Trivandrum Sanskrit Series

Summary

The Trivandrum Sanskrit Series, established in 1908 under Maharaja Rama Varma of Travancore, was created to preserve and publish Sanskrit manuscripts from the Palace Library and private collections. Over 1,400 manuscripts were acquired, with an 8-volume catalogue published. The series includes 84 volumes, covering diverse subjects like literature, philosophy, grammar, and secular topics such as polity and architecture. Notable publications include 13 plays by Bhasa, rediscovered by Dr. T. Ganapati Sastri, which gained widespread recognition and translations. The *Mahisubhrutkalpa*, a work on Mahayana Buddhism previously known only through Tibetan and Chinese translations, was recovered from Travancore. The series also features works on architecture like *Mayamara* and *Silparatna*, Agama texts like *Samabhivagurudevapaddhati*, and Tantric works like *Tantrasamuccaya*. Dramatic compositions such as *Mattavilasaprahasana* and plays by Kulasekhara Varman and Ravi Varma are included. Scholarly contributions like *Vyaktiviveha* by Rijnaka Mahima-Bhatta, which critiques Anandavardhana's Dhvani theory, and grammatical texts like *Dasvaguhya* with commentaries, are part of the collection. The series emphasizes preserving lesser-studied subjects like Silpa and Agama, offering valuable materials for Sanskrit literary history.