Sarvamoola Grantha
Shri Madhvacharya
Among the various scholars and spiritual leaders in India during the last millennium, Shri Madhvacharya (1238-1317) had a profound impact on society. His philosophy is known variously as Dvaita, Bheda-vada, Tattva-vada, or Bimba-Pratibimba-vada. Shri Madhvacharya analyzed all aspects of the holy texts such as Vedas, Upanishads, Itihasas, Purana, Tantras and Prakaranas and showed the structure of the spiritual world that serves as a backbone of the diversities of this world. This insightful knowledge demonstrated to mankind the meaning of life and the importance of logic and faith in God.
What is the Sarvamoola Grantha?
Shri Madhvacharya authored many works, including 37 that are collectively called the Sarvamoola Grantha. This collection contains commentaries on various important scriptures such as sUthraprasthAna, gItA prasthAna, upanishad prashtAna, shruthi prasthAna, prakaraNa grantha, ithihAsa prasthAna, purAna prasthAna, AchAra grantha and stOtra grantha. Preservation of this collection for future generations is essential.
Preserving and Sharing Sarvamoola Grantha
The journey of the Sarvamoola Grantha begins with the compositions of Shri Madhvacharya transcribed onto palm leaves by his disciple Shri Hrishikesha Teertha. These valuable texts were bound in bundles that varied from one leaf to stacks of 200 leaves. The manuscripts were then stored at various mathas (monasteries) located in and around the town of Udupi in the state of Karnataka.
Unfortunately, the palm leaves did not withstand the test of time and many were lost or badly damaged due to their deterioration over time. The picture above shows the present condition of one of those leaves. Without preservation of the text, Shri Madhvacharya's important words will be lost forever.
In the 1970s, researchers at the American University used microfilm technology to capture and store black and white photographic images of the Sarvamoola Grantha. However, the microfilm images are now in poor condition. The second picture (above) shows one of the microfilmed images in its present condition today. The quality of the image is not very good and the text is difficult to read. While microfilm has a theoretically long life, regular use of the microfilm results in wear and tear, as do even small changes in the environment. The failure of this method made it clear that a need existed for a new and improved method of preservation in order for these texts and others to survive the test of time.
NanoArk uses 21st century technology to preserve the information originally found on the palm-leaves on a small golden disk known as a Waferfiche™. In this process, high-quality pictures of the manuscripts are taken using a scientific camera and these pictures are processed in order to make the text easier to read. The processed images of the palm leaves are then inscribed on a Waferfiche™ using the latest semiconductor technology.
The images on the Waferfiche™ can be easily accessed using an attached USB connection, which gives you instant access to the images in digital form. They also contain the etched images of the individual pages, providing secure storage regardless of changing digital technologies.
This preservation project has made it possible for these precious documents to be housed in any setting, rather than being restricted to a single location.
Among the various scholars and spiritual leaders in India during the last millennium, Shri Madhvacharya (1238-1317) had a profound impact on society. His philosophy is known variously as Dvaita, Bheda-vada, Tattva-vada, or Bimba-Pratibimba-vada. Shri Madhvacharya analyzed all aspects of the holy texts such as Vedas, Upanishads, Itihasas, Purana, Tantras and Prakaranas and showed the structure of the spiritual world that serves as a backbone of the diversities of this world. This insightful knowledge demonstrated to mankind the meaning of life and the importance of logic and faith in God.
What is the Sarvamoola Grantha?
Shri Madhvacharya authored many works, including 37 that are collectively called the Sarvamoola Grantha. This collection contains commentaries on various important scriptures such as sUthraprasthAna, gItA prasthAna, upanishad prashtAna, shruthi prasthAna, prakaraNa grantha, ithihAsa prasthAna, purAna prasthAna, AchAra grantha and stOtra grantha. Preservation of this collection for future generations is essential.
Preserving and Sharing Sarvamoola Grantha
The journey of the Sarvamoola Grantha begins with the compositions of Shri Madhvacharya transcribed onto palm leaves by his disciple Shri Hrishikesha Teertha. These valuable texts were bound in bundles that varied from one leaf to stacks of 200 leaves. The manuscripts were then stored at various mathas (monasteries) located in and around the town of Udupi in the state of Karnataka.
Unfortunately, the palm leaves did not withstand the test of time and many were lost or badly damaged due to their deterioration over time. The picture above shows the present condition of one of those leaves. Without preservation of the text, Shri Madhvacharya's important words will be lost forever.
In the 1970s, researchers at the American University used microfilm technology to capture and store black and white photographic images of the Sarvamoola Grantha. However, the microfilm images are now in poor condition. The second picture (above) shows one of the microfilmed images in its present condition today. The quality of the image is not very good and the text is difficult to read. While microfilm has a theoretically long life, regular use of the microfilm results in wear and tear, as do even small changes in the environment. The failure of this method made it clear that a need existed for a new and improved method of preservation in order for these texts and others to survive the test of time.
NanoArk uses 21st century technology to preserve the information originally found on the palm-leaves on a small golden disk known as a Waferfiche™. In this process, high-quality pictures of the manuscripts are taken using a scientific camera and these pictures are processed in order to make the text easier to read. The processed images of the palm leaves are then inscribed on a Waferfiche™ using the latest semiconductor technology.The images on the Waferfiche™ can be easily accessed using an attached USB connection, which gives you instant access to the images in digital form. They also contain the etched images of the individual pages, providing secure storage regardless of changing digital technologies.
This preservation project has made it possible for these precious documents to be housed in any setting, rather than being restricted to a single location.
- Testimonials about Sarvamoola Grantha.
If you are interested in obtaining a copy of Sarvamoola Grantha on a Waferfiche, please contact Dr. P. R. Mukund at prmukund@nanoarkcorp.com