṇa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 73 Saṅgraharāmāyaṇa. Uttarakāṇḍa. 4th sarga / by Nārāyaṇa Paṇḍitācārya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 74 Tulasīmahātmya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 75 Karmanirṇayaṭīkā / by Jayatīrtha 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 76 Saṅketakaumudī / by Harinātha 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 77 Annapūrṇāstotra / by Śaṅkarācārya 1809
Indo-Aryan Ms. 78 Āsanavidhi 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 79 Bhūtaśuddhi 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 80 Viṣṇorapāmārjanastotra from the Viṣṇudharmottara 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 81 Mālāsaṃskāravidhi. Puraścaraṇavidhi 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 82 [Text on śānti] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 83 U[ttara]nā[rāyaṇopaniṣad] 1807
Indo-Aryan Ms. 84 Śikṣā upaniṣad 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 85 Bhr̥gurvai upaniṣad 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 86 Argalā 1856
Indo-Aryan Ms. 87 Saptaśatīkavaca 1856
Indo-Aryan Ms. 88 Brahmavidā upaniṣad 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 89 Gāyatrīsahasranāmastotra from the Rudrayāmala 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 90 [Unidentified Marathi text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 91 Gā[ya]tri[sic]nyāsa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 92 Saṅkaṣṭacaturthīvratodyāpanavidhi 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 93 Saṅkaṣṭacaturthīpūjā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 94 Kālabhairavastotra / by Śaṅkarācārya 1794
Indo-Aryan Ms. 95 Gaṇeśabhujaṅgastotra / by Śaṅkarācārya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 96 Kātyāyanīstava from the Mahābhārata, Bhīṣmaparvan 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 97 [Gāyatrī]nyāsa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 98 Gāyatrīhr̥daya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 99 Gāyatrīkavacastotra spoken in the Viśvāmitrakalpa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 100 Annapūrṇāstotra / by Śaṅkarācārya 19th century
Advance appointment (5 business days) is necessary to view items in the South Asian Rare Book Collection.  Please use the Asian Division’s Ask-a-Librarian online inquiry form to schedule an appointment.
Advance appointment (5 business days) is necessary to view items in the South Asian Rare Book Collection.  Please use the Asian Division’s Ask-a-Librarian online inquiry form to schedule an appointment.
Manuscript Number Title (select title to link to the full bibliographic record in the online catalog) Date
Indo-Aryan Ms. 101 Annapūrṇāstotra / by Śaṅkarācārya 1794
Indo-Aryan Ms. 102 Tr̥cakalpa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 103 Mahāgaṇapatisahasranāmastotra from the Padmapurāṇa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 104 Aitareya Upaniṣad 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 105 Pūjāvidhi 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 106 Lakṣmīpūjā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 107 Saptaślokīgītā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 108 Sūryātharvaśīrṣa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 109 Kalisantaraṇopaniṣad. Skandopaniṣad 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 110 Hanumatkavaca from the Padmapurāṇa, Nārada Agastya saṃvāda 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 111 Pañcamukhīhanumatkavaca 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 112 Śivakavaca from the Skandapurāṇa, Brahmottarakhaṇḍa, 12th adhyāya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 113 Nr̥siṃhadvādaśanāmastotra from the Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 114 Durgāstotra from the Mahābhārata, Bhīṣmaparvaṇ, Kr̥ṣṇa Arjuna saṃvāda 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 115 Calārcāpaddhati 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 116 Śītalāstotra from the Skandapurāṇa 1769

Indo-Aryan Ms. 116 Śītalāstotra. 1769. Library of Congress Asian Division.

This manuscript is a work of praise (stotra) used during the worship of Śītalā, whose name means “the cool goddess.” Her name references her ability to provide relief from fevers, sores, and other illnesses, like smallpox. There are temples to the Hindu goddess Śītalā throughout India but more concentrated in Bengal and the northern half of the subcontinent.

