National Museum, New Delhi

Concept Note of the Manuscript Gallery

Dr. Vijay Kumar Mathur

Curator (Lecturing & Education/Paintings)

The National Museum has a valuable and important collection of more than 14,000

manuscripts of various languages and scripts covering different subjects as history, literature,

philosophy, science, biography, calligraphy, medicine and religion. These manuscripts

represent various schools and provinces.

The new gallery of manuscripts is proposed to be setup in a chronological order as

well as theme wise. About 170 manuscripts and folios and other related works would be

displayed in the gallery in showcases, table showcases and on walls.

1. Eastern Indian School

The earliest manuscripts to survive on Palm leaf in Eastern India. A fine example of

the typical Buddhist Palm leaf manuscript is Astasahasrika Pragyanparamita or the perfection

of wisdom. It was written in eight thousand lines during the 15th

year of the reign of the Pala

King Rampala, in the last quarter of the 11th

century. Palm leaves were generally used as

material in early period when the art migrated to Nepal.

Showcases

4 leaves Ashtasahasrika Pragyanparamita (The perfection of wisdom)

Palm leaf, 12th

century A.D.

Size 55.0 x 5.7 cm

32.2 x 9 cm

4 leaves of Pancharaksha (Five hymns addressed to five Buddhist protective

Goddesses) Palm leaf, 11th

century A.D.

2 .Western Indian School (Gujarati)

The Gujarati manuscripts have two definite periods. The first period, when Palm-

leaves were used as material commenced from the 11th

century A.D. onwards to the 14th

century A.D. The manuscripts of this school are generally from the Svetambara Jain religious

books – Kalpasutra and Kalakacharya katha. The various manuscripts of this school are

generally in medieval Nagari script which was prevalent in Gujarat in Aprabhramsa Prakrit.

Showcases

Kalpasutra

Size : 24.6 x 11.0 cm

22.9 x 9.5 cm

Kalpasutra from Mandu

dated 1439 A.D.

Kalakacharya Katha

Size 11.2 x 6.2 cm

3. Sultanate period Manuscripts

The conquest of northern India by the armies of Shahab-ud-Din Muhammad Ghori

after the battle of Terrain in 1192 defeating last Hindu King Prithviraj Chauhan of Delhi and

the establishment of Muslim rule over the major part of the subcontinent marks a new era of

arts from with new concepts and ideas. Despite general Muslim disapproval of the art of

painting, it flourished in the form of manuscript illustration. Very few manuscripts in Persian

or Arabic have survived from the first two centuries of Muslim rule, perhaps because of the

sack of Delhi in 1398 by Timur. The Khilji Sultans of Malwa would seem to have imported

artists and possibly manuscripts from Iran, and had the style copied by their own artists. They

set up studios at their courts to produce books – to make the beautifully glazed and burnished

paper, to write the text, to illuminate it and finally to bind the result in soft leather and to

decorate it.

Showcases

1. Sahifa-i-Kalima

677AH/1277AD

Size:14.5 x 9cm

Paper,Acc. No.55.46/2

2. Mathnavi Maulana Rum

(A text of the Sufis)

1434 A.D.

Size: 21 x 12 cm

3. Mathnavi-i-Sharif

India, 837 AH/1430 AD

Size: 24 x 14 cm

4. Shah Nama by Firdausi

(The book of Kings)

1428 A.D.

Size: 31 x 21 cm

5. Bustan-e-Sa’di

(A Persian classic)

1502 A.D.

Size : 35 x 24.5 cm

6. Khizr Khani Duval Rani by Amir Khusrau

(Love story of Khizr Khan and Deval Rani)

1508 A.D.

Size : 32.2 x 21 cm

7. Kalila wa Damna (Punchtantra fables) 1492 A.D.

Size : 20.5 x 14 cm

8. Khamsa-i- Nizami

Showcases for Holy Quran

Muslims are the people of the book, the revelation of God, the Holy Quran. They

carried the arts of book illumination to supreme heights.

1. Holy Quran (Inscribed by Hazrat Ali, the fourth Caliph of Islam)

It is on large size parchment sheets

Arabic, circa 9th

century AD

Size: 42 x 31.5 cm

2. Holy Quran

Illuminated copy bears two seals of

Emperor Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb

Circa 15th

century A.D

Size : 37.3 x 24.5 cm

3. Quranic Scroll

Mughal circa 16th

century AD

Size : 386 x 8.5 cm

4. Quranic Text on a cloth Jacket

Circa 18th

century AD

Size : 47 x 63 cm

5. Holy Quran

17th

century AD

Size : 27 x 16 cm

6. A tiny copy of the Holy Quran

written by The celebrated Abdul Baqi

Haddad in excellent superfine Nasakh

Size : 2 ½” x 1” x 1”

4. Persian/Mughal Manuscripts

Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty in India was a poet, scholar and man of

letters. He invented a new script called Khatt-i-Baburi but it was a complicated script and

hence not well received. He had written Tuzuk-i-Baburi in Turkish language. Akbar deputed

‘Abd ai-Rahim Khani-I Khanan to translate the Tukish text into Persian called Baburnama.

