text:
Colophon of Srila Rupa Gosvami's Hari-namamrta-vyakarana
I am glad to announce that while
searching for Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana's works, I found a manuscript of
Srila Rupa Gosvami's Hari-namamrta-vyakarana. Just as Srila Jiva
Gosvami's Sat-sandarbhas were based on Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami's
notes on the Srimad-Bhagavatam, similarly Srila Rupa Gosvami's
grammatical treatise is the work which inspired Jiva Gosvami to write a
full-fledged version of it. This is corroborated by Gopala dasa in his Amrtasvadini-tika,
one of the original Sanskrit commentaries on Jiva Gosvami's grammar. In the
beginning of the text, Rupa Gosvami offers obeisances to Lord Hari and
expresses his wish that the devotees may relish the Lord's Holy Name through
this grammar. This concise exposition of grammatical rules may help those who
desire to acquire a basic knowledge of Sanskrit in the way it used to be taught
by Lord Caitanya.
After several years of search, recently one of the primary goals of
the Vidyabhusana Project has been attained: all printed editions of Srila
Baladeva Vidyabhusana's works, as well as possibly all articles ever written
about him, have been digitized. This is the outcome of years visiting
innumerable libraries all over India and going through hundred of catalogues
and reference books to be sure that nothing was left behind. One of the
benefits derived particularly from old editions is that they may have been
based on manuscripts which do not exist anymore and might have readings different
from those found in the available manuscripts. The files are being gradually
uploaded and available for free here.
During my quest for Vidyabhusana's lost commentaries on the ten
Upanisads, on a few occasions there were individuals trying to dissuade me
claiming that he never wrote them. For a while I was looking for some evidence
that those commentaries were ever written and the first hint I got was from an
article published in the Sajjana-tosani magazine in 1897 in which Srila
Bhaktivinoda Thakura clearly affirmed that among the works of Vidyabhusana
which he read are "the commentaries on some Upanisads." Surprisingly, this was
not accepted as evidence by some, albeit supposedly members of Bhaktivinoda's parampara.
Many decades later, Krishna dasa Baba wrote in the appendix to the Isopanisad-bhasya,
published by him in 1966, that he was searching for the lost commentaries on
the other Upanisads, among which were the Katha and the Kaivalya.
Unfortunately, he didn't tell us the source of this information. It was only
recently that I found a clear and definitive evidence in the notes written by
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, originally published in 1930 in a compilation
called Prabhupader Vaktravali, in which he mentioned that once he
desired to published the Dasopanisad-bhasya and wrote to his friend
Visvambharananda-deva Gosvami, a leading Syamanandi scholar, who replied that
because the manuscript was too worn-out, it was 'given away to the Yamuna.' It
is my great hope that there might be a copy left somewhere and I am doing my
best to find it.
It is being very difficult to catch up with the translation work
among so many travels, yet I have already finished translating Visvanatha
Cakravarti's Gaura-gana-svarupa-tattva-candrika and Prabodhananda
Sarasvati's Viveka-satakam, and both should be coming out soon. As for
Baladeva Vidyabhusana's Tattva-dipika, devotees and scholars suggested
that I provide sufficient explanatory notes to help average readers to follow
the philosophical topics discussed there, which will take some time to be done.
Despite innumerable difficulties and little support, in three years since
the Vidyabhusana Project was launched, we were rewarded with the following
1) Discovery of five unpublished manuscripts: Tattva-dipika,
Brahma-sutra-karika-bhasya, Sabda-sudha, Laghu-siddhanta-kaustubha, and Pada-kaustubha. Besides these, unpublished works of other acaryas have also been found and copied, such as Visvanatha Cakravarti's Gaura-gana-svarupa-tattva-candrika, Prabodhananda Sarasvati's Viveka-shatakam, and Rupa Gosvami's Hari-namamrta-vyakarana.
2) Acquisition of digital copies of more than 20.000 pages in manuscripts.
3) Publication of two critical editions with English translation:
Chandah-kaustubha and Siddhanta-darpana.
4) Digitization of all printed editions of Srila Baladeva
Vidyabhusana's works and all articles ever written about him.
Baladeva Vidyabhusana Project has the following primary objectives:
1. Search for lost manuscripts. (Such as the commentaries on nine Upanisads, Srimad Bhagavatam, etc.)
2. Digitally preserve manuscripts currently existing in different libraries.
3. Digitally preserve all editions of Vidyabhusana's books.
4. Digitally preserve articles written about Vidyabhusana.
5. Type all the original texts in digital unicode system, which can be
converted into Devanagari, Bengali and Oriyan characters.
6. Prepare a critical edition for each work.
7. Translate all the works into English.
8. Publish all translations with the original Devanagari text.
9. Investigate and verify existent biographical data of Vidyabhusana, including historical evidences of the conflict between the Gaudiyas and the Ramanandis of Rajasthan.
10. Publish a comprehensive biographical work.
I have
been travelling extensively and dedicating myself full time to this research
work. I wish I could visit all the main research centers and manuscript
repositories all over India, but I am working alone and have no financial
assistance to be able to afford it, therefore I humbly request those who
understand the importance of this project to kindly contribute so that it may
be thoroughly successful. The estimated expenses are as follows:
1. Travel in India (by train as far as possible): US 150 per month
2. Lodging boarding expenses during travel: US 250 per month
3. Photocopying, scanning, library charges: US 200 per month
Assistance in the following ways is also requested:
1. Contacting libraries and research institutes in India and abroad.
2. Locating and acquiring texts.
3. Typing devanagari and Bengali texts in transliterated Roman script.
4. Proofreading transliterated texts.
5. Editing and publishing.
For enquiries and donations, please click on the CONTACT link above.
I have been receiving a number of messages from people making stories to get copies of manuscripts. To put it clearly:
1. I do not give away copies of manuscripts.
2. I do not sell them either.
The manuscripts I found have been rotting for centuries in remote corners of the country and nobody showed interest for them until now. At this point, those who do not want to wait for a few months until I publish them should rather go to search for the originals instead of disturbing me.
Complete works of Baladeva Vidyabhusana:
1. Isopanisad; (Krishnadas Baba), (Sarasvata Gaudiya Mission), (Shyam Lal,3 comm.), (Bhaktivinoda)
Aisvarya-kadambini; (Haridas Shastri), (Haridas das)
Kavya-kaustubha; (Haridas das), (Haridas Shastri)
Gopala-tapany-upanisad-bhasya; (Haridas das)
Chandah-kaustubha-tika; (Haridas das), (Haridas Shastri), (Vrindavan Research
Tattva-dipika (unpublished manuscript)
Tattva-sandarbha-tika; (Harinam Press), (Haridas Shastri), (Nityasvarupa),
(Jadavpur), (Acyuta-grantha-mala), (Krishnachandra Bhagavataratna), (
Ramanarayana Vidyaratna), (Jiva-seva-sangha), (Shyam Lal), (Satyananda Gosvami)
Prameya-ratnavali; (Haridas Shastri), (Gokul Chandra Goswami), (Sanskrit
Parisad), (Kanai Lal), (Gaudiya Math), (Gour Krishna Goswami), (Sundarananda
Vidyavinoda), (Sasibhusana Dasa)
Pada-kaustubha (unpublished manuscript)
Brahma-sutra-karika-bhasya, (unpublished manuscript)
Bhagavad-gita (gita-bhusana); (Krishnadas Baba), (Gaudiya Mission),
(Vidyananda), (Shyam Lal Gosvami)
12. Laghu-bhagavatamrta-tika (saranga-rangada); (Haribhakta das), (Ramanarayana Vidyaratna), (Venkatesh Press), (Atul Krishna Gosvami), (Gaurasundar Bhagavata)
Laghu-siddhanta-kaustubha (unpublished manuscript)
Visnu-sahasra-nama-tika (namartha-sudha); (Krishnadas Baba), (Bhaktivinoda)
Vedanta-sutra-Govinda-bhasya; (Sarasvata-Gaudiya Mission), (Harinam Press),
(Krishnadas Baba)
Vedanta-sutra-suksma-tika; (Sarasvata-Gaudiya Mission), (Shyam Lal
Goswami/Krishnagopal Bhakta)
Vedanta-syamantaka; (Haridas Shastri), (Umesh Chandra Bhattacharya, Lahore),
(Kalidasnath), (Nalinikant Gosvami), (Jagadananda das), (Bala Krishna Goswami),
(Shyam Lal Goswami)
Sabda-sudha (unpublished manuscript)
Srimad-bhagavata-bhasya (vaisnavanandini); prathama skandha, (Haridas das);
skandha (Krishna-Shankar Shastri, incomplete), (Nityasvarupa/Manindra Bahadur)
Syamananda-sataka-tika, (Haridas das), (Gopala-Govindananda Goswami)
Sahitya-kaumudi; (Haridas Shastri),(Rastriya Sanskrit Samstham),(NirnayaSagar
Siddhanta-darpana; (Haridas das), (Gaudiya Math), (Gour Gopal Goswami),
Siddhanta-ratna; (Krishnadas Baba), (Gopinath Kaviraj), (Shyam Lal Goswami),
(Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti), (Adimohana Goswami), (Gaurasundar Bhagavata),
(Jagadananda das)
24. Stava-mala-tika; (Nirnaya Sagar Press), (Ramanarayana Vidyaratna), (Nityasvarupa Brahmacari)
Commentaries on nine Upanisads (only Isopanisad is available)
Commentary on five Sandarbhas of Jiva Gosvami (only Tattva-sandarbha is
Commentary "Vaisnavanandini" on the complete Srimad-Bhagavatam (only
first and tenth skandhas are available)
4. Commentary
on Jayadeva's Candraloka
Commentary on Rupa Gosvami's Nataka-candrika
6. Vyakarana-kaumudi
Books wrongly attributed to BV:
Krsna-bhavanamrta-tika, (Krsnadeva Sarvabhauma)
(Kanai Lal)
(Viracandra Gosvami)
(rasika-rangada), (Viracandra Gosvami)
(Hare Krsna acarya)
(Raghunandana Gosvami)
, (Vrndavana Cakravarti)
(Vangesvara Vidyabhusana)
The credit of whatever was achieved so far goes to the devotees, friends and well-wishers who have kindly come forward to offer assistance.
This project is running on the basis of the donations received. To the present moment, the following donors have kindly
I express my heartfelt thanks for their kind help in this mission.
donor from South India gave a donation of US $90 in September, 2012, $220
in December, 2012, and $ 80 in January, 2014.
2. Jagannivasa Prabhu
from Singapore contributed US $120 in January, 2013, $ 120 in April, 2013,
$115 in July, 2013, $230 in February, 2014, $ 230 in August, 2014, and $ 195 in February, 2015.
3. Mahananda Prabhu from
Bangalore contributed $110 in February, 2013, and $ 50 in January, 2014.
4. Suresh Prabhu from
Bangalore contributed $ 90 in February, 2013, $160 in January, 2014, $ 160 in November, 2014, and $ 50 in January, 2015.
5. An anonymous
donor from Australia contributed $280 in February, 2013 and $ 85 in October, 2014.
6. Madhusudana Prabhu from UK
contributed GBP 108 in April, 2013.
7. Govinda Prabhu from Hungary
contributed $ 50 in April, 2013.
8. Smt. Nalini Matu from
Denmark contributed EUR 53,50 in May, 2013.
9. Krishna Karuna Prabhu from
Denmark contributed EUR 268 in May, 2013.
10. Radha-ramana Prabhu from
Australia contributed $ 10 in June, 2013.
11. Gaura-bhavana Prabhu from
Denmark contributed $ 10 in July, 2013.
12. Rishikesh Prabhu from
Coimbatore donated a camera at the cost of $ 110 in September, 2013.
13. Madhavendra Puri Prabhu
from France contributed $ 10 in October, 2013
14. Krishna Mohan Prabhu from
USA contributed $ 150 in November, 2013.
15. Amarnath Prabhu from
Tripura contributed $ 50 in November, 2013.
16. Vivek Prabhu from USA
contributed $ 108 in December, 2013, $ 200 in May, 2014, and $ 108 in November, 2014.
17. Bahushira Prabhu from USA
contributed $ 200 in December, 2013.
18. The Bhakti Vikas Trust
has been contributing $ 80 monthly since January, 2014.
19. Jayaram Prabhu contributed
$16 in February, 2014.
20. Giridhari Prabhu from
Singapore contributed $ 30 in March, 2014.
21. Svarupa Damodara Prabhu
from Singapore contributed $115 in August, 2014, and $ 175 in March, 2015.
22. Chetan Prabhu from
Singapore donated a scanner in August, 2014.
23. Vraja Mohana Prabhu from UK contributed $ 75 in September, 2014.
24. Puskara Prabhu (ACBSP) from USA contributed US 108 in October, 2014.
25. Simon Prabhu from UK contributed GBP 108 in October, 2014.
26. Ram Kumar Prabhu from Mysore contributed $ 35 in January, 2015.
26. Ram Kumar Prabhu from Mysore contributed $ 35 in January, 2015.
I express my heartfelt thanks for their kind help in this mission.
At some point of my first round searching for manuscripts and books all
over India I realized that a diary would be very much appropriate for letting
people know what it is like and what I have to face, quite enough to turn off
anyone less stubborn. I just regret not having done it before.
Attempting to go to Mathura, I took the city bus, the closest thing to a
means of public transportation available from Vrindavan. However, I had to
change buses three times, apparently due to "technical problems". It took me
some fifteen minutes to be able to get inside the railway station, for there
were hundreds of people camping around, supposedly pilgrims who came because of
the Purusottama month.
I arrived in Udaipur and went on foot uphill to the temple of Jagdish
(about 3 km). Another 20 min. walking
around to get a room. In a guest house they refused to give me a room because I
was speaking in Hindi and they concluded that I was Indian (therefore not
worthy ripping off). I tried to find out the address of the Rajasthan Oriental
Research Institute, but nobody ever heard of it. After calling their main
office in Jodhpur, I got at least a place of reference, although they
themselves didn't have the address...
The auto driver dropped me on the way, for he also couldn't figure the
location. In another call to Jodhpur they gave me the number of a worker whom I
had to call twice for directions, as even in the building opposite to the RORI
they also never heard of it... If I had
no mobile, I'd have given up. The officer told me straightaway that if I were
Indian he would let me shoot the manuscripts at once, but since I am a
foreigner, I will need to fill several applications and "come tomorrow" (this
is the favorite sentence used by the folks here when they are not getting
anything in the deal). I had to take a very crowded local bus and then go
uphill again on foot in the middle of the rain and mud.
Bureaucracies being fulfilled, I shot the manuscripts and paid the stipulated
rate: 10 rupees per shot. They told me that their office used to be in the
King's palace, but he kicked them out to make a hotel... They also said that
the collection kept there was part of the King's library, previously named
"Sarasvati-bhandara" and then "Sajjana-vani-vilasa". I also visited the
Sarasvati Bhavan, where they told me that their manuscripts were given to the
National Archives, but they don't know exactly where they are now... At the royal palace there is also a library,
but I was flatly refused entry.
Public bus to Nathdwara. To my surprise the town was unbelievably
crowded due to the full moon of the Purusottama month and I had to stand 3
hours in a line to have darsana.