Indo-Aryan Ms. 117 Mālāmantravidhi 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 118 Bālarakṣāstotra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 119 Hariharātmakastava from the Harivaṃśa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 120 Trailokyamohanakavaca from the Br̥hadāraṇyaka, Īśvaratantra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 121 Aśvatthopanayana from the Śaunakakārikā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 122 [Maṅgalaślokāḥ] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 123 Sarasvatīstotra / by Br̥haspati 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 124 Aṅgārakanyāsa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 125 [Viṣṇupūjā] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 126 [Kārttikasnānavidhi] 1811
Indo-Aryan Ms. 127 Tat[t]vamasimahāvākyapañcikaraṇaniropaṇa / by Jñānadeva 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 128 Veṇugītā from the Bhāgavatapurāṇa, 10th skandha, 20th adhyāya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 129 Sūryastavarāja 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 130 Yajñopavītaprāyaścitta, followed by Śrāddhavidhi 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 131 Śrīgāyatrīhṛdaya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 132 Navagṛhastotra / by Vedavyāsa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 133 Ṣoḍaśanāmāvalīstotra from the Garuḍapurāṇa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 134 Śivasahasranāmastotra from the Mahābhārata, Dānadharma 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 135 Āvarṇapūjā (sic) 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 136 Śrīmahāmṛtyuñjayamantra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 137 Gurugītā from the Skandapurāṇa, Uttarakhaṇḍa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 138 Rudranyāsa 1818
Indo-Aryan Ms. 139 Virapratāpahanumānmālāmantra (sic) 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 140 [Bṛhadāranyakopaniṣad] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 141 [Taittirīyopaniṣad] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 142 [Taittirīyopaniṣad] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 143 [Aitareyopaniṣad] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 144 [Chāndogyopaniṣad] 19th century

Indo-Aryan Ms. 144 [Chāndogyopaniṣad]. 19th century. Library of Congress Asian Division.

The Chāndogyopaniṣad, which dates to roughly the 8th century BCE, is one of the central works in classical Hindu philosophy. Indo-Aryan Ms. 144 contains the sixth lecture (prapāṭhaka) featuring the well-known conversation between the father Uddālaka and his son Śvetāketu. Through various analogies, Uddālaka teaches Śvetāketu that one's true self (ātman) is unseen and imperceptible, but also omnipresent. He teaches that it is like when salt is placed in water, for even though the salt has dissolved and seemingly disappeared, it makes the water salty. Just like salt makes water salty while being rendered invisible by dilution, so too does the eternal, unchanging self (ātman) pervade the whole world, even though one does not directly see or perceive it. The capstone of this analogy is Uddālaka's teaching to his son: "That's how you are" (tattvamasi), the Sanskrit aphorism that speaks to the path of self-realization in this Upaniṣad.

Indo-Aryan Ms. 145 Pavitrāropaṇavidhi from the Nirṇayasindhu 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 146 Bhajagovinda / by Śaṅkarācārya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 147 Śrīrāmacandrāṣṭakastotra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 148 Kālabhairavāṣṭakastotra / by Śaṅkarācārya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 149 Śaniścarāṣṭakastotra 1944 [1887]
Indo-Aryan Ms. 150 Śaniścarāṣṭakastotra 1781
Indo-Aryan Ms. 151 Śrī Kr̥ṣṇabhakticandrikā / by Anantadeva, son of Āpadeva 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 152 Śrīkanṭhādimātr̥kānyāsa 1709
Indo-Aryan Ms. 153 Vyāsaśikṣā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 154 Catasraḥ saṃhitāḥ 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 155 [Two pictures in red of the left and the right palm, the latter bearing inscriptions] 19th century

Indo-Aryan Ms. 155 [Two pictures in red of the left and the right palm, the latter bearing inscriptions]. 19th century. Library of Congress Asian Division.

This double-sided folio represents the Sanskrit genre of rekhāśāstra, or the science of palmistry. Many such manuscripts depict the palm highlighted with various lines (rekhā), according to which the palmist can make prognostications about one’s health, lifespan, and personality traits. In the Asian Reading Room, there are a number of secondary sources on rekhāśāstra in various languages: Malayalam, Telugu, Hindi, Nepali, and Gujarati, as well as many English works in the Library’s General Collections.

Indo-Aryan Ms. 156 [Diagram showing the 7 dvīpas, etc.] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 157 [Picture of maṇḍala in red, black, and yellow] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 158 Pañcaślokātmaka prakaraṇa / by Amr̥tānanda, pupil of Brahmānandatīrtha 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 159 [Three drawings] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 160 Gajendramokṣa from the Mahābhārata, Śāntiparvan 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 161 [Four astrological tables] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 162 [Jyotiṣa text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 163 Devīmānasikapūjana / by Śaṅkarācārya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 164 Viṣṇordivyasahasranāmastotra from the Mahābhārata, Śāntiparvan 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 165 R̥ṇaharastotra from the Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa, Brahma Nārada saṃvāda 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 166 Mr̥tyuñ[jayavidhi] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 167 Ādityahr̥dayastotra from the Bhaviṣyottarapurāṇạ, Kr̥ṣṇa Arjuna saṃvāda 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 168 Van[dyastotra] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 169 Sarasvatīstotra / by Śaṅkarācārya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 170 [Śrāddhavidhi] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 171 Maṇikarṇikāstotra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 172 [Devīstotra] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 173 Bhagavadgītā 1729

Indo-Aryan Ms. 173 Bhagavadgītā. 1729. Library of Congress Asian Division.

