Manuscipts included in UNESCO register

Pondicherry, Mar 31 (UNI) A collection of manuscripts from Saiva Siddhanta texts has found mention in UNESCO's ''Memory of the World Register.'' According to UNESCO Advisor for Communication Information Traja Virtanen, 11,000 palm leaf and paper manuscripts in Sanskrit, Tamil and Manipravalam about Shaiva Siddhanta philosophy were preserved at the French institute here.

Participating in a function to mark the inscription of the manuscripts here yesterday, Ms Virtanen said the unique collection will help scholars to reconstruct a chapter in the religious annals of humanity.

Unveiling a plaque on the occasion, Pondicherry Lt Governor M M Lakhera said the manuscripts provided a glimpse of a wide range of aspects of Saiva Siddhanta philosophy which played a major role in religious and philosophical spheres for more than a millennium.

But only 25 per cent of the manuscripts had been published giving scope for unravelling a vast treasure of information, he added.

French Ambassador in India Dominique Girard said the addition of Saiva Siddhanta manuscripts to the ''Memory of the World Register'' was significant as it recognised the assiduous work of pundits and savants of the French Institute.

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