Humayun, the Mughal ruler, possessed an intensive interest in astronomy, astrology,

paintings and literature. He always carried a small library with him, even in times of war.

When he invaded Khambayat (Gujarat) he had with him the Timurnama as well as other

manuscripts illustrated by the great artist Bihzad. Humayun established his library on the

third floor of the Sher Mandal situated in an old fort in Delhi and Baz Bahadur was appointed

as its librarian.

Akbar was not a learned man like his ancestors. Nevertheless he encouraged the

promotion of art and literature. He always encouraged scholars and artists, granting awards

and inams. A number of works in Sanskrit, Arabic and works of other languages were

translated into the Persian language during this period. The Mahabharata, Razmnama,

Ramayana, Nal Daman, Bhagavat Gita, Bhagwat Puran and Kalila Wa Dimna are a few of

the manuscripts produced during his reign.

Mughal emperor Jahangir was also a great patron of art and literature. Jahangir is

believed to have written his own memoirs, Tuzuk-I Jahangiri, following the tradition of Amir

Timur and Babur of maintaining important notes and recording incidents. Jahangir’s Tuzuk

reflects his strengths as a politician, a great critic of miniature paintings, scholar, historian

and scientist.

Shahjahan and Aurangzib were very learned rulers and their courts were resplendent

with scholars, poets and artists. The Emperors took personal interest in promoting art and

literature during their respective reigns. It was due to their personal interest and patronage

that a number of outstanding manuscripts were produced. This tradition of appreciation of the

arts continued until the last Mughal emperor. Nevertheless it must be noted that the more

significant of Mughal works were produced at the height of Mughal power.

This interest of the Delhi Sultans and Mughal Emperors in recording accounts was

also shared by the provincial rulers such as the Bahmani’s, Gujerati’s, Bengali’s, Jaunpuri’s,

Qutb Shahi’s, Adil Shahi’s and Nizam Shahi’s. Thousands of scholars, artists, calligraphers

and other artisans migrated to these provinces from areas such as Iran, the Central Asian

region and Baghdad. They contributed greatly to the art of manuscript writing during the

Sultanate and Mughal periods and manuscripts produced during these periods are extant. The

legacy left behind still continues to inspire one and all.

The major arts of the book are fourfold – calligraphy (fine writing), illumination

(embellishment with abstract designs in gold and colours), illustration (the addition of figural

paintings), and binding (the adornment of the covers between which the leaves are protected).

Showcases

1. Bayaz (Note book – compiled by Mir Ali, a famous calligrapher)

16th

century A.D.

Size : 16.5 x 10.5 cm

2. Gulshan-i-Raz (book of philosophy and religion)

16th

century A.D.

Size : 21.2 x 14.7 cm

3. Dala’il Al-Khairat (Religious text)

18th

century A.D.

Size : 14.9 x 8.9 cm

4. Gulistan (ethical stories)

1617 A.D.

Size : 28.6 x 17.7 cm

5. Khawarnama (Heroic deeds and works of Hazrat Ali,

The fourth pious caliph of Islam)

1717 A.D.

Size : 35 x 25.5 cm

6. Tazkirat Al-shuara (Biography composed by Daulat Shah)

16th

century A.D.

Size : 28 x 17 cm

7. Ajaib Al-Makhluqat (Wonders of the world)

1734 A.D.

Size : 33 x 20 cm

8. Ardveraf (about the encounter of the Mahmud of

Ghazni with a Zoroastrian priest)

18th

century A.D.

Size : 22 x 12.3 cm

9. Nihj Al-Balagha (Religious text authored by Hadrat Ali)

1664 A.D.

Size : 29 x 17.5 cm

10. Zakhirat Al-Muluk

16th

century A.D.

Size : 34.2 c 24.2 cm

11. Sikandar Nama

Size : 30 x 18.2 cm

12. Khamsa-i-Nizami (Stories of mysticism and love)

15th

century A.D.

Size : 23 x 13.5 cm

13. Diwan-i-Hafiz (Love for the Divine)

1826 A.D.

Size : 18.7 x 10.4 cm

14. Mathnavi-i-Sharif

Size : 24 x 14 cm

15. Suwwar-Al-Kawakib (Work on astronomy)

17th

century A.D.

