Sārasvati Bhavana Granthamala (previously known as Sarasvati Bhavana Texts) is a series of editions of
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural diffusion ...
scholarly texts. The publication of the series began in 1920, on behalf of Sarasvati Bhawan, the Library,
Government Sanskrit College, Varanasi
Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya (IAST: ; formerly Varanaseya Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya and Government Sanskrit College, Varanasi) is an Indian university and institution of higher learning located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, specializing i ...
as ''The Princess of Wales Sārasvati Bhavana Texts''. This
project
A project is any undertaking, carried out individually or collaboratively and possibly involving research or design, that is carefully planned to achieve a particular goal.
An alternative view sees a project managerially as a sequence of even ...
of publication was accepted by the attempt of Sir Buller, who was the education director of the United Provinces, under British rule, in India.
Aim
Sārasvati Bhavan library is the richest of Sanskrit
manuscripts
A manuscript (abbreviated MS for singular and MSS for plural) was, traditionally, any document written by hand – or, once practical typewriters became available, typewritten – as opposed to mechanically printed or reproduced i ...
in India. Dr. Ganganath Jha suggested and recommended the publication of rare manuscripts collected in this library.Acharya Baldeva Upadhyay, ''Kashi ki Panditya Parampara'', Vishwavidyalaya Prakashan, Varanasi, 1983. These manuscripts were written on palm leaves, clothes, birch, wooden plates and old paper. It was necessary to unearth this treasure of knowledge of scholars.
Subjects
These manuscripts were written on different subjects of Sanskrit, such as
1.
Vedas
upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the '' Atharvaveda''.
The Vedas (, , ) are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute th ...
2.
Nyāya
(Sanskrit: न्याय, ''nyā-yá''), literally meaning "justice", "rules", "method" or "judgment",Mimāṃsā
4.
Vyākaraṇa
''Vyākaraṇa'' (, ) refers to one of the six ancient Vedangas, ancillary science connected with the Vedas, which are scriptures in Hinduism.James Lochtefeld (2002), "Vyakarana" in ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism'', Vol. 2: N-Z, Ros ...
5.
Literature
Literature is any collection of Writing, written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to ...
6.
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has b ...
7.
Astrology
Astrology is a range of divinatory practices, recognized as pseudoscientific since the 18th century, that claim to discern information about human affairs and terrestrial events by studying the apparent positions of celestial objects. Di ...
8.
Dharmaśāstra
''Dharmaśāstra'' ( sa, धर्मशास्त्र) is a genre of Sanskrit texts on law and conduct, and refers to the treatises ( śāstras) on dharma. Unlike Dharmasūtra which are based upon Vedas, these texts are mainly based on ...
9.
Puranas
Purana (; sa, , '; literally meaning "ancient, old"Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature (1995 Edition), Article on Puranas, , page 915) is a vast genre of Indian literature about a wide range of topics, particularly about legends an ...
etc.
History
Sārasvati Bhavan Texts published since 1920 from Government Sanskrit College, Benares. In 1958 this college merged in Sampurnanand Sanskrit University. This University established a Research Institute for editing, publication of manuscript and comparative & critical researches.
The director of Research Institute was editor of all publications and research activities done in the University.
After independence 'Princess of Wales' was removed from Sārasvati Bhavana Texts and its renamed to "Sārasvati Bhavana Granthamala". In this series more than 150 books are published.
Editors of Sārasvati Bhavana Granthamala
Gopinath Kaviraj principal of the college, 1923 to 1937, also remained editor of the series. He received the
Padma Vibhushan
The Padma Vibhushan ("Lotus Decoration") is the second-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "exceptional and distinguished service". All persons without ...
in 1964. From 1991 this Granthamala was forwarded by the Vice-Chancellors of the University, under the supervision of director, Research Institute.