Oriental Research Institute of Mysore varsity selected for ‘Vedapeetha' award
The Oriental Research Institute (ORI) of the University of Mysore has been selected for the prestigious annual 'Vedapeetha' award, given by Sri Bhandarakeri Math, Udupi.
Every year, the Math honours a distinguished institution (selected at the national level) that significantly contributes to the preservation, nurturing, and development of Indian knowledge, Vedic sciences, culture, and traditions.
A committee of experts constituted to select the institutions has announced the award to the institute.
In a press release, Sri Vidyeshateertha Swami, the head of Sri Bhandarakeri Math, stated that the award consists of a cash prize of ₹1 lakh, a citation, and a memento.
The seer said the award will be presented on May 9 during the Sri Veda Vyasa Jayanti, at the 82nd session of the Akhila Bharata Madhwa Rajya Sabha and the 25th Aradhanotsava of Sri Vidyamanya Teertha, jointly organised by Sri Matha, Sri Madhwa Radhanta Samvardhaka Sabha, Sri Bhagavatashrama Pratishthana, and Lokasamskriti Kala Vidya Vikasa Pratishthana at the K.K. Venugopal Sabha Bhavan in Belagavi.
D.P. Madhusudhanacharya, director of the institute, said that the Oriental Research Institute, established in 1891 by the Maharaja of Mysore, Sri Chamarajendra Wadiyar, has been relentlessly working towards the collection, preservation, research, editing, and publication of ancient palm-leaf manuscripts in book form. 'It is a matter of honour for the institute to receive this award,' he said in the release.
He said the ORI, a prestigious institute in the country, has the distinction of publishing over 240 works in book form since 1891. It is one of the leading institutions in the country with a collection of over 70,000 palm-leaf and paper manuscripts, the director stated.
He expressed happiness that Sri Bhandarakeri Math recognised the ORI's contributions.
Dr. Madhusudhanacharya said the ORI has the unique distinction of editing and publishing Kautilya's Arthashastra of the 4th century BCE. Many other prestigious works, such as Navaratnamani-Mahatmyam (a work on gemology), Tantrasara-Sangraha (a work on sculpture and architecture), Vaidya Shastra-Deepika (an Ayurveda text), Rasa-Kaumudi, Sri Tattvanidhi of Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, and Saundarya Lahari (a collection of hymns) have already been published.
The director recalled the efforts of all the scholars who have contributed to the institute since its inception, starting from R. Shama Sastry, who personally travelled to various villages across the country to collect manuscripts from different monasteries and individuals, researched, and edited them, and brought them to book form.
The director added that the institute has already undertaken the preservation of original palm-leaf manuscripts and their printed books through various schemes and endowments. The digitisation of these manuscripts is progressing rapidly, and efforts are under way to make them accessible to knowledge seekers worldwide soon, he added.
He said the prize money of ₹1 lakh will be appropriately utilised for the publication of ancient texts and the development of the institute.
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