Sarvanand Kaul collection of Indian Manuscripts and Art, 1700-1800
Collection context
- Creator:
- Kaul, Sarvanand
- Extent:
- 0.5 linear feet (1 manuscript box)
- Language:
- Sanskrit .
- Scope and content:
-
The collection consists of 11 books (manuscripts) and 4 paintings. The paintings are not distinguished, but could be important for historians of regional styles. Two of them are pretty clearly from the Ramayana." Risha Lee, Jane Emison Assistant Curator of South and Southeast Asian Art at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, comments on the paintings: "As for the paintings, the first two are almost certainly 19th century, Pahari style, and the first might be an artistic study. The woman (perhaps a court lady or ragini) is seated against a large bolster. The second painting depicts two noblemen seated in conversation outdoors, while underneath them an older nobleman rides an elephant and carries a trident, possibly a symbol of Shiva. The other two fragmentary paintings are very nicely executed: the first depicts Hanuman attended by his monkey entourage paying homage to some individual, if it is not Rama, perhaps it is the seated Krishna who appears in the second fragment, which depicts a blue skinned male wearing a yellow dhoti, with sages seated underneath him.".
Unusually for a Sanskrit manuscript collection, texts relate to the somewhat rare and less collected subjects of astrology, metaphysics, and occult sciences. The manuscripts include: Jyotirvidābharaṇa by Kālidāsa, a work on astrology (41); a Piṅgala Shastra text (42); Karmavipāka saṃhitā, a work of astrology which is quite rare even in published format (43); Sarojakalika by Kavi Ratna, which manuscript (or a similar one) Albrecht Wezler reported locating on a late-1970s tour in the Kingdom of Nepal (45); a commentary on Ramottaratapniya (46); commentary/text on Panchasvara Nirnaya by Gauda Bhattacharya (47); Vartamala by Rāmānuja, probably a Vaishnava text (48); Samudrika Shastra which relates to palmistry and astrology (49); a commentary on Jaiminiya Sutras (50); a commentary/text on Siddhānta chandrikā of Śrī Rāmāsrama (52); and Mumukṣuppaḍiharayasgranthe (53).
The manuscripts are numbered 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 52, and 53.
- Biographical / historical:
-
The collection was part of a larger family inheritance to Sanjay Kaul's grandfather, a Professor at Banaras Hindu University, who was originally from Kashmir. Sheldon Pollock, the Arvind Raghunathan Professor of South Asian Studies at Columbia University, noted July 2014: "Several of the works come from the Kashmir Saiva tradition of the 18th cen.; others are astronomical texts.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
MATERIALS ARE CLOSED pending consultation with conservation. Please contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information. kws 2021-12-03
This collection is located on-site.
- Terms of access:
-
Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
- Preferred citation:
-
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Sarvanand Kaul Collection of Indian Manuscripts and Art; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
- Location of this collection:
- Before you visit:
- Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.
- Contact:
- rbml@library.columbia.edu