Size 24 x 15.4 cm

16. Khamsa

Size 16.8 x 9.7 cm

17. Anwar-i-Suhaili (A book of Fables)

Size : 25.1 x 15 cm

18. Razma Nama (Persian translation of Mahabharata)

Size : 51.7 x 38 cm

19. Ramayana (In Persian)

18th

century A.D.

Size : 24.5 x 14 cm

5. Historical manuscripts

1. Timurnama

(History of the Timur)

1553 A.D. Size : 24 x 16 cm

2. Babur Nama

(Memoirs of Babur)

Mughal, 1589 A.D.

Size 26 x 17 cm

3. Ain-i-Akbari

(History of the Akbar period)

17th

century A.D.

Size : 41.5 x 27.5 cm

4. Tuzuk-e-Jahangiri

(Autobiography of the Emperor Jahangir)

Mughal, 1606

Size : 26.5 x 16.5 cm

5. Tuzuk-e-Asafiya

(History of Nizam Dynasty)

Deccani, circa 19th

century A.D.

Size :

6. Sikandarnama (deals with Alexander the great)

18th

century A.D.

Size : 30 x 18.2 cm

7. Fawa id-i-Qutab Shahi (Antecedents of Qutab Shahi dynasty)

1630 A.D.

Size : 27 x 17 cm

8. Futuh Al-Haramain (Illustration of the monuments of the Holy cities, Makka &

Madina)

6.Farmans (Royal orders)

1. Farmans of Jalal-Al-Din Muhammad Akbar

58 x 28.5 cm

2. Farman of Jahangir

1606., 79 x 37 cm

3. Farman of Jahangir

58.5x33.5cm

4. Farman of Shahjahan

1646 A.D., 99 x 46cm

5. Farmans of Shah Alam

1658 A.D., 83 x 43cm

6. Farmans of Shah Alam

20th

reganal era 93 x 51.5cm

7. Nishan of Murad Bakhsh

(Son of Shahjahan)

8. Farman of Wajid Ali Shah

70 x 49 cm

7.Calligraphy

Calligraphic art has been held in high esteem in India, Mesopotamia, Iran and Central

Asia. The advent of Muslim rule in India marks a new era in the History of Islamic scripts.

The earliest form adopted for writing the Arabian language was known as Kufic script. It was

composed of crude lines. There were no curves, no dots and no vocalization marks.

In the 8th

century A.D. the archaic Kufic script was given a better form by Hajjaj bib

Yusuf (d. 714 A.D.) and dots and vocalization marks were introduced. Later on, the aesthetic

talents of the Muslims were diverted towards calligraphy and Kufic script was artistically

transcribed.

As Kufic was hard to write and difficult to read, an easier script was evolved in which

a few curves were also employed. Thus we had Ta’liq. Another script which has used in India

form the beginning of the Islamic influence is Naskh. However, the number of scripts which

has made its mark for writing is as below.

Nasta’liq is a combination of Naskh and Ta’liq and is full of curves. This script

originated during Timur’s time and its founder was Mir Ali. Most of the books are written in

this script. Several masters of this script have come and gone. Sultan Ali of Mashhad, Mir Ali

of Heart and Imadu’l-Hasani achieved great fame.

Shikastah (meaning broken) is for official correspondence and quick writing. Shafia is

an elegant form of Shikastha and Tughra is for ciphers and monograms.

Display On Wall

1. Specimen of Calligraphy

Language Arabic

Kufic Script, 10th

cen A.D.

29.5 x 20 cm

2. Specimen of Calligraphy by Muhammad

Hussain Zarrin Qalm

Court- Calligraphy of Akbar

Nasteliq Script -19.3 x 12.8 cm

3. Specimen of Calligraphy by

Abdul Rahim Ambar Aalam

Court- Calligraphy of Jahangir

Nastaliq Script- 1625 A.D.

22.5 x 12.2 cm

4. Specimen of Calligraphy

Language Arabic

Script Naskh

1603 A.D.

49 x 30.9 cm

5. Specimen of Calligraphy by Abdul Rashid

Court- Calligraphy of Shah Jahan

Nastaliq Script- 17th

century AD

31 x 19.8 cm

6. Specimen of Calligraphy

16th

Century AD

44.5 x 27 cm

7. Album of Calligraphy

1639 AD

35 x 25 cm

8. Specimen of Calligraphy

Language Arabic

Script Naskh and Thulth

17th

Century AD

46 30 cm.

9. Qitas

It was customary in Mughal times and was followed by others to have the paintings

bound in an album called “Muraqqa.” On one side of the panel would be the painting and on

the other side would be a calligraphic specimen called “Qita.

The margins on both sides would be suitably decorated with foliage and floral designs in

gold or colours and sometimes with “Shikargah” (hunting or battle-scenes). Such decorations

depend upon the ownership of the Muraqqa.