Estimated to have been composed between 200 BCE and 200 CE, the Bhagavadgītā (literally “Song of the Lord”) is one of the most beloved works of Hindu religious literature. The Bhagavadgītā, which is part of the voluminous Mahābhārata epic, is an extended conversation between the warrior Arjuna and his charioteer, the Hindu god Kṛṣṇa. When Arjuna’s courage wavers on the battlefield, Kṛṣṇa delivers teachings about the necessity of doing one’s duty without attaching selfishly to the fruits of action, as well as the importance of devotion (bhakti) to God. The image of the manuscript seen here includes verses seven and eight of the text’s fourth chapter, where Kṛṣṇa promises to return, age after age, whenever righteousness declines.

Indo-Aryan Ms. 174 Tulasīkavaca, from the Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 175 Śāradīnavarātrapūjāvidhi 1844
Indo-Aryan Ms. 176 [Pūjāpaddhati] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 177 Hr̥dayakāśīstotra / by Śaṅkarācārya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 178 Ā[ditya]hr̥[dayastotra] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 179 Upāṅgalalitāpūjāvidhi 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 180 Gāyatrīkavaca from the Vasiṣṭhasaṃhitā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 181 Nityapūjāvidhi. Nityahomavidhi 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 182 Śaraṇāṣṭaka / by Harirāya 1801
Indo-Aryan Ms. 183 Roṭikāpūjana 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 184 Vyaṅkaṭeśastutistotra from the Vyaṅkaṭagirimāhātmya of the Varāhapurāṇa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 185 [Devīstotra] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 186 Vyaṅkaṭeśastotra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 187 [Sauramantra] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 188 Saurasūkta from the R̥gveda 1885
Indo-Aryan Ms. 189 Saṅkaṭamocanahanumānāṣṭaka / by Tulasī Dāsa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 190 Śrīśivādi sarvadevadhyānāni 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 191 Pañcaratnastotra / by Śaṅkarācārya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 192 [Mahimna] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 193 Śrīrāmasahasranāmāvalī 1898
Indo-Aryan Ms. 194 Śivasahasranāmāvalī 19th century

Indo-Aryan Ms. 194 Śivasahasranāmāvalī. 19th century. Library of Congress Asian Division.

A sahasranāma is a Hindu religious text that lists 1,000 names of a particular deity. Reading a sahasranāma calls to mind the deity’s different qualities and stories. This incomplete manuscript has more than 400 names of the Hindu god Śiva. Among his many names, Śiva (auspicious) is also Śambhū (benevolent), Ugra (fierce), and Gaṅgādhara (the one who holds the sacred Gaṅgā River in his matted hair).

Indo-Aryan Ms. 195 [Mahā]nārāyaṇa Upaniṣad 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 196 Śāntistava 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 197 Pañcamukhīhanumatkavaca 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 198 Baṭukakavaca from the Rudrayāmala 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 199 Trailokyavijayanāmagopālakavaca from the Brahmasaṃhitā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 200 Śivavarmakathana, 12th adhyāya of Skandapurāṇa, Brahmottarakhaṇḍa 1856
Advance appointment (5 business days) is necessary to view items in the South Asian Rare Book Collection.  Please use the Asian Division’s Ask-a-Librarian online inquiry form to schedule an appointment.
Advance appointment (5 business days) is necessary to view items in the South Asian Rare Book Collection.  Please use the Asian Division’s Ask-a-Librarian online inquiry form to schedule an appointment.
Manuscript Number Title (select title to link to the full bibliographic record in the online catalog) Date
Indo-Aryan Ms. 201 Devyātharvaśīrṣa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 202 Gajendramokṣa 19th century

Indo-Aryan Ms. 202 Gajendramokṣa. 19th century. Asian Division.

This is a partial manuscript telling the story of the elephant king Gajendra’s liberation (mokṣa) from a crocodile. With his leg caught in the crocodile’s iron-like jaws, Gajendra called out to the god Viṣṇu. Responding quickly to this plea for help, Viṣṇu used his divine discus (sudarśana cakra) to kill the crocodile, rescue his devotee, and whisk him away to the divine abode Vaikuṇṭha.

