Literary review on strides of Ayurveda manuscript research and contemporary advances in manuscript studies in Ayurveda colleges of Kerala

Abstract

Manuscriptology, a branch of literary research is designated as a primordial one as it is concerned with the preservation of the past for the future. This involves a systematic study of collection, classification, preservation, transcription, translation, lower and higher criticism of manuscripts. Manuscripts are the documented version of orally transmitted treasures of various types of knowledge including Ayurveda. Until and unless Ayurveda scholars embark in the field of manuscriptology, especially in critical editions and publication of Ayurveda manuscripts, the enrichment of our science both in knowledge and pragmatic domain will remain an incomplete one. The online data revealed that only 2% of Ayurveda manuscripts are in the published sector. So it is the need of the hour to conduct manuscriptology works on Ayurveda manuscripts exemplifying India’s cultural and knowledge heritage. This article will review the strides of manuscriptology along with a glimpse into the study of manuscripts done by Ayurveda colleges in Kerala. Eventually, all these works reveal the fact that further research on Ayurveda manuscripts is inevitable in contemporary knowledge-gathering settings.