Raining heavily, tough to move around. According to what I was told by
several people, there are no Sanskrit libraries and no panditas here. I wished
to meet the Tilakayat (head of the Sri Vallabha sampradaya), but I had a hard
time in getting even close to the temple.
As I had already booked a bus ticket to Jodhpur, I had to pack. It
arrived one hour late and there was no seat available, although I had booked
and paid for one in advance. Somehow, after some 3 km away from the bus stand,
the tire got punctured, and of course, they had no spare tire. After uselessly
waiting for another one hour, I decided to go back: 3 km plus 1 km uphill on
foot with 10 kg of luggage. I arrived in the temple right on time to meet the
Tilakayat. While waiting in the middle of some 40 people, I was spotted by a
jerk so-called pujari who demanded that I explain exactly what I wanted there.
I mentioned that I had a few questions for Tilakayat Maharaj, and the guy
started saying things like "who are you to talk to him?", "you'd rather mind
your own business in your Nimbarka sampradaya" (!?) As I said that I am not
from the Nimbarka sampradaya, he became even madder and started yelling that he
knows everything very well... What a day! At last, Maharaj was quite polite and
sent me to talk to his son, who seems to be scholarly inclined. He was also
very polite and promised that he will let me know if he finds any of
Vidyabhusana's works in their personal library, where the original manuscripts
of Sri Vallabhacarya are kept. Amen.
Day off to decide where to go. The only option to reach Jodhpur is that
very same broken down bus, dirty like a dustbin (Jain Company, for the
record). I went to see the Tilakayat's
son again to give him a DVD with some pusti-marga texts. This time that pujari
respectfully greeted me and before I left he called me on a corner and gave me
some prasada... I sincerily wish that
Durvasa muni may visit him some of these days.
Change of itinerary. Most of the day in a train to Jaipur. Soon after it
departed, I started having a violent crisis of what seemed to be kidney stone.
It was passed 10 PM when I got a room, and as the shops were closed, I couldn't
get any medicine.
The whole day walking up and down, meeting people and visiting
libraries. As soon as arrived at Govindaji mandir, a gentleman offered me a
full plate of prasada. Apparently the Mahant of Galta didn't really check his
library, but he assured me that at least a Govinda-bhasya must be there. King
Jai Singh's records are still locked and can't be seen until the court dispute
for the royal property is settled, which may last many decades... The librarian
at the City Palace promised to see if we can get the negatives. In the evening
I got another violent crisis and then remembered that I was supposed to buy
some medicine...
Sanjaya Sharma Museum is shifting its collection to a new building. The
catalogue is not ready and there is no prevision about it, so they can't give
me a position about the list I gave to them. At the Rajasthan Oriental Research
Institute I couldn't find anything. The library of the Sanskrit College was
shifted to a school far away. Remote chances of going in that way. I got
several other references, including the Nimbarkacharya Tirtha, some 100 km from
Jaipur, where they have a manuscript library too.
Only today I could meet the Mahant of the Govindaji mandir. He promised
to bring his library catalogue tomorrow, with a remark that they don't show
their manuscripts so quickly... I talked on the phone
with the successor of the current Sriji Maharaj (Head of the Nimbarka Tirtha)
and we marked an appointment in Vrndavana.
I arrived in the Govindaji temple exactly at the time I was told to be
there just to hear that the Mahant was not present. When I said that he asked
me to come at that time, the guys in the office became angry and told me to
come after one week! I had another appointment in the evening, but the person
also didn't show up. All these days I've been walking all the way from the
guest house in the Station area up to the Govindaji temple, some 4 km, and then
return on foot also. Today I had to do it twice and it was past 8 PM when I
decided to take a bus, since I was exhausted. I usually don't take it because
it is unbearably crowded. It so happened
that as soon as I got on the bus, the collector started a quarrel with some
passengers and ended up stopping the bus to spank them. I got down and went on
Most of the day in a train to Jodhpur. I arrived in the evening and went
straight to office of the Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute, which was not
easy to find, as they are unable to give a proper reference for the location
and no one goes to these places. According to their website, they offer
accommodations for scholars, but upon arriving there I was received by a jerk
who seemed determined to drive me away. After bugging me for half-an-hour, the
sub director decided to let me stay.
The whole day reading catalogues. From today onwards a peon was appointed
to stay in the room next to mine, obviously to keep an eye on me. They probably
took for granted that being a foreigner, I must be a terrorist, or at least
that I was planning to have parties at night and bring girls and whisky.
At the end of the catalogues I had a list of 80 manuscripts to be seen.
More forms, more bureaucracy, more botheration. Spite of God knows how many
years there, none of the staff seemed to have an idea of the correct procedure,
and I was being told to do this and that just to have to do it again after a
few minutes because someone else says that it is not in this way.
Although hardly ever anyone goes there and the guys do nothing most of
the day, they are all stressed and annoyed to show a single manuscript. I
barely had a few seconds to look each book, and this with someone sitting next
to me and pushing me to do it quickly. The jerk in charge of the accommodations
told me to vacate by tomorrow. The peon neighbor started to ask me when I am
going away. Of course it was a boring job for him.
Many manuscripts to see and I didn't stop even to take water, so I could
check each one. I visited the Mehrangarh library, but they had only a copy of
the Chandah-kaustubha, which I did not see because they charge a Rs 500 fee. At
least I got to see the catalogue of the Rajasthani Research Institute, in which
I found nothing, so I was spared of moving 10 km away to visit them. I got a
room next to the railway station. Very noisy, tiny, dirty, without window, and
expensive: 375 rupees.
I had planned to go to Bikaner, but this last week overloaded my eyes,
patience and pocket, so I spent most of the day in a train back to Jaipur. When
I arrived, Jaipur was almost under water. I took a bus from the station, but
after getting off in the stop just 200 meters from the guest house I realized
that I was surrounded by a river of sewage. To make it worse, it started
raining heavily, so I had to stand half-an-hour with my luggage till the rain
stopped, then I had to take a riksha just to be able to cross the road. It
literally watered down my hope of seeing Govindaji today. I didn't expect such
a prolonged rainy season.
I went to see the Mahant at Govindaji's but could not because "he was
not feeling well." I then tried to see the Ramanandi Mahant at their temple in
the city. As they told me that he was in Galta, I took a bus till the Galta
Gate (almost outside Jaipur), climbed the hill up and down, and finally when I
reached the temple, I was told that the Mahant was giving a lecture in their
temple in the city. Enough for me.
Most of the day in a local train and local bus to reach Karouli. It was
late in the afternoon when I got a room and something to drink. The temperature
was far higher than in other places, and I got a headache which lasted several
No manuscripts here, but Madana-mohana's darsana and prasada compensate.
Yet I am visibly not in good health due to stress and excessive trips. It's
time to have a break.
20th Sept. to 05th Nov.
Busy time in Vrndavan. Ten days on bed with dengue.
I arrived in Varanasi after 12 PM and went straight to Sampurnananda
Sanskrit University to apply for receiving copies of some manuscripts and was
told that I should submit the application to the librarian, who happened to be
on leave and will come only tomorrow.
What news: the librarian didn't show up, so I have to come back day
after tomorrow, since tomorrow is astami and they are closed.
Most of the day in the BHU library.
Back to Sampurnananda, some 7 km away from the Guest House I am staying
at, near Assi Ghat. Yes, the librarian was there, but he just told me that the
application should be submitted in the office, not to him. At last, as they
lacked the librarian's absence as an excuse, they accepted my application in
the office, but insisted that I take back the copies of my ID card and
introduction letter, spite my protest.
Went all the way on foot to Lalita Ghat to visit the Goenka Library. I
just had started reading when I received a call from Sampurnananda saying that
my application will be sent forward only after I submit a copy of my ID card
and give an introduction letter.
11-11-12 to 03-12-12
I had to wait for one week due to the Diwali holiday just to hear that
my application was rejected. For several days I was visiting the BHU library to
read manuscripts catalogues. I spent a couple of weeks revising the
Chandah-kaustubha and to get the page setting done was another novel. I had
planned to stay in Varanasi for one week, but after one month I still had many
pending issues, so on the 3rd I left for Barddhaman on a Sleeper
Class ticket. Freezing cold.
Local bus to Navadvip and boat to Mayapur.
Since long ago I have been trying to have a look at the collection of
books kept at Gopinath Gaudiya Math, where I was lodged, but nobody could
locate the keys of the almirahs. Finally I paid a professional to make a
duplicate key. There was nothing I was looking for.
I went to Navadvip to meet four people, but none of them was there.
Another fruitless visit to Navadvip.
Local train to Kolkata, a real nightmare. Got a shared room at Caitanya
Upon visiting the library at the Sanskrit College I was told that I
should have written a letter before coming (!?) The library of the Sanskrit
Department of Kolkata University was closed. They told me that the librarian
comes whenever he wishes (!?) Around 11 AM I arrived in the central library and
to wait a bit to get a visiting permit. Half an hour later someone finally
informed me that the person in charge usually does not come before 1 PM. After
I complained to the library superintendent, they let me in. In the manuscript
section I had to first fill several forms to be able to see the catalogue just
to find out that it consists in more the sixty thousand A4 pages kept in some
200 folders without any kind of order. I had a look at one and gave it up. It
would take a month to read the whole thing. I took a tram to Sanskrit Sahitya
Parisad. The librarian was not there. I had to walk a long way till I got the
right direction to the Bangiya Sahitya Parisad. They have quite a few
manuscripts of Baladeva, but the charge is 50 rupees per copied page! It was
passed 7 PM when I went back to the Math, empty handed.
Visit to the Caitanya Research Institute. I asked to take pictures of a
few pages of a book and the librarian declined saying that it would damage it
Another visit to the Sanskrit College. The principal was there, but the
librarian was not. I tried the department library at Kolkata University, and
again, no librarian. Spent the rest of the day reading catalogues at the
Sanskrit Sahitya Parisad, mostly in a
hardly intelligible Bengali handwriting.
I packed and crossed the whole Kolkata to reach Pathpari in the hope
that I would get a room there. Got nothing and wasted the day. Back to Gaudiya
Yet another visit to the Sanskrit College. Guess what? The librarian was
there, but the principal was not!!! Since I was visibly annoyed, the library
staff decided to discuss the matter. I could distinctly hear "the problem is that
how can we give permission to a foreigner..."
After some time, to my surprise, they just agreed and let me take
pictures of the manuscripts. The rest of the day was spent in more catalogues
at Sanskrit Sahitya Parisad.
15-12-12 to 17-12-12
At last, I got the room at Pathbari and spent these days consulting
their manuscripts.
18-12-12 to 19-12-12
Visit to Remuna. There are rumors of the "discovery" of Baladeva
Vidyabhusana's birth place, but no piece of evidence available. I enquired from
several of the locals, but no positive information. Apparently, there are no
manuscripts or documents in this place.
Train to Puri. Invitation to stay at Jhajh Pita Math.
There was a deceased Babaji who left a collection in a math which was
now taken over by a trust. Since last year I have been trying to have a look at
it without any success. This time the officer said that I should go to
Bhubaneswar to get permission from his superior...
At Raghunandan Library they have an almirah full of books I needed to
see, but they claimed that the key is lost and wouldn't let me bring someone to
open it. On the contrary of what I was told by their pujari last year, they do
have a manuscript collection at Gangamata Math, but we will have to get someone
to intermediate to deal with them.
Again, on the contrary of what they told me last year, they also have a
collection of manuscripts at Siddha Bakul Math, but the key is with the Mahant,
who is out of station...
Puri was not very productive, so I moved on. Stopped at Kurma-ksetra for
Bus to Vizianagar.
Visited the Sanskrit College just to hear that the manuscript collection
was shifted to Hyderabad. Yet the
principal was very kind and proposed that I give a lecture to the students, but
I can't wait till they arrange it.
28-12-12 to - 01-01-13
End of the year holiday, so I took the opportunity to have darsana in
Mangalagiri and Ahobalam.
Bus to Alagadda, bus to Kadapa and train to Tirupati. Arrived at night.
I went to have darsana at Govindaraja mandir and it took much longer
they I wished. By the time I arrived in the Oriental Research Institute it was
closed for lunch. In the library I was told me that they have no Sanskrit
books. I was shocked to hear it. Anyway, I went to see the manuscript library
and the director asked me if I had seen the collection of Sanskrit books. As I
expressed surprise, he told me that it was located upstairs. Too late, they had
already closed...
Arrived right in the opening time and spent a few hours in the
manuscript library. The staff was friendly and let me shoot whatever I wished.
In the Sanskrit books section, the assistant librarian confessed that he is not
very much acquainted with the classification of the books and how to locate
them in the stack. At last, this didn't really matter much, as the books were
missing anyway. I also went to the library at the Rastriya Sanskrit Vidyapitha,
but the librarian asked me to come after three days to see the catalogue...
Late in the evening I went to Tirumala thinking of getting a special darsana
ticket for the next day, but there was no such facility and I spent a few hours
in the line. Arrived in my room around 1 AM.
Train to Arakkonam and bus to Kanchipuram. After spending time and money
trying to find the Sanskrit College in a particular location, I came to the
conclusion that I was misled by a wrong map.
Sunday off to visit the Divya-desas. The auto-drivers were asking Rs 800
for a tour around all the temples, so I thought it better to walk. Well done:
three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening.
I got the opportunity to see the manuscript collection of the
Kanchipuram Sankaracarya in the library of their new college. The staff was
very helpful.
Public bus to Chennai. Visit to the Goverment Oriental Manuscript
Library. I was lodged in Perambur and it
took me one and a half hour to reach the library, almost by the lunch time. I
was told that I would need the permission of the librarian to copy anything. As
he was not there, I had to wait for a few hours till someone told me that
assistant librarian also could give permission...
Visit to the Presidency College. The place is totally decadent and there
was no trace of anyone in the Sanskrit dept. or the library. It took me a
couple of hours walking around to locate to the Kuppuswami Sastri "Research
Institute", as the address given by them in the website is totally misleading.
It was passed 10.30 AM and nobody was the office to pick up the phone. When
finally I got a response, the person on the line, whom I surmised to be the
sweeper, couldn't speak a work either in English or Hindi and just harshly hung
up on me. I ended up in the police station to ask for help. After several more
calls and long walks, I reached the place. The name of the road was wrong and
the numbers in it would increase or decrease in any direction. Besides this,
nobody in the area knew such a name for the bare reason that it is actually a
library in a small Sanskrit School. The supposed sweeper was indeed the
assistant librarian. I had to wait for more than two hours to see the
manuscript catalogue simply because they had no idea of where it was kept, and
yet I had to pay a Rs 100 fee for "consulting the library". This was one of the worse ones so far. To
save the day, a visit to the Oriental Research Institute paid off, as I met the
coordinator of the Catalogus Catalogorum Project and they helped a lot.