Indo-Aryan Ms. 203 Pūtanāvidhāna 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 204 Śrīviṣṇordivyasahasranāmastotra from the Mahābhārata, Śatasahasrasaṃhitā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 205 [Pūjāvidhi] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 206 Jayavarddhanāṣṭaka gaṇapatistotra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 207 Navārṇamantra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 208 Gaṇeśapañcāyanastotra from the Gaṇeśapurāṇa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 209 Pradoṣastotra from Brahmottarakhaṇḍa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 210 Maurkhyahā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 211 [Vivādārṇavasetu] / compiled by Bāneśvara, et al. 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 212 Śālibhadramahāmunicaritra 17th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 213 Kalpasūtra 18th/19th century

Indo-Aryan Ms. 213 Kalpasūtra. 19th century. Asian Division.

Attributed to the monk Bhadrabāhu (4th century BC), the Kalpasūtra is an important work in the Jain religious tradition. It contains the sacred biographies of tīrthāṅkaras, literally “ford-makers,” or spiritual adepts who teach and show others the path toward the soul’s liberation from reincarnation. Prominent in this text is the life story of Mahāvīra (6th century BC), the twenty-fourth Jain tīrthāṅkara and near-contemporary of the Buddha in eastern India. Like many Jain scriptures, the language of the text is classified as Prakrit (i.e., Ardhamāgadhī Prākṛt), a type of vernacular that developed historically from Sanskrit. Top image: the chief disciple after Mahāvīra’s passing, Indrabhūti Gautama, surrounded by auspicious symbols. Bottom image: Mahāvīra in the Puṣpottara heaven.

Indo-Aryan Ms. 214 Anaṅgaraṅga. 2nd aṣṭaka / by Kalyāṇamalla 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 215 Kapotaṣānti 1855
Indo-Aryan Ms. 216 Dīpapatanaśānti accord. to Baudhāyanasūtra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 217 Vāstuśāntiprayoga 1796
Indo-Aryan Ms. 218 [Guru ārādhana] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 219 Āśaucanirṇāya / by Trayambakaśāstrī, son of Raghunāthabhaṭṭa Suri 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 220 Āśaucadaśaka / by Vijñāneśvara 1705
Indo-Aryan Ms. 221 Gītāmāhātmya from the Vārāhapurāṇa 1904
Indo-Aryan Ms. 222 Saṅkaṣṭanāśanastotra from the Kārtikamāhātmya in the Padmapurāṇa 19th century 
Indo-Aryan Ms. 223 Gaṇapatyatharvaśirṣopaniṣad 1832
Indo-Aryan Ms. 224 [Rāmayāṇamantra] 19th century 
Indo-Aryan Ms. 225 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century 
Indo-Aryan Ms. 226 Saura[sūkta] 1795
Indo-Aryan Ms. 227a Adhyātmarāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa : 1st-7th sarga 1805
Indo-Aryan Ms. 227b Adhyātmarāmāyaṇa, Ayodhyakāṇḍa : 1st-9th sarga 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 227c Adhyātmarāmāyaṇa, Āraṇyakāṇḍa : 1st-10th sarga 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 227d Adhyātmarāmāyaṇa, Kiṣkindhākāṇḍa : 1st-9th sarga 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 227e Adhyātmarāmāyaṇa, Sundarakāṇḍa : 1st-5th sarga 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 227f Adhyātmarāmāyaṇa, Yuddhakāṇḍa : 1st-16th sarga 1833

Indo-Aryan Ms. 227f Adhyātmarāmāyaṇa, Yuddhakāṇḍa : 1st-16th sarga . 1833. Asian Division.

The Adhyātmarāmāyaṇa, a Sanskrit work attributed to the ancient sage Vyāsa and dating roughly to the 14th/15th century, presents the Rāmāyaṇa’s titular hero Rāma as a divine figure and the story’s episodes as an allegory for conquering death. This spiritual (adhyātma) interpretation of Rāma emphasizes his speech and actions as instructive for the soul’s liberation (mokṣa) from the cycle of death and rebirth (saṃsāra).

