Introduction to Manuscriptology

This book is the outcome of a constant study of manuscriptology conducted by the author for over a decade. Here an attempt has been made to bring together all informations pertaining to the science of textual criticism so far as Sanskrit is concerned. Topics like the antiquity of writing in India, the materials used for writing purposes, collection, preservation and cataloguing of manuscripts, critical editing of the manuscripts, etc., are dealt with in detail. The book covers two aspects of manuscriptology : (i) that relates to manuscripts externally, i.e. the nature and form of manuscripts, material, script, the antiquity, cataloguing and presentation and (ii) that relates to manuscripts internally, i.e., the method of critically editing a text. An exhaustive list of Manuscript Libraries in India and outside and a comprehensive list of glossary of technical terms : Sanskrit-English and English-English are appended to this book.
An exhaustive bibliography is also given for the reference of readers and researchers. Further, exercises for learning scripts, that are mostly employed in Sanskrit manuscripts, have been carefully designed keeping the learners in view and appended to this volume. This volume is one of the rare contributions to the Science of Manuscriptology and Indian textual criticism, which will be of a high significance to beginners and scholars in the field.