Visit to the Adyar "Library", a real show of incompetence. I was asked a
Rs 250 fee just to get in the library. I asked to see some microfilms and they
flatly claimed they had none. Although I mentioned I had consulted a book
called "A Catalogue of Vaisnava Microfilms in the Adyar Library", they were
adamant. Besides that, I was also told that I wouldn't be able to see any
manuscript because the librarian was not there and only he has the key. As I
had a quick look at the rules, I found that Rs 200 of the said fees are actually
refundable. When I asked about it, the
guy said that it can't be done before one month period, since they first have
to send the money to the treasury. As I kept asking about the rules, the fellow
became annoyed and suddenly crumbled my application and gave me back all the
money. In this way I got time to another visit to the Madras University to read
One of the basic difficulties is that I can't book train tickets in
advance for the bare reason that I don't know how long it will take me to see a
particular library and get the required copies, as only God knows when there
will be any staff in it. So I had to spend 8 hours in a bus to reach
Kumbakonam, a way more painful than by
12-01-13 to 15-01-13
I just came to know that I came in the middle of a major holiday in
Tamil Nadu for the occasion of the Makar Sankranti, so there was no chance to
find any library open.
Local train and bus to Srirangam. I had to walk around for a couple of
hours and couldn't find any affordable accommodation. At last I was lodged in
the ISKCON center.
I visited the Devasthana Library, but the librarian was not there. I was
referred to the temple manager, but he was also not present.
The librarian could hardly follow a word in English and not even knew
what a manuscript is. Anyway, a brief look around was sufficient to realize
that they have none. I went to meet the manager, but it took him half an hour
to understand what I wanted and just kept referring me to the library, to the
museum, to the book stall, and at last,
to a book publisher (!?) Enough for me. I had to spend a long time walking
around to locate some pandita who could answer a simple question. It seems that the only large Sanskrit
Pathasala in the place was shut down. Somewhere nearby the temple I saw some
Sri brahmacaris on the road and I asked to see their teacher. They took me to a
young scholar who was speaking fluent Sanskrit and immediately gave me the
answer: the Srirangam manuscript collection was shifted to Tanjore after they
realized they were not taking good care of it...
Train to Rameswaram. Another hard time to get a room.
It took me hours in a line for a couple of days to get a tatkal ticket
to Mysore.
Local train to Madurai. Express train to Mysore.
Just came to know that everything is closed due a Muslim holiday.
Just came to know that everything is closed due a Muslim holiday.
Again closed due to republic day.
Leaving to Udupi with empty hands.
Another nightmare to get a room: everywhere either full or booked. I met
the Principal of the Sanskrit College and he referred me to Govindacharya,
whose house is about 3 km from the central area. I walked all the way just to
hear that he is in Bangalore. I met the head of the Krsnapura Matha and he
became indignant upon hearing that their catalogue was published in Madras. Yet
he told me to come day after tomorrow to see if they have manuscripts.
I had to shift to another place because the room I got was booked. Visit
to a Research Centre at Gita Mandir. I
wanted to talk to the head of the Sodde Matha, but the doorkeeper didn't let me
in. After talking to pujari who was passing by, I was allowed in. He promised
to check their collection and told me to come tomorrow at the same time.
The guest house was too expensive, so I packed and went to look for
another place. After one hour walking here and there I got a place for the same
price. At Krsnapura Matha the catalogue numbers changed, so I was asked to come
tomorrow again. I had phoned the Palimaru Samshodhana Samsat and marked an
appointment at 2 PM. After waiting for some time at the gate, I phoned again
and was told to come at 4 PM. I later went to meet the Sodde Matha Svami at the
right time, but again the doorkeeper didn't let me in, although he knew very
well that I was expected to be there. Fruitless. I wished I had had the chance
to suggest that they appoint the doorkeeper as head of the Matha, since he
seems to be a much bigger authority.
Shifted rooms once again, this time in a cheaper place. I was told that
I could meet the said Svami in the office at 9.30 AM. I was standing there for
one hour till someone told me that he had to attend a program and wouldn't talk
to anyone.
I was told to meet the Svami at 12.30, but the doorkeeper demanded that
I bring a receipt to let me in. I went to the counter to ask which receipt I
need and the fellow told me that I had to give a donation and he would give me
a receipt with which I could go to see the Svami. I picked a 20 rupee note and he became indignant asking
me if I know how much a receipt sheet costs. Then I asked how much I should pay
to be able to see the Svami and the guy flipped out shouting to me to get out
because he wouldn't give me anything. I went back to the meeting place and the
doorkeeper told me to wait. I waited and waited and at last, the Svami just
stood up, looked at me and went away. Enough. Night train to Mysore, so
freezing that I couldn't get any sleep.
Arrived in Mysore 5.30 AM and nowhere they wanted to give me room simply
out of laziness to get up, although I saw that many rooms were locked. After
some thirty minutes walking around, someone agreed to give a place, but I lack
words to describe how filthy it was. Later in the morning I went to the
Sanskrit College, but apparently the library there was the only place in Mysore
which was closed. I then visited the Oriental Research Institute, where they
claimed to be in the middle of a renovation work and that I would not be able
to see any manuscript in less than six months. Back to my "room", I realized
that it was behind a non-veg "restaurant". Unable to tolerate the smell, I went
all the way to Srirangapatnam to chant my rounds. I came back at night but
couldn't get any sleep due to the disgusting smell and loud talking all night
Thus ended another useless visit to Mysore. Train to Bangalore.
Visit to the Dvaita Research Foundation. The librarian was not there and
wouldn't come in this week. The staff didn't know anything about books or
manuscripts, although they have both. At the Purnaprajna Vidyapitha the library
was closed. In the office they told me that the librarian would come in a
couple of hours. I asked for his phone number to confirm it, but they assured me
that there was no need. As I had to spend the time, I went walking up to the
Samskrita Bharati (3 km away) to buy
some books. Back in the Vidyapitha at the supposed opening time, I found the
library still closed. The nonsense in the office told me to look for him
upstairs, where they finally told me that the librarian was out of station and
that this is not a public library. When I asked for the librarian's phone
number they declined to give me saying that he is also not a public man.
Madhvacarya would be so proud of them!
Train to Hyderabad.
One hour walking around to find a room, as no guest house allowed
foreigners. Visit to the Sanskrit Academy, where the staff was helpful and let
me copy some books. At the Oriental Research Institute neither the director nor
the librarian was present. In the Osmania University library the staff didn't
know where the manuscript section is, although there are only two floors. After 10 min being sent up and down, I met
the person in charge. After writing down the manuscripts I wanted to see, I was
referred to the computer section to see the scans. Although I gave them the
correct accession numbers, they were searching for the manuscripts one-by-one
and after half-an-hour of fruitless effort, they told me to come tomorrow.
Bus to Yadagiri-gutta.
Bus back to Hyderabad and train to Vishakhapatnam.
Sunday. Darsana at Simhachalam.
Visit to the Andhra Pradesh University. The staff had no idea where the
manuscripts were kept and I was sent up and down several times. At last, after
figuring where the manuscripts were, I was told to come after one hour, for
there was no electricity. After one hour the electricity was back, but they
couldn't find the key of the almirah. This gives an idea of how many people
have been consulting them... In the
office they told me to come tomorrow and I made it clear that I wouldn't. It took another hour to open it and another
hour to see the manuscript I wished, as they were all thrown inside the almirah
without any specific order. I also wished to see a few catalogues, but the
staff also didn't have the slightest idea of where to find them. Night train to
Visit to the State Museum. Unfortunately, the bookworms arrived before
me and there was not much left. I also visited the Kedarnath Gavesana
Pratisthan, but the library was closed.
Train to Puri. Spent the day meeting people and making contacts.
Visited the office in the Jagannatha temple and met a few people to
investigate about Baladeva's family background.
Sarasvati-puja holiday. I spent 15 hours in a bus to have the darsana of
Nila-madhava in Kantilo.
I had booked an early train to be able to reach Mayapur by the evening,
but it delayed many hours and I had to spend the night in Kolkata. There was no
accommodation available near the station, so I had to cross the city to stay in
a Matha.
Crowded local train to Krishnanagar, crowded tempo to Svarup Ganj and
crowded boat to Mayapur. Heavy rain and freezing cold. Couldn't go anywhere
I had to meet a few people in Navadvip, but no one was available.
I had booked a train from Krishnanagar to Sealdah and decided to catch a
bus instead of a tempo. It took two hours to arrive in the station and the
train was gone. I was forced to squeeze in another insanely crowded local train
to Kolkata. Most of the day was wasted, yet I visited the Bangiya Sahitya
Parisat by 3 PM. I asked to see their descriptive catalogue of manuscripts and
the librarian was a bit perplexed. After consulting with the staff, they
declared that they don't have a copy !!! I had to go through the hand list and
waited a long time to see the manuscripts I requested, but they couldn't find
them and told me to come after 3 days...
Train to Varanasi, freezing cold.
Visit to BHU.
Visit to Chaukhamba to pick up the just published Chandah-kaustubha.
They put my name on the cover instead of the author's name, besides several other
shortcomings. I was disgusted and demanded that they correct it.
Nityananda-trayodasi. After several years of quarrel, I received the
original hardcopy of my PhD thesis. Thanks to the Catalogus Catalogorum team I
came to know that they have a manuscript of the Siddhanta-darpana at the Bharat
Kala Bhavan, BHU, which I couldn't detect before simply because it is not
classified as being written by Vidyabhusana, but by Nanda Misra, a name I never
looked for. The director told me to
write an application and come back after the holiday, on Monday.
24-02-13 and 25-02-13
Sunday and Ravidas Jayanti, everything closed.
I submitted the application at the Kala Bhavan, but they told me to come
tomorrow because the man who had the key was out-of-station.
The man with the key came back, but the number I gave didn't match the
manuscript they showed me. I asked to check the number again against the
catalogue, but they had none in the manuscript section, so I had to go to the
library. The librarian was not there and I had to wait for one hour. By the
time I got to see the catalogue and write down further details, it was about 3
PM and the manuscript in-charge told me to come tomorrow. As I said that there
is time enough before they close, he got upset and made it clear that he
wouldn't move a from his chair. I also got upset and told him that I was going
to complain to the director. He shouted that I could complain to whomever I
wish, but he wouldn't look for any manuscript today. I went downstairs and met
the security officer, a very polite Muslin gentleman. He was indignant when I
told him what happened and insisted that I wait for the director, who was in a
meeting at the moment. Another hour waiting and by the time the director arrive
it was passed 4 PM. He was also indignant that the staff was not cooperating,
since he had already approved my application.
He was shouting to the staff to bring the manuscript section guy to talk
to him immediately, but he just left swiftly.
Well, after the entire novel, I arrived there in the morning and the
right manuscript was already waiting for me and the staff was "surprisingly"
cooperating. Case done.
Chaukhamba called me to say that they had corrected the cover and I
could go there to take my copies. I didn't want my name on the cover at all,
but they refused to remove it to avoid more work.
Train to Mathura.
Back to Vrndavan. I was missing home so much. A friend told me that he
met one the BBT directors and asked why they don't invite me to work for them.
He replied that they are neither interested in hiring some non-initiated Bhakta
Tom nor in publishing all these Vidyabhusana's "stuffs". Wow!
I met Satya Narayana Babaji in the morning and he told me that a Gosvami
who would help us to get the cooperation of the Gosvamis at Govindajis' is in
Jaipur and would wait for me if I want to go there right now. I barely had time
to pack and jump on the train. It shattered my expectations to do bhajan in
Vrndavan for a while after so long outside...
I arrived at Govindaji's right on time and the said Gosvami told me to
wait. Instead of taking me to the Mahant, he brought him to meet me, and the
man seemed to be annoyed by that. Speaking in Hindi, I briefly reminded him
about our Project and he just had started replying in Hindi when the Gosvami
stopped him saying that he should speak in English because I don't know Hindi.
The Mahant got even more annoyed and I
was outraged by such a show of stupidity. To make it short, he just told me to
come again after some two months, the same thing I have been hearing for years.
I then visited the King's Library and they told me to come tomorrow to see the
manuscripts I wish. I had to visit the Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute
again because last year they showed me only one part of their catalogue, while
later I came to know that they have several more. It took them a long time to locate the
correct manuscripts, but at last I got to see and copy them. I went to have darsana
in the nearby Rama temple and a fellow who introduced himself as a "pandita"
called me to talk. Soon he started saying all Mayavada rubbish and I was so
indignant that I was blasting him with slokas. One hour wasted with those
rascals till they shut up.
I arrived at the Palace Library at 11 AM as I was told, but the staff
left me waiting for one hour till they finished reading the newspapers and then
told me to come tomorrow. I tried to locate the Sanskrit Academy according to
the map, but they had shifted to another place long ago. I then visited the
Sanjaya Sharma Museum, where I had a look at their provisional catalogue. Back
to the Palace Library, I met the Librarian, who told me that their trust might
be interested in getting Maharaj Sawai Jai Singh's Sanskrit works translated.
At the Ramanandi temple in the city they told me that the Mahant was never
I went to Galta via the hill and they also said the same thing: the
Mahant was never there. I had to ask for his phone number. He told me to call
tomorrow to fix a time. At Govindaji's I asked for a coupon for prasada, but
they were over. As I crossed the exit gate, a gentleman asked me how is it that
I was going away without taking prasada and took me with him. Afterwards, I went
to the Palace Library and finally could have a look at some manuscripts and
recordings. I met the Museum Curator, who expressed interest in assisting the
Vidyabhusana Project and publishing his books by their Trust.
The Galta Mahant asked me to come to his house, quite out of the way.
For the first time in this year, I had to hire an auto to get there and later I
realized that the rascal took a much longer way and charged me double. Once
there, we had a long talk and Maharaj promised to show me his library soon
after Siva-ratri. Another visit to the Palace Library. They will discuss the
matter with the Princess to see the possibility of supporting the Vidyabhusana
Project and commissioning the translation of King Jai Singh's works. I went to
Govindaji's planning to have darsana and buy some prasada for tomorrow (today
is ekadasi), but they didn't let me in simply because I had a laptop in my bag.
Back to the guest house, I went to buy something in a nearby shop and they gave
me 2 laddus from Govindaji !
As the guest house is about 2 km from the station, I decided to check
out one hour before the train to Kishangarh. They had no change at the
reception and 15 min. were wasted in this. Another 15 min. wasted because no
rikshawala would take me for the right fare. Another 15 min. wasted to catch a
bus and reach the station and another 15 min. wasted in the line to buy a
ticket. There was one min. left for the train to depart and there was no notice
about the platform. By the time I could figure it, the train was departing and
I had to run, not an easy task with a luggage. Somehow I managed to jump in the
last coach, general class. After squeezing through a couple of coaches I came
to know that there was no passage to the upper class, so I was confined in the
general class for 2 hours. Upon reaching Kishangarh, I had to wait one hour for
the bus to Salemabad and then spend another hour to arrive in the
Nimbarkacharya Pitha. In the office the clerk just phoned saying that "a sadhu
has arrived from Vrndavan" and soon they arranged a room and sumptuous prasada
for me. No questions, no forms and no charges. By contrast, if I want to spend
one night in an ISKCON temple I have to reply to 100 questions and bring a
letter from the GBC.
10-03-13 and 11-03-13
Sriji Maharaj is not in good health, so I couldn't talk to him. For
three days I waited to talk to the Yuvaraj, but he didn't bother to give me
even a couple of minutes. I had to rely on some intermediates to find out about
their manuscript collection. Since I was not allowed to see it myself, I take
their word: no Vidyabhusana's work there.
Bus to Kishangarh and local train back to Jaipur.
Visit to the Palace Library. The Princess is out-of-station, so the
matter did not progress. Talked to several scholars here and there.
The Galta mahant called me at this home to see the manuscripts. I had to
wait for several hours because he was busy.