Indo-Aryan Ms. 227g Adhyātmarāmāyaṇa, Uttarakāṇḍa : 1st-9th sarga 1833
Indo-Aryan Ms. 228 Piṇḍapitr̥yajñaprayoga from the Prayogaratna 1819
Indo-Aryan Ms. 229 Sūryahr̥dayastotra from the Vāmanapurāṇa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 230 [Ādityopasthāna] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 231a-b Aitareyabrāḥmana 1847
Indo-Aryan Ms. 232 Śrāddhasaṅkalpa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 233 Śrāddhapaddhati 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 234 Somavatī amāvāsyāvrata 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 235 Budhāṣṭamīvrata 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 236 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 237 Mahālakṣmīsahasranāmāvalī from the Karavīramahātmya of the Skandapurāṇa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 238 Sandhyātrikāla 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 239 Devapūjā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 240 Rudra 1798
Indo-Aryan Ms. 241 Maṇikarṇikāṣṭaka / by Śaṅkarācārya 1855
Indo-Aryan Ms. 242 Aduḥkhanavamīpūjā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 243 Haritālikāvrata 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 244 Śivagītā from the Padmapurāṇa, 16th adhyāya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 245 Nakṣatraśanti, Tulāpuruṣadānavidhi, Dhenudāna, and Bṛhaspatiśanti 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 246 Ārādhanaprayoga from the Nāgarakhaṇḍa 1824
Indo-Aryan Ms. 247 Taḍāgādipratiṣṭhāvidhi 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 248 Somavatīpūjā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 249 [Vaidikasūktaviśeṣa] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 250 Nighaṇṭu 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 251 Kārtavīryārjunastotra from the Ḍamarutantra. Japahomādividhi 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 252 Pavitrāropaṇavidhi 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 253 Abhilāṣāṣṭakastotra from the Skandapurāṇa, Kāśīkhaṇḍa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 254 Pīṭhapūrakavratapūjā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 255 Somavatīpūjā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 256 Sītalāstotra from the Skandapurāṇa, Kāśīkhaṇḍa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 257 Tr̥cākalpavidhāna. Arghyasaṅkhyā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 258 Maṇḍaladevatāpustaka 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 259 Saṅkṣepeṇa rudrapaddhati 1785
Indo-Aryan Ms. 260 Utsarjana upākaprayoga 1860
Indo-Aryan Ms. 261 R̥ṣipañcamīkathā from the Bhaviṣyottarapurāṇa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 262 R̥ṣipañcamīpūjā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 263 Siddhivināyakacaturthīpūjana 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 264 Caraṇavyūha 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 265 Gr̥[hya]sūtra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 266 Śikṣā ; Bhr̥gu[śikṣā] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 267 [Taittirīyopaniṣad and Taittirīyāraṇyaka] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 268 Nārāyaṇa [upaniṣad] 1835
Indo-Aryan Ms. 269 Lakṣahomapaddhati 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 270 Kūṣmāṇḍahomamantrāḥ 1794
Indo-Aryan Ms. 271 Pañcagavyakalpa from the Baudhāyana 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 272 Madhyakaumudīsamāsa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 273 Si[ddhānta]kau[mudī] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 274 [Caurapañcāśikā] with commentary 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 275 Sarvā[nukramaṇī] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 276 Māghasnānavidhi 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 277 Kārtavīryapañcāṅga 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 278 Kautaka Sarvasva ; Dāyasāra / by Govindānanda 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 279 [Kautuka]sarvasva / [by Gopinātha] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 280 Vyavasthāsārasaṅgraha. Aśocavyavasthā / by Rāmagovinda Śarman 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 281 Mr̥tyuñjayavidhāna 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 282 Saura[sūkta] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 283 Śrīviṣṇusūkta 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 284 Vāmanasūkta 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 285 Pavamānapariśiṣṭa 1819
Indo-Aryan Ms. 286 [Na tamaṃho na duritam] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 286 [Na tamaṃho na duritam]. 19th century. Library of Congress Asian Division.

This nineteenth-century manuscript is Ṛgveda X.126, which is the 126th hymn from the tenth book of the ancient and voluminous Ṛgveda. This hymn is addressed to Aryaman, Varuṇa, and Mitra, who are the celestial deities known as the Ādityas. Like several other manuscripts of Vedic hymns in the collection, Indo-Aryan Ms. 286 has accent marks in red ink, which indicate different pitches for proper recitation: raised, un-raised, and a blend of the two.

