Scope of Manuscriptology in Ayurveda

Abstract

Manuscriptology is the scientific or structural study of handwritten document credited with fair antiquity. Not even 5% of the available manuscripts in our country have been brought into limelight. National manuscript mission’s study reveals the fact that, more than 20000 Ayurvedic manuscripts are identified but still unexplored. Here lies an extensive scope for Ayurveda in the field of Manuscriptology. As no complete catalogue of Indian medical manuscripts are available till date, the treasure of knowledge which lie hidden in oriental libraries and private custodies can be brought into mainstream by the well-organized steps of Manuscriptology - collection, conservation, cataloguing, transcription, translation, critical edition and publication. Of late, it is observed that some of the Ayurvedic scholars are involving in manuscript studies and institutions are supporting the preservation of ancient knowledge, but such works aims at a level of individual study rather than an organized one. Collaboration of various scholars of Ayurveda and languages like Sanskrit along with many experts in this field should be brought together to accomplish the task of publication of manuscripts. Only 2% of medical manuscripts are in printed form, so initiation should be taken up for the conservation, cataloguing, critical edition, and publication of Ayurvedic manuscripts which will open a new way for further activities in research area of Ayurveda including effective clinical researches.