Finally I found the address of the Sanskrit Academy, but had to walk
some 6 km as there was no straight transportation. They told me to come after a
couple of months to see their catalogue, for they don't know where it is kept
I had several things to do in the city and by the time I arrived in the
University library, on foot as usually, they were already closing. I had an
appointment in the evening with a professor who owns 150 thousand manuscripts.
Again another 8 km walk. Lots of things to see and discuss there, but no time.
17-03 to 20-03-13
Train to Jodhpur. Another round of headaches in the Research Institute.
Readers may refer to the entries in my previous visit in September and imagine
a replay.
Seven hours in a bus to Nathdwara. At the temple guest house, they made
a case to give me a room and sent me up and down several times.
22-03 to 26-03
It took me several days to be able to meet the Tilakayat just to hear
that he forgot about my request, so we had to start from zero once again. One
day before Holi I came to know that my room was booked and I had to vacate.
Another trouble to find a place.
Bus to Udaipur and train to Mathura.
28-03-13 to 31-03-13
Vrindavan. Chasing the same folks who have been making promises for
years, such as the Oriya Baba library, etc.
Passenger train to Alwar. Hours and hours of argument till I got the
chance to see some manuscripts at the Research Institute. I had planned to
return to Vrindavan in the evening, but I couldn't finish the job, so I had to
spend the night in a dump infested with mosquitoes.
Case done. Back to Vrindavan.
03-04 to 30-04
Half of the month revising the Siddhanta-darpana against all the
manuscripts acquired and the other half visiting people and making contacts. In
Govardhan I tried again a few places previously visited. At the samadhi of
Advaita das Babaji I was told that they didn't find any of the books I am
looking for. I never gave them any list, though. I got a similar response in
the Siddha Manohar das Babaji Ashram. There were lots of other incidents, but I
didn't have time to write down everything. Some time ago someone wrote saying
that my diary is too negative, so why should anyone help such a project? If anyone
thinks that there is any exaggeration in my words, feel free to try and see on
one's own. By the way, I am intentionally avoid giving any positive information
about my findings in this diary, as there are several thieves after me to steal
anything I discover.
Passenger train to Kasganj at 6 AM. Two-and-a-half hours standing and
being squeezed. The former director of the Vrindavan Research Institute had
requested that I send him a letter specifying what I would like to see and on
his own accord told me to come on the 1st. Yet he had not kept a
single manuscript at hand and l left empty handed after hearing lots of
promises. More 3 hours in a passenger train. Arrived in Vrindavan at 10 PM,
absolutely exhausted.
02-05-13 and 03-05-13
Chalking out the plan for the summer.
The whole day in the Janma-bhumi library. In the evening I tried to
locate two collections in the city. In the first one the man insisted that he
had none of Vidyabhusana's works and I then asked him to explain how I could get
his name and address correctly and a wrong list of manuscripts. He shut up and
told me to come another day. Sounded more like a "get out". The address of the other one was insufficient
and I couldn't find the place. Arrived in Vrindavan almost 9 PM.
I went to the Oriya Baba Ashram for the 15th time in the last
weeks. The person in charge was not there, as usually.
Tempo to Mathura and train to Delhi. I was lodged in a dump in Pahar
Ganj and the bed was full of bugs. In a few minutes I was swollen after so many
bites. Spite shifting me, the manager was adamant that he couldn't see a single
bug. The second "room" had as many bugs. When I complained again, the staff
said: "So what!? There are bugs everywhere, why are you making a case?" I
didn't get any sleep.
In the morning I moved to another "guest house". In this one the "rooms"
don't have any window. In the morning I went to meet the director of the
National Mission for Manuscripts, who made a few promises to help our project.
I spent the rest of the day in the Delhi University. I wished to consult a book
in the rare book section, but the staff couldn't locate it. It was supposed to
be available in digital format, but I was told that the system has not been
working for already three months...
I had a waiting list ticket to Haridwar, but in the Railway website
there was nothing about its status. I checked out and rushed to the station
early morning. Just before a couple of minutes before the train left I found that
it was not confirmed. I decided to forget about it and return to Vrindavan,
something I am always eager to do.
No one at Oriya Baba's, so I visited the Akhandananda Saraswati Library.
While I was complaining to the librarian about the difficulty in finding a book
which published in Vrindavan, a devotee
came in are said that he has the book! At Gadadhar Bhatta Pith, the Gosvami
told me that he has been putting me on hold for all these months to test my
The whole day in the Janmabhumi
library reading catalogues and reference books.
Since early morning meeting scholars around. Visited the Rama-Krishna
Mission Library, but they could not locate the only book I wanted to see. At
Surma-kunj, I gave a copy of a manuscript to which the Mahant was looking for
and he promised to help us with a non-cooperative neighbor. Arrived back after
A couple of weeks ago, the principal of the Nimbarka College had asked
to call him on the eleventh, when the examinations ended. I didn't bother ask
what the examinations have to do with the library, as for sure the librarian is
not appearing for any exam. Upon calling him, he told me to come today at 10
AM. Finally, when I arrived, he said that the librarian was leaving on vacation
and that I should come in July. That means they don't have the slightest
embarrassment to make me waste 2 weeks (and I really had other places to go)
and still make me come in the office just to say this. Not to speak that the
librarian was comfortably sitting there and when I asked why we couldn't see
the library today, they replied that it is a very difficult and time consuming
job to take a book out of the shelf!!! In this way I waste 90% of my time
because of people who do nothing the whole day and think that others also have
nothing to do. At Oriya Baba's I finally met the person in charge and he
promised to show me the library in this week...
13-05 to 25-05-13
Several visits to Mathura and some libraries in the Vrindavan area.
Finally, I got a copy of the last
printed book which completes the whole collection in devanagari. At
Oriya Baba's, the man keeps on making me play the fool. The temperature is
daily around 48 C and I am hardly getting any sleep.
At last, the date stipulated by the Gosvami at Bhattaji Pitha to see his
library, the only reason that hold me here till the middle of the summer. I
walked for 30 min. under the sun to arrive there at 12 and he merely said that
today he is busy and that I should come tomorrow. Note that I met him a couple
of days ago to confirm the date and time, and he assured me that I didn't need
to call before coming. Another 30 min. under the sun on the way back.
The same as usually: another fruitless visit to Oriya Baba's. We fixed
for tomorrow at Bhattaji Pitha.
No appointed honored.
I waited much more than I should. Train to Varanasi.
I wished to see to the Visvanatha Library, but it was closed.
I met the Vice-chancellor at Sampurnananda Sanskrit University to see if
he would help with the manuscripts issue. He just referred me to the librarian,
who is not the least interested in cooperating. Visit to the Nagari Pracarini
Sabha, but the librarian was not there.
Visit to the BHU library.
Train to Barddhaman, hot and
crowded like hell. I barely survived.
Bus to Navadvip, riksha to the ghat and boat to Mayapur.
As usually, most of the people I have to meet are out-of-station. The
gosvami at Shashi Bhushan Pathagar told me to come tomorrow to see his
Finally, when I got to see the catalogue at Shashi Bhushan Pathagar, I
noticed that it was incomplete. I will have to consult the NMM list online and
come back tomorrow.
After two years trying, today I got the chance to see a couple of
manuscripts at SBP, but spite of a previous promise that I would be allowed to
copy whatever I wished, now the Gosvami decided that he has to consult his
father first. He told me to come tomorrow...
The Gosvami claimed that his father "was in a bad
mood" and declined. He told me to come tomorrow to see if he changes his
mind. Enough for me. At the old Sanskrit College I was given some books. I met
the director of the Puratattva Parisad, which has a library but is not working.
All I got from him was some good references and more names of people to meet. I
went to the Mahaprabhu mandir to meet the Visnu Prasada Gosvami. I asked the
pujari if his name was Visnu Prasada and he reply "yes", but that I should come
after 2 PM to meet him. Of course, I have nothing else to do in life besides
crossing the river up-and-down several times a day... Yet it was 11 AM, so I
went back to Mayapur. When I returned to Navadvip around 2 PM, the pujari now
decided that he is not called Visnu Prasada and then showed me the house of the
person I am looking for, just opposite the temple. The old gentleman was at
home the whole day, so I just realized folly. He was polite and sent me to
another Gosvami who could help me to locate an old publication. Another
half-an-hour trying to locate his house. Finally, he indeed promised to help in
the matter, and of course, I will have to go there several times again. My life
is passing in this way. And today a Gaudiya Math sannyasi wrote to me
insinuating that I am exploiting Vidyabhusana's works for my selfish ends. What
a world, eh?
The rainy season has already started here and there is water all over,
so not much chance to go anywhere.
Boat to Navadvip, riksha to the station and train to Kolkata.
One-and-a-half hour in two crowded local buses to reach the Belur Math.
It was the hottest day so far. They refused to let me see the library under the
excuse that it is meant only for their members. Another bus to Uttarpara to
visit the Jaikrishna Library. I had to wait half-an-hour because it opens at
12. I was asked which kind of books I am looking for and I said that I need to
see some old Sanskrit and Bengali books. The guy left and came back 30 min.
later bringing a heap of old books chosen at random (!) When I asked about the
catalogue, I was told to go to the next building. At the point, it had started
raining heavily and I had to wait for another 30 min. Afterwards I met the
librarian, who was quite efficient and gave me a few good reference books and
let me shoot whatever I needed. Another bus to the Bangiya Sahitya Parisad. I
intended to register as a member, but they said that they are not accepting new
members at present. The librarian was kind enough to let me consult the books
as a visitor. I arrived back almost 9 PM.
Second round in the Bangiya Sahitya Parisad. It took me a long time to
convince the staff to bring me a manuscript of the Govinda-bhasya simply
because it was written "Brahma-sutra-bhasya" on it, as they assumed that it was
not the same book. At last, it was painful to see that the world lost another
manuscript to the bookworms. I wished we had more interest in our books than
the insects have.
Visit to the Kolkata University library. The fellow at the reception was
very much hesitant to let me in and he thought that my research is not a
sufficient reason to see the library! It didn't take me much to realize that
there was nothing for me there. Visit to the Sanskrit College library. I was
about 2.30 PM and the librarian told me that I should rather come tomorrow,
since it is so late and they close at 4 PM... After bargaining, I got to see at
least one book. From there I went on foot to the Chaitanya Library, several km
away. To my surprise, the library works from 7 to 9, both morning and evening.
I wouldn't wait that long.
I was in the Chaitanya Library around 7.30 AM, but the guy really started
working around 8 AM. When I asked to see the catalogue, I was shown only part
of it. Upon asking for the rest, I was told that it was locked in the office
and that the person in charge comes only on Sundays... I found a list of public
libraries in Kolkata somewhere in the web and wasted time trying to locate one
of them just to know that it was shut down long ago. It is raining heavily
everyday, so there is not much I can do, since it is hard to go anywhere and I
simply can't get good shots if there is no sunlight.
Train to Balasore. I was taking rest on the upper berth and a fellow put
his luggage on my head.
15-06-13 to 16-06-13
Remuna, in a room full of frogs. No news around, only Khirchor and khir.
I had to take a bus to the station, but they refused to let me take my
bag inside, although the bus was empty. I was too indignant to wait for the
next one, so I walked 2.5 km on foot with my 10 kg bag expecting to get some
transportation in the main road. Nothing. I ended up having to catch the next
bus on the same route, this time insanely crowded. For half-an-hour I was
pushed and shouted at. The train to Puri was one hour delayed and there was no
place to sit in the station. When I finally got in the train, I found that my
booked seat was occupied...
Although I got a room, they made it clear that I will have to vacate
before the ratha-yatra. I tried to find another place, but everywhere is the
same story.
19-06-13 to 22-06-13
I visited the office of the King of Puri and they told me that he would
come on the 23rd. Raining heavily every day, not much can be done
I took the opportunity that the rain stopped and tried to go to the
office of the King. In the middle of the way I was caught by a storm and became
surrounded by streams of sewage. One hour to get there just to hear that the
King is in Bhubaneswar.
25-06-13 to 17-06-13
Ratha-yatra and almost daily rain made it difficult to do anything
outside, so I spent my time classifying lots of reference materials,
downloading catalogues and reading them.
Train to Gaya in the evening of the Bahuda-yatra, the only day when seats
were available... but it was tough to reach the station.
Quite a few thousand manuscripts at Magadha University, but not much of
our stuff. Visit to the Visnupada mandir.
I got up in the morning, took a shower, put clean clothes and went to
catch a bus to Bodh Gaya. While I was waiting on the road, a fellow filled his
mouth with water and spat on the floor, splashing my feet and clothes. I went
back to my room, took another shower, put my clothes to wash and decided that I
wouldn't go anywhere else but to the station to get away from this place.
Train to Allahabad. The very same old nightmare to get a room: nowhere
foreigners are allowed. I ended up in a Muslim slum. I lack words to describe
it, but it suffice to say that there is a common bathroom from whose ceiling
drops water when someone is taking bath upstairs. In the afternoon I went to
visit the Nimbarka Pitha. Even 200 meters away nobody knew the place and the
rascals were deliberately sending me up and down. At last, when I got there I
came to know that the pandita I was going to meet had passed away years ago.
It rained intensely the whole night. When I looked outside in the
morning, I could see only a river of sewage in all directions. Very morose, as
I already got a skin infection on my feet, guess why... I really have lots of
things to do here, but the situation is turning me down, so I was looking at
the railway timetable. No train available so soon; fleeing is not an option...
By 10 AM the sewage subsided enough to let me search for something that may
resemble an accommodation. I had to bargain for a room without window, all I
could find around. The roads were blocked due to a protest, so I had to walk 4
km to reach the Ganganath Jha Research Institute. Although there was sun when I
came out and the prevision was of good weather, in the middle of the way a
devastating storm started. In a few seconds I was in an island surrounded by
sewage. I swore to myself that from now on I will follow Lord Caitanya's example
and not move around during the monsoon. By 1 PM the rain had stopped and I was
searching for the Institute. The only thing mentioned in their website about
the location is "nearby the Allahabad Museum." What news... in front of the
Museum nobody had ever heard of the place. A policeman standing right below the
huge board written "ALLAHABAD MUSEUM" even told me that the museum is very far
from there... Some years ago I would have become flabbergasted. After this
usual waste of time, I found the place, which is indeed just behind the Museum.
At last, some good collections to see.
The whole day in the Ganganath Jha Library, quite entertained by shelves
of manuscript catalogues and research journals.
Early in the morning I went to visit the Bindu Madhava temple. I arrived
at the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan around 10 AM and had to wait half-an-hour till
they open and another half-an-hour till the staff shows up. It took me another
hour to fill applications and see their catalogue. Finally, when I requested to
see the manuscripts I wish, they told me to come tomorrow, since the fellow who
has the keys didn't come today... I then went to see the Museum library and the
person in charge said that since I didn't mark any appointment, he had no obligation
to show me anything today and that next time I should contact him in advance...
Quite enough of Allahabad and its heaps of garbage all over. Night train to
So relieved to be back in Vrindavan!
26-08-13 to 21-08-13
It is still raining, so I've not visited many places. Yet I am catching
up with several pending issues in the area. I had to oversee the details print
the Siddhanta-darpana. A few visits to Mathura to meet panditas, search for
manuscripts and to consult the Janmabhumi library. I got a good amount of soft
books in this period.