Indo-Aryan Ms. 287 Pavamāna[sūkta]. 1st-4th adhyāya in the 6th and 7th aṣṭaka 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 288 [Iti vā iti] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 289 R̥ṣipañcamīvrata from the Bhaviṣyottarapurāṇa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 290 Sarvavratodyāpana 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 291 Dharmaśāstra as pronounced by the great R̥ṣi Yama 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 292 Vāmanapūjā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 293 Dvādaśapañjarikāstotra / by Śaṅkarācārya 1796
Indo-Aryan Ms. 294 Vaṭasāvitrīkathā 1898
Indo-Aryan Ms. 295 Tithinirṇaya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 296 Maṅgalavratapūjā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 297 Yajñopavītamantra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 298 Arghyadānaprayoga 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 299 Tulāvidhi 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 300 [Text on muhūrta with tables] 1850
Advance appointment (5 business days) is necessary to view items in the South Asian Rare Book Collection.  Please use the Asian Division’s Ask-a-Librarian online inquiry form to schedule an appointment.
Advance appointment (5 business days) is necessary to view items in the South Asian Rare Book Collection.  Please use the Asian Division’s Ask-a-Librarian online inquiry form to schedule an appointment.
Manuscript Number Title (select title to link to the full bibliographic record in the online catalog) Date
Indo-Aryan Ms. 301 Mantramohadadhi / by Mahīdhara 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 302 Mātṛkānighaṇṭa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 303 [Maṅgalayantra] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 304 Devīmāhātmya from the Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa. 1st-13th adhyāya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 305 [Maṅgaladvādaśanāmastotra] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 306 [Aṣṭādhyāyīkramānusārivṛttyudāharaṇāni] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 307 [Unidentified grammatical work] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 308 Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki, with commentary Rāmāyaṇatattvadīpikā by Maheśvaratīrtha 1771
Indo-Aryan Ms. 309 [Unidentified Purāṇa text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 310 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 311 Āśvalāyana annasūkta 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 312 Apākadāna 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 313 Maṅgalāgaurīpūjā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 314 Viyogagrahaṇaśānti 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 315 Sāyamaupāsanahoma 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 316 Ṣodaśanityākavaca from the Kādimatatantra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 317 Vināyakacaturthīpūjā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 318 Navarātrapūjā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 319 Śrāddha 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 320 [Part of Ṛgveda X.139] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 321 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 322 [Ṛgveda X.14] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 323 Sa[rvadevatāpūjā?] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 324 [Hanumatstotra?] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 325 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 326 Sarasvatīstotra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 327 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 328 [Unidentified Ṛgveda texts] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 329 Viṣṇordivyaṣodaśanāmastotra from the Garuḍapurāṇa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 330 [Parts of Bhagavadgītā] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 331 Śivakavacastotra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 332 [Devīstotra?] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 333 Kr̥ṣṇa (or Viṣṇu) sahasranāmavalī 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 334 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 335 Kālīkr̥ṣṇa amāvāsyāyāṃ pūjāvidhi 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 336 Na[varātra?]pū[jā] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 337 Mahāmr̥tyuñjayastotra 19th century

Indo-Aryan Ms. 337 Mahāmṛtyuñjayastotra. 19th century. Library of Congress Asian Division.

This is a partially complete manuscript of a hymn of praise known as the Mahāmr̥tyuñjayastotra, or “The Great Conquering of Death.” It is the appeal of the young sage Mārkaṇḍeya to the Hindu god Śiva, whose intervention thwarts Yama, the personification of time and death. This hymn, which is found in the larger Skandapurāṇa, highlights the notion of Śiva as the "great lord over death" (mahākāleśvara). Although Indo-Aryan Ms. 337 lacks its beginning, the colophon is seen here in the image above.

Indo-Aryan Ms. 338 Pālīcīkārīkā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 339 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 340 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 341 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 342 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 343 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 344 [Saurā] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 345 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 346 [Unidentified parts of Vedic text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 347 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 348 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 349 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 350 Pūtanāvidhāna 1794
Indo-Aryan Ms. 351 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 352 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 353 Devīsahasranāmavālī followed by Haritālikāpūjā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 354 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 355 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 356 [Tr̥]cākalpa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 357 Śrīśānti from the Dharmasindhusāra 1826
Indo-Aryan Ms. 358 Adhyātmarāmāyaṇa. Uttarakāṇḍa. 2nd adhyāya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 359 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 360 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 361 [Sahasraśīrṣāpuruṣaḥ] 19th century

Indo-Aryan Ms. 361 [Sahasraśīrṣāpuruṣaḥ]. 19th century. Library of Congress Asian Division.

This is a partially complete manuscript of the Puruṣasūkta, one of the most well-known cosmogonic myths in the Vedas. In this hymn from the Ṛgveda, everything in the universe emerges from the sacrifice (yajña) of Puruṣa, the cosmic human being with a thousand heads, a thousand eyes, and a thousand feet. He is so large that he not only encompasses the entire universe but also extends ten fingers beyond, and his body’s dismemberment gives rise to the different segments of human society. From his mouth comes the priest (brāhmaṇa); from his arms comes the warrior (rājanya); from his thighs comes the merchant (vaiśya); and from his feet comes the servant (śūdra). This particular manuscript contains the first twelve of its sixteen verses.

