EAP1039/1

This collection adds up the general manuscripts collection of the Vadakke Madham Brahmaswam (B-), which is the result of the accretion, at various periods of time, of manuscripts from the four Śaṅkaran monastic institutions of the city of Thrissur (Central Kerala), as well as various other smaller collections handed down to the project (N-, etc.). The collection is now kept in the annex building ("Auditorium") of the Vadakke Madham, especially in the library and in a new archive room on the first floor. A new building is now being built, which will host an archive with proper conditions of storage for these manuscripts. The documents are originally kept in five shelves: 1. Manuscripts examined in 2015 by Mr. Muralikrishnan (now employed by the project); 2. Manuscripts examined by the National Mission for Manuscripts (generally only the first item of the bundle is identified, if at all); 3. Uncatalogued manuscripts, which are still in relatively good condition; 4. Uncatalogued manuscripts in decaying condition; 5. Brittled manuscripts, very poor condition and stray leaves. This arrangement was done by the authorities of the Madham, and was in place at the start of the project. Three new cupboards have been purchased in July 2019. Each of them now hosts 100 bundles that have been examined and restored in the framework of the project. Note that administrative documents (also on palm-leaf) are kept in a separate archive, in a different building belonging to the Naṭuvil Madham with restricted access; being of a very different kind, these documents have not been taken into account so far.

Custodial history: The former ownership of most manuscripts is unknown. Some were previously owned by Thekke Madame, Thrissur.