Tempo to Mathura and train to New Delhi. I had to go personally to the
Embassy of Brazil just to get a letter to apply for a scholarship for the
Vidyabhusana Project and in this way wasted time and money due to their
"efficiency". It then took me almost 2 hours and a few km on foot to reach the
University Grants Commission office
address given in the form, in the South Campus of Delhi University. Upon arriving
there, the receptionist was adamant that I was in the wrong address and
referred me to their main office, some 15 km away. I freaked out and at last
someone decided that they could dispatch the application to the other office.
It was already late and I was too exhausted to go back to Vrindavan, so I had
to spend the night in Delhi.
Train to Mathura and tempo to Vrindavan.
Several hours looking the Akhandananda library up and down.
The fellow at the Oriya Baba ashram this time asked me to come right
after janmastami.
26-08-13 to 27-08-13
Planning my next tour around Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharastra and Madhya
Pradesh. Got the train tickets.
Sri Krsna janmastami. Started a new translation.
In the morning I went to meet the Mahant of the Maluk Pith, who
supposedly has a manuscript library. I fruitlessly waited for hours for an
opportunity to talk to him. The time for Srila Prabhupada's puspanjali was up,
so I walked off. In the afternoon I met an old book seller and got some stuff
from him. At Oriya Baba's, guess what? The dude told me to come another day, as
he was too tired due to the janmastami celebration...
A long time spent in classifying the recently acquired digital
collections. I am envisioning the idea of digitizing the complete publications
of Rama Narayana Vidyaratna (Murshidabad), Puridas (Vrindavan), Haridas Baba
(Navadvip) and Krsnadas Baba (Kusuma-sarovara).
Another day visiting the same places and meeting the same people.
Tempo to Mathura and train to Udaipur.
Left my luggage in the station and went to the RORI office, some 7 km
away. Although I had phoned a couple of days before to ask if I could come
today, now the librarian announced that I could read as much as I want, but
that I wouldn't be able to make any copy, as his boss is on leave till next
week... After a few hours checking some
manuscripts, I took a bus to Nathdwara.
Maharaj is out-of-station, so no chance to see anything in the temple
library. I visited the Sahitya Mandal, where they have some manuscripts, but
they didn't let me see anything under the excuse that everything is packed and
they have no catalogue.
Apart from Nathji's darsana and prasada, nothing was accomplished here,
so I took a bus to Udaipur and a train to Mathura.
Spent the morning in the Akhandananda Library and the evening meeting
people around.
Due to the other night on the train with a fan at full speed on my face
the whole trip, I woke up with a very severe case of tonsillitis.
I waited for one hour in the office of the Nimbarka College till the
principal decided to tell me to come tomorrow because the librarian wouldn't
come today.
Although the librarian was there, I had to wait more than one hour till
the principal decided to tell me that the man was "too busy" and wouldn't show
me anything today. Given the number of months I've been waiting and the trouble
I had to be moving around with a lot of pain in my throat, I went straight to
complain to the Mahanta who is in charge of the College, a couple of km away.
He did hear me very politely and assured me that he will get them to work.
It worked like a charm! At last, I got to see some manuscripts, never
mind if showed in a bitter mood... Oh, too early to feel relieved: after
showing me three texts, the librarian declared that it was enough of hard work
for a single day and that I should come tomorrow. As I was feeling like taking
some medicine, I gave in.
When I arrived in the College, it was closed. They will "open" only
after Radhastami, four days later.
11-09-13 to 13-09-13
Radhastami holidays.
I waited for a couple of hours in the office of the College, but the
librarian didn't show up. We see how much effective complaints can be here...
I went again to the College, again it was closed. Spent the rest of the
morning in the Akhandananda Library. After so many days looking the books
one-by-one, I found something I was searching for.
Two and a half hours sitting in the office of the Nimbarka College till
someone told me that the librarian is on leave for one week.
Akhandananda Library.
Last year I was told that there was nothing at the Bon Maharaj College.
Today I decided to try to have a look. After going through the "parampara", I
was allowed inside the library to see as much as I wish. I was surprised to
find a goldmine there. What a pity that I came so late...
Tempo to Mathura. Train to Baroda. Another expedition has begun.
Visit to the Baroda Oriental Research Institute. Cooperative staff, but
high fees, so I will have to wait for sponsorship to afford it.
21-09-13 and 22-10-13
Bus to Dakor. For years I've been missing Ranchorji, so I couldn't miss
this opportunity.
I waited most of the morning to see if the rain would stop. It didn't.
Even so, I had to catch a bus to Ahmedabad. Arrived late in the afternoon and
after dropping my luggage at the ISKCON temple, I went straight to visit the
Bhagavata Vidyapitha. Somehow I was dreaming that they might have a huge
library with hundreds of Bhagavatam manuscripts and perhaps all editions ever
published. Nothing of the sort. As soon as I left, a heavy storm caught me on
the way. I didn't know that even by the end of September it rains this much in
Visit to the L.D. Institute of Indology, which hosts about 75.000
manuscripts. In the reference library I requested to see the manuscript
catalogue and the fellow told me to go to the manuscript section. In the
manuscript section they told me that the catalogue is in the reference section.
When I went back, the guy picked the phone and started an argument. At last,
they settled the matter and I was shown the catalogue in the reference
section... I had a list of reference books I wished to consult, but he could
find only one and told me to look for the other ones in another library. By 2
PM they closed for lunch, so I went to the J.B. Institute. When I asked to see
the manuscript catalogue, the librarian sent me to the office upstairs. The
clerk in the office was puzzled and couldn't figure why he sent me there, which
is actually a sales cell. I went downstairs and the librarian said that if
there is any copy of the catalogue, it is upstairs, for the ones in the library
got lost (!) Back to the office. The clerk was not very pleased with the issue
but tried to locate a copy for me. There was none. He told me to try in another
library, many km away. I couldn't avoid commenting how smart idea that I have
to travel several km to see the catalogue of their library... I then asked to
see a manuscript whose reference I had previously taken note. I was told to come
tomorrow, for the person in charge was on leave... By 3:30 they were already
getting ready to close, although the timing is supposed to be up to 5 PM.
Gujarati credibility has gone quite down on my scale today... One hour waiting
at the bus stop. As soon as I got on the bus, another heavy storm started. The
bus was crowded and people started to freak out because there was hardly any
window and they were being washed down...
It rained the whole night and the whole morning. By 11:30 AM the rain
stopped and I took an auto to reach the B.J.Institute by 12. It was closed and
the gatekeeper said that the "working" day was cancelled due to the rain.
Curiously, it seemed that everyone else was working. Yet I had a train in the
evening, but it was also cancelled.
Still raining. I was very morose and thinking of cancelling everything
and go back to Vrindavan. By 11 AM it stopped raining and I went to book a
ticket to Bombay for the evening. What a surprise: the director of the B.J.
Institute was present today and became strangely excited when he saw me. He
quickly invited me to see the museum and eloquently started to speak about the
items on display. Funnily, a photographer was following us and shooting lots of
pics. I took up the play. Since I was very "cooperative", he did his role: the
catalogues were presented before me in no time and I was allowed to see and
copy whatever I wished! Job done. One hour at the bus stop... Later I took an
auto to the railway station and the guy wanted to charge me almost double.
Enraged, I gave him as much as I thought fine and said that if it is not
enough, then he could call the police. He took the cash and let me go.
Spite the rumors that the rail track was flooded,
the train arrived, being delayed by two hours only. In the morning I went to
the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. I went to the counter in the library and said that
I wanted to see a thesis. The guy insisted that they had no thesis at all. As I protested, he sent me to the
librarian, who was even more emphatic in claiming that they definitely have no
thesis. I had to keep on insisting till they told me to see the catalogue. In
fact, in a few seconds I wrote down the reference. No one had idea of where it
was kept, so I had to wait for a long time. Finally, they brought the thesis to
me and after having a look, I requested to copy it. The librarian flatly
refused saying that they have a rule that thesis can't be copied, except for one
or two pages. How curious that some minutes ago they had no thesis in the
library and now they have even rules about it! I went to meet the director. The
fellow said that he can't break the rules of the institute (although he
obviously has no idea of them) and can't give orders to the librarian! I
started arguing and he picked the phone to talk to the librarian. This time the
librarian told him that they can allow 10 % of the thesis to be copied. I had
to remark how from two pages the rule changed into 10 % in just a few minutes
once again! I asked if I could take pictures of this 10 %. He declined.
Pictures are not allowed, only xerox. Everything very coherent and very
sensible! I left utterly disgusted. Another place just meant for giving jobs to
incompetent rascals, and if people come ro research, let them go to the dogs. I
took a train to the Bombay University. The library was closed for lunch. It
started raining while I walked to the Asiatic Society. At the entrance there is
a public library and I requested to see a book. The guy told me to sit down.
After sitting for half and hour I was indignant and asked what is the matter.
He replied that the staff went for lunch. I was almost yelling: "why the hell
you didn't tell me this before?" There is a common trend everywhere in this
country: they don't have the slightest hesitation to make us waste time, as
they themselves don't have anything to do and think that this is probably the
case of everyone else. I went to the Asiatic Society library, took note of a few
reference books and went to the counter. They said that I would have to pay Rs
100 daily for consultation! When I asked if they would allow me to take pics of
the books, they declared: "Rs 100 per shot!" As far as xerox is concerned,
because it demands the maintenance of a machine and the salary of an employ, it
costs only Rs 2 per page. Again, a show of coherence! Walking in the rain, I
then went to the University library. Lots of bureaucracy and nobody will show
me anything till I fill all the forms and get all the signatures. Too much for
a single day.
Still raining and my
health is not good, so I will do my homework today.
Train to Pune. Raining the whole day.
Visit to the Bhandarkar Institute. In comparison to most libraries I've
been visiting, it is quite well run and has a cooperative staff. In a few
minutes I had all the manuscripts I wished before me. By the time they closed,
it was already rush hour and all buses were totally packed. More than one hour
at the stop and then a couple of buses. Almost three hours spent in this way.
At least the rain stopped.
Attempting to go to the Deccan College, by a double misinformation I
ended up 12 km away from there. It took me four hours to reach the place, then
I had to wait for another hour because it was lunch time... Not much time left, but I got to see the
catalogues and some reference books.
Gandhi Jayanti, public holiday. Home work.
Visit to the Anand Ashram, which has nearly 20,000 manuscripts and
published more than 100 Sanskrit books. Next, the Bharata Itihasa Samsodhana
Mandapa, which holds 34,000 manuscripts.
Train to Ujjain.
I arrived at the Scindia Oriental Research Institute at 10 AM; the staff
started to arrive at 10:30; the librarian arrived after 11:30; and the director
arrived after 1 PM... I hardly could see anything before everyone was present.
I was taken to the sub director, who assured me that I could shoot whatever I
wished. I wrote down the number of a manuscript and handed the slip to the
librarian. After waiting for 15 minutes and noticing that the guy didn't move a
finger, I asked how long it would take. He asked me back how long for what,
since he had no idea of what I was waiting for. I gasped. I reminded him in a
clear tone that the sub director had referred me to him to see the manuscripts.
The magic words being said, he rang the bell and handed the slip to the staff.
Then started another drama: they had no idea of how to find the given number
and kept on bringing me the wrong manuscript. More half and hour to locate it.
Soon after I started to shoot the pages, someone came in and objected. I was
then sent to the director, who demanded that I "write an application, fill the
forms and pay the fees". Thanks God I had just the right amount at hand. Later
on I had a list of reference books I wished to consult. After seeing seven
books and asking for another one, the librarian declined claiming that they
have a rule that no more than four books can be consulted in a day! It occurred
to me that I myself should have some set of rules to preserve whatever is left
of my mental sanity after visiting such "libraries" day after day...
Train to Mathura. The sleeper class was literally hijacked by a crowd
without reservation, and there was no trace of any ticket collector during the
whole journey. Somehow I was lucky to have an upper berth and to succeed in
kicking out the guys who were lying on it. Whoever was on the lower berths had
to sit the whole night.
Back to Godhead.
08-10-13 to 13-10-13
Again on the track, getting on the case of the same folks who have been
promising to show me their libraries for aeons...
Visit to several libraries in Govardhan town. Refused entry in all of
them. One of them read "Abhiram Granthagar" at the gate, but when I mentioned that
I was looking for some old books, they replied that they have none. As I
referred to the name written at the entrance and asked how possibly they can
have no old books, they evaded the question by saying that it would be very
difficult to find the key. At last, they came to the point and made it clear
that it would take too long to let me see the books and that they prefer to
remain sitting down idly as they were doing before I came to disturb. In the
nearby Caitanya Mahaprabhu mandir they also have a library and gave me a
similar reception claiming that the books are meant for them only and by no
means they would let me see anything. Somehow I couldn't detect the slightest
trace of literacy in their auras... For the first time I am considering
seriously the idea of using the local media to let everyone know that this
Project is welcome at the libraries of the Rama-Krishna Mission, Akhandananda
Sarasvati Ashram, Nimbarkas', Sri Vaisnavas', Madhvas', Sankaras', government
and private institutes all over the country, while in Gaudiya temples and
libraries they don't want to hear a word.
I went to the Nimbarka College, but it was closed. I was told to come to
the Bhataji mandir today. Again turned
down and told to come day after tomorrow. Visit to the Braj Culture Research
I tried the Nimbarka College once again. Still closed. Someone told me
they will open again after one week... I guess they have to rest due to such a
hard work they do opening for a couple of hours a week a few months a year...
National holiday.
Visit to the Bon Maharaj College. It was closed and will open only on
the 21st...
Visit to the Radha-Syamasundar mandir. We made some arrangements to
visit the Syamananda Pitha in Gopivallabhpur.
I had an appointment at the Bhattaji mandir at 3 o'clock, and once
again, upon arriving there, the Goswami told me that he is too busy. He has
done this about ten times so far.
Finally the Nimbarka College opened again and I was fortunate to meet
the Mahant there, so I got to see some granthas.
On the plea of the "Diwali", no library opened for one month. Finally
they showed up again in the office of the Nimbaka College, but refused to let
me see anything today "because we didn't bring the key." I've been hearing this
kind of rubbish since the beginning of the year and this time I really lost my
patience. We started an argument and soon they were yelling at me. I had to
call the Mahant to report them. They shut up but were stubborn: if I want to
see the manuscripts I should "come tomorrow." I wouldn't cancel my ticket on
the word of such characterless rascals. Tempo to Mathura and train to
I went to see the librarian in the Allahabad Museum, but although I sent
him a message beforehand to "mark an appointment to see the manuscripts" as he
had commanded in my last visit, he claimed that he received nothing and that he
is too busy to show me anything. I then went to the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan,
where I was previously told that they wouldn't show me any manuscript because
the staff was on leave, and therefore I should come another day. This time they
told me that they have no staff at all to hand the manuscripts to any possible
reader, so there is no point in going there again and again. Fabulous! Another
useless trip to Allahabad dump city.
Train to Kolkata.
Local train to Navadvip, boat to Mayapur.
Visited some libraries in Navadvip.
Visited some libraries in Mayapur.
25-11-13 to 29-11-13
Daily visits to Navadvip to meet some Goswamis and see some libraries.