Indo-Aryan Ms. 362 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 363 Śrīsūkta, followed by Tr̥cāka[lpa] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 364 [Part of a Devīstotra] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 365 [Varuṇa upasthāne viniyoga] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 366 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 367 Mahimnastotra / by Puṣpadanta 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 368 [Part of a Devīstotra?] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 369 [Saura] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 370 [Hanumat]dvādaśanāma 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 371 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 372 Karmav[i]pākagītā 1776
Indo-Aryan Ms. 373 [Durgesmr̥tāharasi] 19th century

Indo-Aryan Ms. 373 Durgesmṛtāharasi. 19th century. Library of Congress Asian Division.

This manuscript contains two verses addressed to the Hindu goddess in her supreme form of Devī and the specific incarnation as the goddess Durgā. For example, the first verse addresses Durgā as “the goddess who takes away poverty, misery, and fear” (dāridraduḥkhabhayahāriṇikā).

Indo-Aryan Ms. 374 [Text on Devī worship] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 375 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 376 [Prāṇapratiṣṭhāmantra] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 377 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 378 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 379 Kārtavīryārjunastotra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 380 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 381 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 382 Upāṅgalalitāpūjā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 383 Vaiśvadeva 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 384 Mahāviṣṇupūjā 1837
Indo-Aryan Ms. 385 [Sahanāvavatu] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 386 [Table of contents [?] of a Sankrit text on religious law] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 387 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 388 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 389 [A list of books concerning religious law] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 390 Śivastotra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 391 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 392 Pa[vamāna]sū[kta] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 393 Hanumatkavaca from the Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa, spoken by Rāmacandra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 394 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 395 Sarva upayogīpūjā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 396 [Unidentified Sanskrit text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 397 Bhagavadgītā, 18th adhyāya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 398 [Text on prayoga] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 399 Śivaṣaḍākṣarīstotra from the Śivarahasya, Gaurī Nārāyaṇa Saṃvāda 1878 [1821]
Indo-Aryan Ms. 400 [Three lines in twelve columns concerning jyotiṣa] 19th century
Advance appointment (5 business days) is necessary to view items in the South Asian Rare Book Collection.  Please use the Asian Division’s Ask-a-Librarian online inquiry form to schedule an appointment.
Advance appointment (5 business days) is necessary to view items in the South Asian Rare Book Collection.  Please use the Asian Division’s Ask-a-Librarian online inquiry form to schedule an appointment.
Manuscript Number Title (select title to link to the full bibliographic record in the online catalog) Date
Indo-Aryan Ms. 401 [Bahubhirvākyaiḥ praśaṁsāparamairbhuvi ekādaśyāḥ parataṃ trailokye hi na vidyate] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 402 Kāśīkālabhairanāṣṭakastotra / by Śaṅkarācārya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 403 [A folio from a Sanskrit poem] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 404 [Śikṣā] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 405 Bhajagovindam / by Śaṅkarācārya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 406 [A fragment of Sanskrit text on Śrīsiddhivināyaka] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 407 [Guṇāḷambi varṇāśramattayā gaśāḷīsphurdapi rupe pare cānurāgi prapañce virāgīsadā muktibhogī sa te ... ] / Kṛṣṇapati vircitam 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 408 [Jyotiṣa] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 409 [Various texts on śrāddha] 1858
Indo-Aryan Ms. 410 Viṣṇusūkta 19th century

Indo-Aryan Ms. 410 Viṣṇusūkta. 19th century. Library of Congress Asian Division.

The Viṣṇusūkta, which comes from the first book of the ancient Ṛgveda, is a hymn to the Hindu god Viṣṇu, whose cosmic strides established the three worlds. His first step covered the whole earth; the second measured the full atmosphere; and the third encompassed the heavens in all their expanse. Not only does this hymn provide one of the early Hindu creation myths, but it also establishes that all beings in these three worlds dwell within the strides of Viṣṇu, a figure later associated with popular incarnations such as Rāma and Kṛṣṇa.