1. Emperor Shah Jahan’s letter to Mahabat Khan written by the emperor himself, in

good Shikastah, in 1632 A.D.

2. Three Qitas by Prince Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Shah Jahan in excellent

Nasta’liq. One of these has been reproduced.

3. A Qita by Shah Shuja, the second son of Shah Jahan, in good Nasta’liq.

There are Qitas by eminent masters like : Sultan Ali of Mashhad, Mir Ali of Herat, Imad

of Qazwin, Abdu’f-Rashid of Daliam, Muhammad Husain of Kashmir and others.

10. Sanskrit and other languages

The gallery also comprises important specimens of manuscripts in Sanskrit and in other

languages of different subjects and period to highlight the rich contributions in which the

religious and intellectual life of ancient India found the best expression. It also cavers not

only in religion and philosophy, but also in other branches such as the lyrics, didactic poetry,

drama, fairy tales, romances, phonetics, grammar, mathematics, medicine and law.

Showcases

Religious Manuscripts

1. Rigveda Samhita

2. Mahabharata (Udyoga Parva)

1691 A.D.

Size : 48 x 20 cm

3. Bhagava Gita

17th

century A.D.

Size : 16 x 9 cm

4. Bhagavad Gita and Vishnu Sahasranama

1813 A.D.

Size : 16 x 10 cm

5. Bhagavata Purana

Kashmir, 18th

century A.D.

Size : 20.85 mts x 11 cm

6. Bhagavata Purana (Dasam Skandha)

Gurumukhi, 18th

century A.D.

Size : 20 x 15 cm

7. Bhagavata Purana (Dasam Skandha)

Kangra, 1776 A.D.

Size : 23 x 12.5 cm

8. Garuda Purana

Size : 31.4 x 16 cm

9. Yajna Valkya Smriti

Size : 27 x 10.5 cm

10. Ram Charit Manas

Size : 23 x 8 x 15.3 cm

11. Devi Mahatmya

Size : 26 x 12 cm

12. Durga Saptsati

Size : 23.6 x 4.6 cm

13. Krishna Avatar

(Based on the Bhagavata Purana)

Kashmir, Gurumukhi, 18th

century A.D

Size : 15.5 x 11.5 cm

14. Hanuman Kavacham

Size : 17.7 x 11.4 cm

15. Ramcharit Manas

16. Saraswati Stotra

Size : 16.9 x 9.5 cm

B. Literary and other Manuscripts

17. Gita Govinda

Rajasthan, 1594 A.D.

Size : 27 x 7 cm

18. Gita Govinda

Orissa, 18th

century A.D.

Size : 51.6 x 26.5 cm

19. Surasagara

(A well known work by Suradasa)

Lucknow, 1872 A.D.

Size : 23 x 15.2 cm

20. Bihari Satsai

(Collection of seven hundred verses

Of Bihari the great Hindi poet)

Kangra, 1779 A.D.

Size : 24 x 14 cm

21. Rasamanjari

Size 29 x 4 cm

22. An illustrated folio from Karttika Mahatmya

Size : 36 x 20 cm

23. An illustrated folio from Sangrahani Sutra

Size : 26.2 x 11.2 cm

24. An illustrated folio from Krishna Lila

Size : 30.2 x 22 cm

25. Mayanreha Chaupal

Size : 20.5 x 14.5 cm

26. V.S. Drara Shringara

Size : 26.5 x 15.5 cm

27. Damodara Lila

Size : 24.5 x 11.7 cm

28. Sangeet Darpana Tika

Size : 22.5 x 11.7 cm

29. Shalibhadra charita

Size : 27 x 11.5 cm

30. Dhanya Vilas

Size : 23.5 x 11.7 cm

31. Bal Bodhini

Size : 27.5 c 23 cm

32. An illustrated folio from Jyotish Shastra

Size : 26 x 20 cm

33. Kumarasambhavam

Size : 29.8 x 11.7 cm Size : 22 x 12.3 cm

34. Shakuntala

35. Panchangam

Size : 24 x 24.1 cm

36. Paka-Vidhi

Size : 13.5 x 15 cm

37. Ananga Rang

Size : 23.4 x 13.4 cm

38. Yoga Vashishatha

Size : 29.5 x 15 cm

39. Mahamoksh Sutra

Size : 61 x 17 cm

40. Yajnavalkya Smriti

Size : 27 x 10.5 cm

41. Shishupala Vadha

Size : 25.4 x 10.2 cm

42. Kenopanishad Bhashya

Size : 25.4 x 10.4 cm

43. Nyaya Sutra

Size : 20.4 x 10.7 cm

44. Mumukhsu Vyavahar Prakaran

Size : 25.5 x 18.2 cm

Sikh Manuscripts

1. Janam Sakhi

2. Dasamgranth

Regional Manuscripts