Boat to Svarup Ganj, auto to Krishna Nagar and train to Kolkata. Visit
to the Sanskrit College. I submitted an application to copy some manuscripts
and they told me to come on the 4th. I then went to the Bangla
Sahitya Parisad but couldn't see all the manuscripts I wished because it was
too difficult for the staff to locate them…
Visit to Pathbari. I had called the librarian several days before to ask
if the library would be open and he confirmed it. Now he decided that he won't
open it for ten days…
Visit to the Caitanya Doba Vaisnava Research Institute in Hali Sahar, 50
km from central Kolkata. Visit to Sanskrit Sahitya Parisad. The staff is good
for nothing and won't let you copy anything. There was a book I had to consult,
but they declined because it was in too bad condition. Visit to the Bag Bazar
Gaudiya Math. No one was there to open the library, even hypothetically.
I went to search for the family of a pandita who owned an important
manuscript collection hundred years ago. All I had was the name of the lane. No
clue. Visit to the Rama Krishna Mission library in Gol Park. Polite people and
well organized. Visit to the Bag Bazar Reading Library. I said one word and
they started yelling at me that they have nothing and sending me away! I would
love to have a hidden camera recording these wonderful moments to share them
with the world through Youtube, especially those who read this diary in
disbelief… I eagerly canvass for a donation.
Visit to the Asiatic Society. I was expected to visit the Sanskrit
College today. Upon arriving there, the librarian told me that my application
is on hold and that I should meet the principal. The fellow is a jerk and was
talking to me as if I were uske baap ka naukar. I started speaking in Hindi and
he yelled that I should speak in English. He demanded my original passport so
that they can prosecute me if anything becomes damaged! I really had no time to
go up and down several km to bring my passport, nor the patience to deal with
this psycho twice on the same day.
Train to Bhubaneswar. Visit to the Kedarnath Gavesan Prathisthan. The
librarian was very kind and let me see the manuscripts although I don't have
Visit to the Bhubaneswar Museum. Quite cooperative staff. Lots of
catalogues to read, mostly in handwritten Oriyan. Not an easy task…
Visit to the State Archives and State Library. The librarians couldn't
give any help to find the reference materials I was looking for, and I had no
time to see all the shelves.
Local train to Khurda Road. Train to Vijayawada.
Darshan of Lord Narasimha in Mangalagiri. Train to Chennai.
A nightmare to find a room. More than one hour roaming in the street
with my luggage. Visit to the Oriental Manuscript Library. A couple of
manuscripts I wished to see were damaged and they refused to let me see them. I
asked if they would be repaired. They declined. Visit to the New Catalogus
Catalogorum office, a real oasis for researchers.
The whole day in the Madras University.
What a surprise: the "librarian" of the Adyar "library" is out of
station and won't be back so soon. To the present day, he never bothered to
reply to any of my messages. With the help of some contacts, I requested the
curator to get the manuscripts repaired in the university library. All I got
was a promise. The rest of the day reading manuscript hand lists.
Train to Tirupati. Visit to the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan.
Visit to the Venkateswar Oriental Research Institute.
Darshan of Balaji.
Train to Chennai. Train to Kumbakonam.
Local train to Tanjore. Visit to the Sarasvati Mahal.
Darshan in some Divya Desas.
Local train to Srirangam.
20-12-13 to 22-12-13
Met some Sri panditas. They were glad that I gave them a copy of the
hand list of the ancient manuscript collection that belonged to the temple. The
collection was given to the government and is now in the Tamil University,
Train to Mysore.
I wanted to stay in the dormitory of the railway station, but the clerk
was on leave, so they won't bother to give place to anyone for many days. All
rooms in the area were full. At last I found a dump. As soon as I sat on the
bed, bugs started to eat me up. Although the holiday is tomorrow, they decided
to close everything today, so once again I couldn't see anything. Train to
No rooms anywhere. After walking for one hour or so, I ended up paying
for an overpriced accommodation.
Another hour spent trying to find another room. I was refused a room
because I am a Hare Krsna. Visit to the eight Mutts. It seems that most of the
Swamis are out of station again. Visit to the Tattva Samshodhan Samsat.
Visit to the Vadiraja Research Institute.
28-12-13 to 30-12-13
Met a few Swamis and visited a few libraries.
Bus to Sringeri. They were very kind and helpful, but unfortunately it
seems that the specific manuscript I was looking for was thrown in the river
long ago. Bus back to Udupi.
Train to Mysore.
Bus to Melkote. Visit to the Sanskrit Academy. There was a book in the
almirah which I wanted to see, but the librarian insisted that they don't have
it, although it was a few inches from his nose. I was standing in the
manuscript section and the fellow in charge pretended I don't exist. I went
back to the reference section to ask what the matter is and they told me to
complain in the administration. As the fellow heard this, he decided to
'notice' my existence and asked what I wanted. Although I explained very
clearly that I am doing a research work and wish to see the catalogue, he
ignored the point and started showing me some displayed items as if I were a
tourist. As I insisted on my point, he declared that he wouldn't show me anything
without the permission of the director. There I go to meet him. Without much
ceremony, the director told me I could see whatever I wish. Back to the
manuscript section, the librarian was gone. He managed to show up by the time
of lunch, and of course, told me to come later… A couple of hours late, as I
repeated to him the director's words, he demanded a written statement. In this
case, I invited him to the director's office. After a long discussion in
Kannada, he convinced the director that he shouldn't show anything to me, and
that if I wanted to see their manuscript list, I should wait several years
until they publish it! I then went to the Sanskrit College, but it was closed.
Upon inquiring around, I found the house of the principal. His wife opened the
door and told me to wait. I heard some murmurs and she came back with some
excuses and told me to meet him in the office tomorrow morning.
I was in the Sanskrit College early in the morning as I was told. The
principal arrived, greeted everyone but me, then went to the temple. Half an
hour late, he comes back, sits in front of me, writes a few notes, stands up
and walks off to start the class without saying a word to me. I got the
message. Bus to Mysore. No news: no library is going to open for many more
days. Bus to Bangalore.
After a long time, I finally met Prof. Pandurangi, one of the greatest
Madhva scholars of our days. We a nice talk and he gave me some references and
advices. Visit to the Uttaradi Mutt. The librarian was not there.
Bus to a village some 50 km north to meet a Swamiji in the hope that he
could have something to say.
Train to Nellore.
Visit to the Sanskrit College.
08-01-14 to 24-01-14
Visit to several places in Andhra Pradesh.
25-01-14 to 01-02-14
Puri and Bhubaneswar. I met Gajapati Maharaja
at his house. Unfortunately, it was too late, as the royal collection was no
more. Yet he gave some good contacts.
Local train to Cuttack and bus to Kendrapara,
about 70 km away. Visit to Dr. Fakir Mohan Das. His library is kept at another
town, so I will have to come on another occasion.
Bus to Cuttack, train to Balasore and bus to
Remuna .
04-02-14 and 05-02-14
At last some findings in the area. Met some
local scholars and got a few books.
Bus to Remuna, bus to Baripada and bus to
Gopivallabhpur, one worse than the other, not to speak of the road. I had
previously contacted the Mahant of the Syamananda-gaddi, who told me to come on
the 6th and 7th to see his library. I arrived late in the
morning and he told me to come in the evening to talk. After the evening talk,
he told me to come in the morning to see the library.
After attending the morning program in the
temple, at 8 o'clock I sat in the courtyard to wait for the Mahant. Someone
went upstairs to inform him and I was told to wait, and I did so until 2 pm.
After being informed that the last bus was at 4 pm and that I was simply
playing the fool, I stood up and was walking off when all of a sudden the
Mahant shows up with a surprised/annoyed expression on his face due to my
impertinency in not waiting for him… I had barely started seeing a few of his
books when he interrupted and commanded that it was time for lunch. Half an
hour later, instead of his one, he decided that it would be better to see the
neighbour's library. It was indeed a quite good collection, but by the time I
finished it was already night. This was the end of our two days appointment and
next day he wouldn't be "available".
Bus to Kharagpur and train to Kolkata. Visit
to Pathbari.
The whole day at Pathbari. In the evening I
went to the Caitanya Research Institute to consult some old GM magazines. I was
indeed shown one magazine, but when I asked for a previous volume, the librarian
promptly said that they don't have it. I asked if he was sure about it, and he
was adamant. Quite before the proper time, he told me it was the time to close.
Local train to Navadvip and boat to Mayapur.
Visited a few libraries and met a few people.
Nityananda trayodasi.
12-02-14 to 15-02-14
Several visits to Navadvip and nearby places.
Auto to Krishnanagar and train to Kolkata.
Train to Varanasi.
18-02-14 to 22-02-14
Visits to the Nagari Pracari Sabha, BHU and Sampurnand. Lots of
headaches to get a few copies from BHU.
Train to Mathura.
24-02-14 to 18-03-14
Busy time in Vrindavan meeting the very same folks.
19-03-14 to 21-03-14
National seminar on unknown and little known Vaisnava manuscripts.
Meeting with the director of the National Mission for Manuscripts.
22-03-14 to 21-04-14
More time wasted in the so-called Nimbarka College just to hear a lot of
rubbish. One of the prominent acharyas, Sri Gopal Sharan Devacharya Maharaj,
went there personally and requested them to cooperate with me, but they
couldn't care less. Meanwhile, I spent some time intermediating to have one
ancient library of the Radha-ramana parivara donated to the Jiva Institute.
Short time to do much, but I made a few good discoveries in the period.
Tempo to Mathura, train to Hindaun, bus to Karauli. Darsana of Sri Sri
Radha-Madana-mohana ji to get their blessing for this Rajasthan expedition.
Bus to Jaipur. Visit to the city palace library. Due to the lack of
staff, they told me to come next week if I wish to see some manuscripts.
Meeting with several people. Looked several manuscripts at the Rajasthan
Oriental Research Institute.
Long talk with the Mahant of the Balanand Math, who did a lot of
research on his sampradaya. He told me lots of anecdotes of the kings and
sadhus of Jaipur. I was introduced to the Mahant of the Madana-Gopala ji
mandir, who promised to intermediate in the Govindaji mandir. I tried to meet
the queen, but she is out of station.
Another meeting with the Balanand Mahant and others. Talked to the Galta
Mahant, who is out of station but is coming back in the evening. Got more
several contacts.
Visit to the Centre for Jain Studies.
In the morning I went to meet the Goswami in the Govindaji mandir, but
spite all the previous promises and intermediation, this time he said some ten
times that he is not gonna show me anything. I hope Rupa Gosvami is watching
Visit to the Jain Vidya Sansthan, where I was received very politely and
in a couple of minutes got the manuscripts I wished to see in my hands. Visit
to the SRC Pracya Vidyapitha, where I was told that it would take them four
days to show me any manuscript. Visit to the city palace library.
The whole morning in the Sanjaya Museum and lots of discussions about
manuscripts. The rest of the day in the city palace library. I tried to meet
the queen once again. After waiting for 45 min. in the office, I was told that
she is still out of station.
The Galta Mahant asked me to meet him in Galta at 11 AM. I went all the
way up hill on foot and upon arriving there the pujari told me that he wouldn't
come but would wait for me in his house in the city at 4 PM. All the way up
hill in the scorching heat of the Rajasthani summer. Spent a couple of hours
reading in the city palace library. Visit to the SRC Pracya Vidyapitha. Visit
to the Sanjaya Museum.
It took me a couple of hours and several kms walking under the noon sun
to be able to locate the Prakrita Bharati library after being sent up and down
several times. Once again, I was cordially shown the library by the Jain staff.
Visit to the Jaipur Record Centre. The director, a Muslim gentleman, was not
much aware of the collections available there, but was very polite and tried to
be helpful. What an age: we receive help from Jains and Muslims, but so-called
Gaudiyas won't even talk to us... Visit
to the Rajasthan Sanskrit Academy, where I was finally shown the catalogue, but
it was too late to go through it. Visit to the Sanjaya Sharma Museum till 9 PM.
Exhaustive day.
I had to catch a train at 6 AM, so at around 5 o'clock I asked the gate
keeper to open the gate. He asked for the "checkout slip" and I showed him the
receipt, as I had already paid. He was not convinced and demanded the "checkout
slip", and in case I don't have one, then I should wait until 6 o'clock when
the manager comes. I kept on saying that I have to catch a train at 6 and the
dude kept on saying that I have to wait for the manager. When I started
yelling, the manager just popped up, gave me the slip and opened the gate. He
was silent when I asked why the heck he didn't say anything about a checkout
slip. The whole morning in a train to
Jodhpur. Visit to the Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute, where I heard lots
of shouts as usual, and spent the rest of the day reading manuscripts. I
couldn't see all because the staff was too busy playing games and surfing the
internet for Bollywood. I spent the night in a dump in front of the station and
hardly got any sleep.
Most of the day in a train to Bikaner.
Sunday, first day off since I left Vrindavan. Spent a long time trying
to find a room, as the one I got is too expensive. At last, I found a
dharmashala which I can afford, but the room is absolutely nasty. I hadn't
taken anything during the day, so in the evening I went around to find
something to drink. After walking a long way, I spotted a tetra pack juice. I
walked in the shop and asked for the juice, but the guy stubbornly said he had
none. I just walked off to spare whatever was left of my good mood.
In the morning I went to the State Archives, where they asked me to fill
lots of forms and give copies of all possible things, even a photo. Spite of
the board which says that the office opens at 10 AM, it was more than 12 o'clock
and the director had not arrived yet. After all this waste of time, someone was
kind enough to say that he wouldn't come before 2 PM. I decided to visit the
Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute meanwhile. The director and the officer
were sitting down as I walked in and said "namaskar", but none of them replied.
The director asked me which country I am from. I said it thrice, still she
couldn't get it. "For the fourth time: Brazil." She then became indignant and
started saying that I have no patience and know nothing about research. She
made me fill all the forms and applications and demanded originals from all my
documents. When at last I gave the list of the manuscripts I wished to consult,
she said: "Isopanishad? Which kind of book is this?" Meanwhile, the officer
also gave me a register to sign. He insisted that my home address abroad should
be written in Hindi. God knows wherefrom I got patience for this, but I still
tried to explain that there are no Hindi addresses abroad. The guy started calling
me arrogant. I was silently watching how far this would go. He then started
narrating some incident from the Mahabharata which describes how arrogant a
disciple of the sage Gautama was. The director liked it and asked the name of
Gautama Buddha's disciple (!!!). How I wish to record these wonderful moments to
share them in Youtube! Note that this is the intellectual elite of India
managing the prestigious Oriental Research Institute of Rajasthan, which holds
some of the most important collections of manuscripts in the world. Back to the
Archives, I had to get my wish list typed and printed because the staff was not
able to read anything hand written in either Roman or devanagari. By 3 o'clock
I was sent to meet the director. As he put his eyes on me, he had already
decided that he wouldn't show me anything. He started by saying that this is
not a public library. As I mentioned that I am doing a research work, he said
that they don't allow independent scholars. As I showed him my documents and
letters of affiliation, he started to demand imaginary documents. After some 5
minutes talking in Hindi, when I mentioned that I am from Brazil, he asked me
if I am able to speak Hindi. Oh Bhagavan, what a day! At last, he decided that
I need a letter from the Brazilian Embassy allowing me to consult his library.