Indo-Aryan Ms. 411 Sāmudrika / by Samudra. Puruṣalakṣaṇa 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 412 [Śāradāni ca puṣpāṇi gṛhāṇa mama keśava] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 413 Pa[llī]pata[na] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 414 Sto[tra] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 415 Ha[rṅ]tā[likāpūjā?] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 416 [A mantra text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 417 Mauñjīlagnavidyārambhapra[karaṇam] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 418 Upamanyustotra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 419 [Koṇovakra bhūnijaḥ] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 420 Śiśupālavadha / by Māgha 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 421 Sāmudrakam 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 422 [A mantra text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 423 [A mantra text] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 424 [A mantra text?] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 425 Rukmi[nimaṅgala?] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 426 Gra[ha]lā[ghava?] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 427 Diṅkkavimokaḥ [sic] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 428 U[mā]ma[heśvara?] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 429 Vāmanapūjā 1840
Indo-Aryan Ms. 430 Gaṇapateravatārakathānakam 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 431 [Pālakārohaṇaṃ bhūmyupaveśanaṃ dugdhapānaṃ niṣkramaṇaṃca] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 432 [Devavrāhmaṇavandanād guravacaḥ sanpādanātpratyaṃ sādhūnāmapibhāṣaṇāchrutivacaḥ śreyaḥ kathākarṇanāt] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 433 Tīrthavidhi 1840
Indo-Aryan Ms. 434 [Smayapadam. Mahānmeghakṣaraṃ pibati kurute vāri madhuraṃ phaṇiḥ pītvākṣīraṃ vamati garaḷaṃ duḥsahataraṃ] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 435 Mānasapūjā / by Śaṅkarācārya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 436 [Anunāsikātparo nusvāraḥ. Anunāsikaṃ vihāya roḥ pūrvasmātparo nusvārāgamaḥ] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 437 Pradoṣastotra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 438 [Pitāmaha prapitāmahā ayukā mukarābhāraṇaḥ sapatnīkāḥ] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 439 Ha[vītālikā?]pū[jā] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 440 Mahimna[stotra?] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 441 [Mahimnastotra?] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 442 Kālabhairavastotra 19th century

Indo-Aryan Ms. 442 Kālabhairavastotra. 19th century. Library of Congress Asian Division.

The Kālabhairavastotra is a Sanskrit composition of praise to Kālabhairava, a fearsome manifestation of the Hindu god Śiva . This text vividly describes Kālabhairava, for example, as “the death of death itself” (kālakāla) and “the first cause of the universe” (ādikaraṇa), who has three eyes, wears snakes, keeps the moon on his head, and holds a trident, axe, noose, and club in his hands.

Indo-Aryan Ms. 443 [Nakṣatrasthāpanam?] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 444 [Yādagrahaya jñākaḍiḷa dakṣiṇa] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 445 Rudra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 446 Rūpāvalī 19th century

Indo-Aryan Ms. 446 Rūpāvalī. 19th century. Library of Congress Asian Division.

This is one of the collection’s several nineteenth-century lithographs, a method of printmaking by means of pressing paper to a stone or flat surface with text written in oil-based ink. This work printed in the aesthetic of a traditional Sanskrit manuscript is a rūpāvalī, a primer for how to decline nouns in the eight cases of Sanskrit grammar: nominative, accusative, instrumental, dative, ablative, genitive, locative, and vocative. The two folios displayed here give declensions for three types of masculine nouns: the proper name Rāma (राम ending with short “a”), the proper name Hari (हरि ending with short “i”), and karin or “elephant” (करिन् ending with “n”).

Indo-Aryan Ms. 447 Nī[la]ka[ṇṭhī]? 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 448 [Kṣmīsuprasannārthaṃ śrīsūktanyāse viniyogaḥ] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 449 Tī[rthavidhi?] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 450 Yādīpūjādikapustakasaṅgrahasmaraṇārtha 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 451 Śāradīnavarātrapūjāvidhi 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 452 Goḷāṣṭomīpūjā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 453 [Oṃ Bhairavo bhūtanāthaśca bhūtātmā bhūtabhāvanaḥ] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 454 [Indrarkṣa netraravi pañcadaśartuvedananyāyudhāṣṭanavabhirguṇitāṃśaca sādhyāt] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 455 Śikṣā 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 456 Sarvānukrama 1838
Indo-Aryan Ms. 457 Aparādhastotra / by Śaṅkarācārya 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 458 Śrībhagavadgītāmālāmantra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 459 [Prathamodhyāī maṅgalācaraṇa. Dāśārharāyāceṃ ākhyāna] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 460 [Collection of vrátas from Bhaviṣya Purāṇa, Hemādri, etc.] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 461 [Sva]rgalokaṃ gamayato ya evaṃ vidvānudite juhoti tasmādudite hotavyataṃ tadeṣābhiyajñagāthā gīyate] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 462 Ṣoḍaśanāmastotra 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 463 [Ropaṇākāsu dadhmasi. Atho hāridraveṣu te harimāṇaṃ ni dadhamasi] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 464 [Śrīmallam bodareśānanandanānandavardhana] 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 465 Tripiṇḍiprayoga 19th century
Indo-Aryan Ms. 466 [Naktavrate vastrayugmaṃ] 19th century
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