I still tried to explain that embassies are not meant to give letters for
visiting libraries. Crying in the wilderness. Far beyond the limit. Straight to
the station to get a ticket for the first train. Garbage all over and zombie
population. They call it Bikaner.
Having no other option, I arrived in Delhi in the morning. It took me
almost two hours to reach Nizamuddin. No trains so soon, so I had to catch a
crowded bus to Mathura. Arrived in Vrindavan in the afternoon. Felt like waking
up from a nightmare.
Next expedition. Tempo to Mathura, train to Allahabad.
Visit to the Allahabad Museum. Visit to the Ganganath Jha Research
Institute. This time I got good cooperation from the staff in both places, and
spite of taking several hours, I could consult the manuscripts I wished.
Another visit to the Ganganath Jha RI. Train to Barddhaman.
Bus to Kalna. The whole day visiting temples and meeting Goswamis. Lucky
to see some manuscripts and get some contacts.
Had to catch a train to Kolkata before 5 AM but decided to visit the
Caitanya Doba Research Institute on the way. It was a trouble to reach there –
local train to Naihati, bus to Halisahar - and the day schedule had to be
changed. Bus to Naihati, local train to Howrah, local train to Mecheda, bus to
Tamluk. Arrived there in the evening. Visit to the Vasudeva Ghosh Para. The
head pujari kindly let me see his library and presented me some books. Tempo to
Local train to Kharagpur at 4:38 AM, two hours in a bus to
Gopivallabhpur. Arrived there by 10 AM. Upon meeting the Mahant, he said that I
should have marked an appointment and that he has no time to show me anything.
Yet he introduced me to some of his relatives who were very kind to let me see
their collections.
I was supposed to catch a bus at 4:30 AM, but the guest house gate was
locked and there was no staff around, although I had informed them the night
before. Missed the bus. The next one was at 5:30 and because of this I arrived
too late at Kharagpur, missing all the trains that would reach Kolkata in the
morning. Arrived there at noon, which spoiled the plan I had for today. Decided
to stay at the ISKCON temple, catch on my japa and rest. In this last week I
was barely getting 4 hours sleep at night.
Visit to Pathbari. Visit to the National Library. The staff didn't know
where the manuscript section is and sent me up and down several times. After
figuring the location, I had to again go up and down several times because
there was no straight lift or staircase, and no one was able to explain the
way. One hour wasted to reach the place. Upon asking to see some manuscripts,
they insisted that I should have a membership card. Somehow I got my case done
and they gave me a "concession".
I had to catch a train to Puri at 6 AM from Howrah. When I was coming
out from the temple around 5 o'clock, some dudes on a motorbike spat on my
face. I wouldn't be even slightest surprised if they are "Hindus", as I never
had issues with Muslims or Christians. After spending some 15 minutes on the
bus stop without seeing any trace of a bus, I had to catch a taxi.
Met some panditas.
Visit to Gambhira to read the library catalogue. At Siddha-bakul the
mahant claims that the whole library was destroyed.
Visit to Gangamata Math. Although there was a big bundle of manuscripts
visible in the temple compound, the mahant and the pujari insisted they have
nothing. Crying in the wilderness.
Visit to the Raghunandan Library, where I couldn't see the books I
wished last year because they didn't find the key of the almirah. Water is
dropping from the ceiling and spoiled all the books. The staff had not even
noticed it, and when I pointed it out, they said: "So what?"
Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana's disappearance mahotsava. The whole day
fasting and translating.
Dry fasting for Pandava Ekadasi. Too hot here, so no outside activities.
10-06-14 to 22-06-14
Visits to a few libraries such as the Jagannath Research Centre and
meeting with a few scholars.
Finished a rough translation of the Tattva-dipika. It still needs a deep
revision and lots of explanatory notes.
Visit to Alarnatha. Train to Howrah.
Local train to Navadvip, boat to Mayapur.
Visit to Navadvip to meet some Gosvamis.
27-06-14 to 03-07-14
Raining a lot everyday. Home work.
Most of the day in Navadvip meeting panditas.
Boat to Navadvip, local train to Katwa, bus to Srikhanda. I told the
conductor to tell me where to get off, but the rascal didn't. I asked the
locals how to get to the Chittranjan Library, but no one had idea. At last a
shopkeeper claimed to know the place and arranged a sort of 'riksha'. Three km
later, he dropped me in a Gaudiya temple. The pujari said that I was in the
wrong place and he didn't know of any library. I decided to call the library,
the same number through which I had asked directions the day before. A lady on
the phone said that I dialed the wrong number. The pujari gave direction to the
rikshawala to take me back claiming that the address I am looking for is in the
opposite direction. Another three km to the same place I was before. After
several minutes of argument, the locals finally 'remembered' exactly where the
library is and put me on another 'riksha'. I shouldn't be surprised anymore,
but the library is just a few meters from that same temple. The first thing I
inquired is why they speak nonsense on the phone. The librarian claimed that he
was out and the sweeper picked the phone... After a few minutes looking at the
library I felt like running away. The government published a catalogue of their
manuscripts, but they don't have a copy of it in the library. I was shown an
incomplete hand list. There was no book catalogue either, only a hand list
horribly written and without any specific order. It started raining heavily I was
forced to wait. As soon as the rain stopped, I went out, but there were no
rikshawalas around and the road was flooded. After inquiring here and there, I
was told to go to some rikshawala's house to call him. I took a bus to Katwa station and arrived right
on time to catch a local train, but unfortunately it took it one and a half
hour to start. Arrived in Mayapur at night.
Boat to Svarupa Ganj, train to Kolkata. Visit to the National Library.
As per their directions, we had sent a letter a month ago but received no
response. I had to wait for one hour to talk to the director. He didn't
remember any letter but approved my application to copy the manuscripts I need.
The letter I sent was lying down on someone's table in the manuscript section.
Spite the director's approval, they made it clear that they won't let me copy
anything. I went back to the director's office. He had left for lunch and I had
to wait for another hour. At last, after some phone exchanges, they told me
that the problem is that the section in-charge was not there and would be
coming later. Back to the ms section, when the librarian came I asked why he
hadn't replied to my letter. He said that they needed time to think about it
and that in any case I applied for a Sanskrit ms, while they have only Bengali
mss. This he assumed because most mss there are written in Bengali characters.
It took me half and hour to make him understand the difference between a
language and an alphabet. Yet he was adamant that copies were not allowed. I went
back to the director's office, who then called the ms librarian to come. I
deeply regret I didn't bring anything to record this memorable meeting and show
of rubbish. To make it short, the director became convinced that it is the law
of the Indian govt. that mss should be neither copied nor published at all. By
the time I had to leave, it was raining heavily.
Visit to Pathbari, but they didn't open the library under the excuse
that today is ekadasi. They also said that they won't open tomorrow either,
probably because it is dvadasi... Another visit to the National Library, at
least to have a look at the mss, all I got from them. I needed to consult a
printed book in the main library, but the catalogue number was wrong. I had to
spend more than one hour trying to find out what the correct number could be.
After getting the said number, I waited more a couple of hour while the staff
tried to locate it, but they failed. I had to write a request and hope that one
they will be able to find it...
I had just come out to go to the Jadavpur University when it started
raining like hell, although a few minutes before the sun was shining. What
seemed to make sense from the map turned to be a nightmare as I had to cross
lanes full of butcher shops to catch a local train in a nearby station. I
jumped in the first train assuming there was only one line and I had only a
couple of stations to cross, a mistake which cost me more than an hour wasted.
Meanwhile the rain became even heavier. It took me more than two hours to
arrive at the library. The librarian promptly tried to convince me that they
have nothing of what I am looking for, without even suggesting that I check the
catalogue... Night train to Varanasi.
The whole day at the BHU library.
12-07-14 to 13-07-14
Met some panditas.
I had an appointment with a professor at the Sampurnananda Sanskrit
University at 11 o'clock. After making me wait for a couple of hours, he told
me that he is too busy and that I should come day after tomorrow. I went to the
library and they prohibited me from going inside because I had a laptop, which
is of course very dangerous to them and harmful to the books. Several hours
walking up and down under scorching heat to visit a few places, then more 5 km
on foot back to my guest house in Assi because the roads were closed and there
was no transportation available. I got a flu because of drinking too cold
Visit to the Ramnagar Fort. I was told that the manuscript library has
been closed for more than 15 years and that I would need the permission of the
king to see anything there. He is out of station, so I left an application.
I had another appointment at 11 AM with the said professor. When I
arrived at Sampurnananda, he told me that he had to attend a meeting and hardly
gave me a few minutes... The rest of the day in BHU meeting several professors.
Train to Mathura.
Back home. Lot of work waiting for me here.
Train to Udaipur.
Most of the day in the Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute.
Bus to Nathdwara. Visit to the Sahitya Mandal.
Bus to Udaipur, train to
Visit to a local pandita.
Train to Mumbai.
Visit to the Mumbai
University. The guard flatly refused to let me cross the gate claiming that
only their students are allowed inside the campus. I wonder how someone could
even possibly be admitted if entrance is not allowed.... I had to go the way
around and enter through another gate. Once in the library, I asked to copy a
manuscript and they told me that I would have to meet the chief librarian in
the other campus, some 25 km away, submit an application and then wait for
several days until they hold a meeting and have a reply...Visit to the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, despite the reception
they gave me last year...
The Asiatic Society will be
closed for a few days, so I had to tweak my plans. Train to Pune. Visit to the
Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute. It is supposed to open at 11 AM, but
the staff of the manuscript section showed up at around 1 PM. Around 3 PM I was
told that the section in-charge wouldn't come today. In the reference section,
I had to wait for one hour until they could find the book I wished to see. Since
they were not being able to locate it, they tried to 'entertain' me with other
books because the title was similar...
Bhandarkar again. At last,
I got the copies I had requested and paid for exactly one year ago. The director
was very surprised to know that the staff didn't send the copies to me as they
were supposed to and seemed to be inclined to escalate the case. In the
reference section, after another hour waiting for another book, I gave it up
and ran away. I couldn't escape the rain, though.
Train to Mumbai at 4 AM.
Visit to the Asiatic Society. The staff was helpful but couldn't find the
manuscript I was looking for.
The whole day around some
local libraries.
Train to Baroda. Because I
had to cancel the ticket I had due to the change in the schedule, I didn't get
a confirmed berth in the train and had to sit down the whole night.
Sunday off.
Visit to the Sanskrit
College. Visit to the Baroda Oriental Research Institute. Helpful staff, but I
will have to come again tomorrow because they could not open some of the
I had requested to have the
manuscripts ready before I arrive, and I intentionally delayed one hour to give
them time. As I could guess, when I arrived at the Oriental Institute by 12
o'clock, they not even remembered anything of the sort. I had to wait for one
hour while they were tracing the manuscripts in the almirahs... Night train to
Visit to the City Palace
library. They told me that they can't show me any manuscript at present because
the library caught fire some days ago and it is under repair. Still they don't
believe that there is need to have the collection scanned... Visit to the
Sanjay Sharma Museum. Met several of my local contacts.
Visit to the Sanskrit
Academy. I called before going and they told me it was open, but when I arrived
there they told me that I wouldn't be able to see anything because they were
all busy...
I had to catch a train to
Bharatpur at 4 AM. In the evening I had paid the guest house bill and informed
the manager and staff that I needed to leave before 4 AM and didn't want any
drama, to which they promptly agreed. At around 3:30 AM I called the very same
staff to open the gate, but instead of doing it, they started questioning if I had
paid the bill. A few shouts made them suddenly 'remember' that I had already
paid. Once in Bharatpur, there was no one in charge of the resting rooms in the
station, and the only place in the area seemed to be a filthy dharmashala.
Having no option on sight, I got a room there. On the wall there was a board in
Hindi saying "do not spit on the walls," a request which was visibly not
followed by most of their 'guests'. After 11 AM, I walked 2,5 km up to the
local branch of the Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute. Although I had
called the officer a day before to ask if he would open today, to which he acceded,
when I arrived there, the door was closed. I called the guy to ask what is
going on, and he said that today is holiday. When I asked why the hell he
didn't say that when I called yesterday, he replied asking who I think I am to
question him and that he doesn't need to give explanations to anyone. Once
again the 'learned' staff of the Rajasthan Oriental 'Research' Institute
displaying how much they 'care' for the researchers who visit them. I rushed
back to my room, packed, and jumped on the first bus to Mathura. End of this
04-10-14 to 18-11-14
Kartika in Vrindavan,
studying, translating, doing parikrama and running after the same old folks to
get the chance to see their manuscripts.
I had booked a train ticket
from Mathura to Allahabad, but at the last moment I came to know that the
railway decided to cancel the Mathura halt and I had to jump on the first bus
to Agra. Arrived together with the train. So started another expedition...
Met the principal of the
Ganganath Jha Research Institute and after a brief talk in Sanskrit, she
approved my application to copy a few manuscripts. Despite of it, the staff
told me to sit and wait, and that is what I did the whole day there without
being shown a single page. Meanwhile I visited the Prayag Hindi Sammelan, where
I had previously been first told that the manuscript section staff was on
leave, then that they have no staff at all and the ms section was permanently
closed, and then that the ms section was under renovation and wouldn't open for
many months. This time an intermediate put me in touch with someone of the
administration, who went with me to meet the 'librarian'. It became evident
that the ms section is not closed, nor under renovation, nor lacking staff. Yet
the 'librarian' had to call the staff to know why he was not present. The guy
was 'too busy' somewhere else and would come only tomorrow. I said that
tomorrow I have to go Varanasi, so I can't guarantee that I would be able to
come. The 'librarian' seemed very satisfied with the idea that I am leaving and
assured me that they would look for my manuscripts...
Since I couldn't accomplish
anything yesterday, I was forced to stay on today. I arrived at the Ganganath
Jha around 10 o'clock, but the staff started to arrive after 11 AM. After
another hour wasted, someone informed me that they decided to send my
application to the vice-chancellor and that only after they hold a meeting they
will come to a decision and then will send a letter to Vrindavan to notify
me... Since I am still here, I decided
to go again to the Hindi Sammelan to see what would happen. The 'librarian'
very shamelessly said that the staff had actually come yesterday and looked for
my mss but unfortunately could not find them. I asked how possibly could he
fail to locate two different mss. After being puzzled for a moment, the
'librarian' said that the mss are both kept together in a single bundle. This
is one of the grossest and most stupid lies I heard recently. Enough of these
idiots. I rushed to the station and jumped on the first train to Varanasi. Too
bad that the track was under repair and the train arrived at night.
Visit to the Visvanatha
Library, Gopala Mandir and Sampurnananda Sanskrit University. My application to
see the library of the Kashiraj was rejected by him under the pretext that the
building is under renovation.
Met some panditas.
Visit to BHU and a private
library. Train to Howrah.
The train was several hours
late and thus I lost the whole morning. In the afternoon I visited the Sanskrit
College. This time the principal immediately approved my application without
any drama. However, the staff failed to locate the mss I wish. Visit to the
Bangiya Sahitya Parishad. I requested copies of a few pages of a ms and they
told me that it will take one week to 'process' it.
I had a plan to visit
Pathbari and got someone to call the baba in charge. He has no intention to
open the library in less than one week. Given the circumstances, I took a local
train to Navadip.
Local train to Katwa and
bus to Srikhanda. Visit to Narahari Thakur Bari, but the Mahant was not there.
I arrived too early at the Chittaranjan Pathmandir and had to wait one hour
until the librarian came. On the phone he had agreed to let me take pictures,
but on the way he changed his mind and decided to send my application to the
general secretary... Although we had to purchase a copy of the printed
catalogue of that library, which they don't have there, the numbers in it
became useless after the National Mission for Manuscripts staff went there,
messed up everything, and left without finishing the job. As he failed to
locate the mss I want, the librarian's bold tone faded when I told him that I
will have to report the case to the government. Back to Narahari's mandir, I
met the Mahant, who told me that the collection they used to have was given to
that same library and that I do well in reporting them. Bus to Katwa. I had
checked the time table of trains to Navadvip and there was none so soon,
therefore I was planning to catch a bus. Somehow a dude convinced me that there
was a train to Navadvip now, so instead of going to the bus stand, I got off at
the railway station. There was indeed a train on the platform, but it remained
there for more than one hour and delayed more than one hour one the way, thus I
wasted the rest of the day in a 40 km journey.
Visit to the Sadharan
Granthagar. I asked for the manuscript catalogue and they almost sent me to the
dogs. Met some local Gosvamis. After two days staying in an ashram infested
with mosquitoes and with a 'bathroom' under the open sky, I got flu and stress
enough to run away as far as possible.
Met some local panditas.
Local train to Kolkata.
Visit to the Sanskrit
College. They could locate most of the manuscripts I had to see, but not all.
Visit to the Kolkata University. In the manuscript section they said that they
have no staff available and therefore cannot show anything. They also couldn't
say anything about anything and therefore gave me the phone number of the lady
in charge in case I want to talk directly to her. Visit to the National
Library. I didn't bring my membership card, yet they were kind enough to let me
see some manuscripts.
Visit to the Caitanya
"Research" Institute. The librarian was on leave and the library won't open
until he comes back after some two weeks. Visit to the Bangiya Sahitya Parisad.
As one week passed, I thought they would have my copies ready. Not at all. They
just told me to copy the manuscript with my own camera. I then asked for a copy
of a couple of pages of an encyclopedia. They told me to fill an application
form and wait for one week so that they can 'process' it. For those who have
read some of my previous entries, at this point this should not be much
surprising, isn't it? And this is one of the main libraries in Kolkata, one of
the largest cities in the world. I had a friend to call the lady in charge of
the ms section in the Kolkata University and NMM in West Bengal to find out
what time she is available in the office. She just wanted to know who the hell
had given us her phone number and made it clear that they have none of the
manuscripts that we are looking for. Curiously, they have about 60,000 and no
catalogue. Well, I was just going to ask her if they will finish their job in
Srikhanda or I will have to report them to the director of the NMM in Delhi.
Visit to Pathbari. After
being previously turned down in several visits, finally the baba in charge was
in a mood to open the library and I got to see some nice scriptures. It paid
off. Visit to the Bag Bazar Reading Library. I arrived just a few minutes
before their opening time. I had barely said a couple of words and the staff told
me to get the hell out of there because it is closed. So sweet! Check out my
previous entry on 03-12-13. This much of West Bengal for now. Night train to
Visit to several temples.
I've found the remnants of a ms library but was not allowed to have a look.
Spent the night at Siddha Bakul.
Morning bus to Bhubaneswar.
I got off at the ISKCON temple thinking of getting a room in the guest house,
but it was full. I asked for a place in the ashram, but they declined under the
plea of lack of space. I had to catch the local transportation to go to the
station area and was forced to get a noisy, sticky, albeit overrated room.
Visit to the State Museum. The manuscript section was closed. I asked the staff
about it, but they couldn't say anything substantial. I walked around for a
while and was about to give it up when someone suddenly took me to the peon of
the library, who was sitting idly somewhere else. He told me that the librarian
had gotten another job somewhere else and therefore he doesn't bother to open
the library... I could read some mss, but when I requested some copies, he told
me that they have no one working on the computer to give me a CD. I had to
write an application and meet the curator, who told me to call the librarian to
find out when she plans to be present in the library and possibly arrange my
copies. I called her, explained my case, and she hung up the phone at my face.
Morning bus to Bhubaneswar.
I got off at the ISKCON temple thinking of getting a room in the guest house,
but it was full. I asked for a place in the ashram, but they declined under the
plea of lack of space. I had to catch the local transportation to go to the
station area and was forced to get a noisy, sticky, albeit overrated room.
Visit to the State Museum. The manuscript section was closed. I asked the staff
about it, but they couldn't say anything substantial. I walked around for a
while and was about to give it up when someone suddenly took me to the peon of
the library, who was sitting idly somewhere else. He told me that the librarian
had gotten another job somewhere else and therefore he doesn't bother to open
the library... I could read some mss, but when I requested some copies, he told
me that they have no one working on the computer to give me a CD. I had to
write an application and meet the curator, who told me to call the librarian to
find out when she plans to be present in the library and possibly arrange my
copies. I called her, explained my case, and she hung up the phone at my face.
Train to Vijayawada.
Sunday. Darsana at Mangalagiri.
Train to Chennai.
I arrived at the Govt.
Oriental Manuscript Library at 11 AM and was told that the staff had gone to
'drink tea'. After one hour waiting, they had not come back yet and someone in
the office told me to go to complain to the librarian. I went to the librarian
room, but there was no one there. At last, the staff showed up and I had to
wait for another hour while they search for the mss I want to see. Despite
several applications since last year, they still did not locate them, and
obviously did not even attempt to previously. Visit to the Sanskrit department.
Visit to the Gaudiya Math
to see their library. Devotees were helpful and I could find something
interesting. Visit to the Adyar Library. This time, surprisingly, I could meet
both the librarian and the director. Check out the entries on 10-01-13 and 12-12-13.
I showed them a xerox copy of the front page of the "Catalogue of the
Microfilms in the Adyar Library..." and they coughed asking who said they have
no microfilms. After one hour talking among themselves, opening drawers and
almirahs, looking for keys here and there, etc. they very proudly brought a few
rolls to me. I had to inform them that microfilms cannot be read without a
projector. Another case, they were clueless about it. Someone had a good idea
and told me that the projector is broken.
Visit to the Madras
University library. Visit to the K.V.Sarma Research Foundation.
Train to Tirupati. Visit to
the Vedic University. Someone had told me they have 1 lakh mss, but actually they
have around 3,000 only... Visit to the Rastriya Sanskrit Vidyapitha library.
Visit to the Venkateswara
Oriental Research Institute. I asked for the catalogue of Sanskrit books and
they told me they don't have one and then invited me to look the books one by
one. Not much productive, and soon I had to leave to have darsana of Balaji.
Visit to the Tirupati
Tirumala Devasthana Library, but it was closed.
The whole day in a train to
15-12-14 to 07-01-15
I had decided to spend
these days in Srirangam studying and translating to avoid all the turmoil of
the end/beginning of the year vacations, but things didn't turn well. The
Vaikuntha-ekadasi festival happened to be right in this period, which made it
tough to get an accommodation. For almost a week I had to sleep on the floor
with several people. As it was quite cold and I hardly got any sleep, I ended
up sick for the next one week. I was lucky to rent a room at someone's house,
but by the time I felt well, I just had a few days left and had too many rounds
to chant, so I rather went to visit some divya desas in the area. Yet I visited
several local libraries, met some panditas and copied some good reference
Arrived in Mysore in the
morning, where this time I had made some arrangements to stay at some devotee's
house, given my extreme back luck with accommodations here (check the entries
on 02-02-13 and 24-12-13). As I didn't get any cooperation from the staff in
the Oriental Institute in my previous visits, this time I chalked out a plan. I
came to know that they have an adviser for foreign students, so I marked an
appointment with him. Once in the campus, nobody was able to explain where his
office is. I was fortunate that my host was taking me around on a two-wheeler,
as it took us some 40 minutes going up and down until we could find the place,
otherwise I would have spent the whole day walking, as usual. At last, the man was quite polite, heard my
case and called the ORI library to ask them to cooperate. When we stood up and
were about to leave, I just asked if he could tell us some directions to go to
the library, as we had been moving around for a long time and had no idea of where
we were. The guy just flipped out and started screaming a lot of nonsense: "If
I have been there before, why the hell are you asking directions?" Note that
his office was even in a different campus. Too bad I didn't have my pencam
running... Anyway, once in the ORI, the staff was surprisingly cooperative.
Somehow the director arrived right on time and was pleased to approve my
application after exchanging some Sanskrit words with me. While they were
scanning a ms for me, I went to visit the Maharaj Sanskrit College. What a
surprise! The librarian was not there, just as in all the previous years. Back
in the ORI, I got my stuff on a CD and was about to leave when I found a book
which I had been looking for since long ago. The director had already left, so
I had to write an application and wait until tomorrow.
Darshan of Lord Ranganatha
in the morning. Back in the university, my application was approved, but I
would have to pay almost Rs 800 to shoot the whole book. I thought it better to
agree, as I had already wasted time and money looking for it before. After a
couple of hours taking pictures, I was requested to give a copy to the library.
I copied and pasted the files in their PC, unplugged my cam and was already at
the door when I heard a little voice and the bottom of my mind: "Why don't you
check your data before leaving?" Good idea. When I opened the picture viewer,
it was said: "No image available." Back to the computer, I noticed that
actually my memory card was empty. The program was set to delete everything
after copying, and of course nobody would tell me that... They had to burn a CD
for me, as their system setting wouldn't allow copying the files back. Anyway,
after several fiascos in Mysore, at last I got the job done! All is well that
ends well. Night train to Udupi.
10-01-15 to 19-01-15
Daily visits to local
libraries, research centers and temples. Met some of the Swamis and
also Dr. Bannanje Govindacharya.
I had a few places to visit in the area but totally forgot that today is the Republic Day and no library will be open.
Visit to the District Library. Despite its name, nobody in the town seems to know its location, so I had to spend a long time going up and down to figure it.
Arrived in Bangalore in the morning. Visit to the Vyasa
Madhva Samsodhana Pratisthana.
Visit to the Madhva Visva
Parisad library.
Train to Vijayawada
Darsana at Mangalagiri.
I had a few things to do in
Vijayawada and a train ticket for tomorrow morning, so I thought better to get
a room nearby the station. Despite being called 'Srinivasa', I soon realized
that the so-called guest house was full of drunkards, including the staff, who
spent the whole night screaming and laughing. As if it were not enough, my bed
was full of bugs. God knows how I spent this night.
Train to Rajahmundry. Given
the last nightmare, I requested some devotees to arrange accommodation in the
ISKCON temple. I walked 1,5 km from the station and when I arrived at the
gate, I asked the guard about the guest house
and he told me that it is not here and that I should walk
ahead, which cost me another km walking under the sun with 15 kg of luggage
almost up to the bridge until I had the luck of meeting a temple devotee on the
way. The guest house is just behind the same gate where I asked information...
I had a few places to visit in the area but totally forgot that today is the Republic Day and no library will be open.
Train to Visakhapatnam. I went all the way up on
the hill with my luggage expecting to get an accommodation in the Simhachalam
temple guest house and had to walk all over the complex until I found the
office just to hear that they don't give rooms to single males and that this is
a 'government rule'. Again all the way down the hill where I was given a room
in the first guest house I saw. Apparently they never heard of that 'government
Train to Puri.
Visit to the Jagannath Chetana Gavesana Pratisthan.
30-01-15 to 31-01-15
Visit to several temples and mathas.
Visit to the Rama Krishna Mission library.
Visit to the Jagannath Research Institute.
Visit to the Bharat Seva Ashram library.
Visit to the District Library. Despite its name, nobody in the town seems to know its location, so I had to spend a long time going up and down to figure it.
Visit to more a few local libraries. I need to
consult a few old issued of the magazine "Orissa Review" published by the state
government. I couldn't find them in any of the local libraries but was again
and again referred to their publication office. I went to see the officer
there, explained that I was doing a research, showed him a list with the reference
of the magazines and asked where I could find them. When the fellow saw the
dates of the magazines, as early as 1988, he became enraged and asked me if I
know that we are now in 2015, as if I were a retard asking a very stupid
question. Again remarkable how this kind of folks are in charge of the 'culture'
and 'publication' sectors.
Train to Balasore. Darsana of Ksiracora Gopinatha.
As the locals are planning to build a temple for
Baladeva Vidyabhusana, I am looking forward to making his books available here,
since this is the reason why he is known to us, first of all. I
checked out in Remuna in the afternoon to depart to Gopivallabhpur (95 km away)
but soon came to know that there would be no bus to the city before evening.
When the bus came, I decided to 'save time' by getting down at the bypass stop
to catch another bus to Baripada instead of going another 4 km to the bus
stand. Bad idea. I got inside the first bus without being able to see the
situation inside. By the time I figure it, the bus had already started. It was
packed in such a way that not even a fly could move inside. I had to spend one
and a half hour being squeezed and having my luggage tossed around. At last,
when I arrived they told me that there won't be any buses to Gopivallabhpur
before tomorrow morning. I had to spend the night in a dump by the bus stand.
Nobody could say exactly when there would be a bus
to Gopivallabhpur, so I had to wait. After waiting for almost a couple of hour,
the bus departed and took another two hours to reach, although it is just 35
km. Although we had called the Mahant and he said that he would let me have a
look at his library, now he says that he is too busy with some celebrations...
I briefly looked someone's library in the neighbourhood and that was it.
I had to catch the first
bus in the morning, so this time I notified 10 times to the staff and the
manager of the same lodge (vide the entry on 01-06-14), and they assured me
that this time they wouldn't lock the gate. Around 4:15 AM, I came downstairs
and – what a surprise – the gate was locked from outside. This time I had the
phone number of the receptionist, so I had to call him twice to make him open
the gate. I arrived at the bus stop at the last moment and there was no more
seats available. Train from Kharagpur to Howrah. Spend the rest of the day
reading at Pathbari.
Visit to the Bangiya
Sahitya Parisad. Visit to the Sanskrit Sahitya Parisad. The librarian passed
away and there is no one looking after the manuscript section now. Visit to the
Caitanya Research Centre.
Another visit to the
Bangiya Sahitya Parisad. This time for some reason they felt suspicious that I
was several times consulting the same manuscript and decided to hold me while
they check each page. This took almost a couple of hours, but at the end there
was actually an extra number of pages. Visit to the Chaitanya Library (different
than the one above), but it was closed.
I visited the Chaitanya
Library early in the morning in the scheduled time, but when I arrived the
librarian told me that he was closing and I should come in the evening. Visit
to the Bag Bazar Gaudiya Math just to check the position in the library. They
told me that if I want to see any book, I will have to wait for two years until
they open their museum.
Visit to the Sanskrit
College. I had purchased many books and went to the post office to dispatch
them, but they were not working because their network was off. I was referred
to another branch where they said that they would ship my books only if I could
produce a license! The result of this show of incompetence was that I had to
spend the whole day carrying a load of books and was forced to travel with
them. Night train to Varanasi. I woke up in middle of the night totally frozen,
which later caused ear and throat infection.
Visit to the Chowkhamba
Sanskrit Sansthan and Gopal Mandir. Met some contacts supposed to help me to acquire
copies of manuscripts.
Most of the day on the bed,
Visit to BHU. Train to
Not in very good condition,
but back home at last.