Goals
The Baladeva Vidyabhusana Project has the following primary objectives:
1. Search for lost manuscripts. (Such as the commentaries on the ten Upanisads, six Sandarbhas, Srimad-Bhagavatam, etc.)
2. Digitally preserve manuscripts currently existing in different libraries.
3. Digitally preserve all editions of Vidyabhusana’s books.
4. Digitally preserve articles written about Vidyabhusana.
5. Type all the original texts in digital, Unicode system, which can be converted into Devanagari, Bengali and Odia characters.
6. Prepare a critical edition for each work.
7. Translate all the works into English.
8. Publish all translations with the original Devanagari text.
9. Investigate and verify existent biographical data of Vidyabhusana, including historical evidence of the alleged conflict between the Gaudiyas and the Ramanandis in Rajasthan.
10. Publish a comprehensive biographical work.
Attainments
4) Digitization of all printed editions of Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana’s works and all known articles ever written about him.
"Well done and keep up the good work! You are an excellent researcher and your contribution is priceless. No matter how tedious the task, you endeavour and are now reaping the rewards thereof. May the Lord and the previous acaryas empower your endeavour." (14th December, 2017)
Lokanatha Swami (ISKCON guru)
"Thank you so much for the great work you have been doing by providing us with the powerful materials for our spiritual nourishment." (17th August, 2020)
Bhakti Dhira Damodara Swami (ISKCON GBC and guru)
Did Srila Prabhupada want the works of the previous Acaryas to be translated and studied?
"There is a limitless stock of Vedic literature, and one should study this."
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bg 17.15
"So it is required. We have got so much treasure house
of knowledge. They should be, each and every book should be, at least Vaisnava literature,
Bhagavata literature, should be translated into English and distributed all
over the world. That is lokanam hita-karinau, to benefit the
whole human society. Not to remain crippled within a boundary. That is not
brahminism, that is not Vaisnavism."
“Many devotees of Lord Caitanya like Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura, Sri Locana dasa Thakura, Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, Sri Kavikarnapura, Sri Prabodhananda Sarasvati, Sri Rupa Gosvami, Sri Sanatana Gosvami, Sri Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, Sri Jiva Gosvami, Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami and in this latter age within two hundred years, Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti, Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana, Sri Syamananda Gosvami, Sri Narottama dasa Thakura, Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura and at last Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura (our spiritual master) and many other great and renowned scholars and devotees of the Lord have prepared voluminous books and literatures on the life and precepts of the Lord. Such literatures are all based on the sastras like the Vedas, Puranas, Upanisads, Ramayana, Mahabharata and other histories and authentic literatures approved by the recognized acaryas. They are unique in composition and unrivaled in presentation, and they are full of transcendental knowledge. Unfortunately the people of the world are still ignorant of them, but when these literatures, which are mostly in Sanskrit and Bengali, come to light the world and when they are presented before thinking people, then India's glory and the message of love will overflood this morbid world, which is vainly searching after peace and prosperity by various illusory methods not approved by the acaryas in the chain of disciplic succession.”
>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB Introduction
>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 1.1.1, purport
"So, my above students have been sent to India specifically to study the Bengali,
Sanskrit, and Hindi languages, because we have to present to the world so many English translated
authentic literatures on Vaisnavism. Some of my books are being
printed in Japan and some of them have been accepted to be published by Messrs.
MacMillan and Company of New York. So we require some American assistance
specifically for this translating work. And for this purpose, we wish to send a batch of
intelligent students in India and gradually establish a center there for
English translation publication of all Vaisnava literatures."
>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 3.7.39, purport
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Madhya 6.135
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Adi 5.203
“Regarding the teacher Miss Wilson, you may engage her in translating, if she can read Bengali type. She can try Jiva Goswamis "Sandarbhas'' -- that will be a great contribution.”
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Rudra, Radhika
"Similarly, other false devotees think that studying books of the previous acaryas is unadvisable, like studying dry empiric philosophies. But Srila Jiva Gosvami, following the previous acaryas, has inculcated the conclusions of the scriptures in the six theses called the Sat-sandarbhas. False devotees who have very little knowledge of such conclusions fail to achieve pure devotion for want of zeal in accepting the favorable directions for devotional service given by self-realized devotees. Such false devotees are like impersonalists, who also consider devotional service no better than ordinary fruitive actions."
Appeal
For enquiries and donations, please use the contact form above.
Notice
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
2024
Complete works of Baladeva Vidyabhusana:
18. Vedānta-syamantaka-ṭīkā; (Jiva Institute 2019, Amazon)
Gupta-dhāma-chatra, (Kanai Lal)
VIDYABHUSANA PROJECT DIARY
28-08-12
Attempting
to go to Mathura, I took the city bus, the closest thing to a means of public
transportation available from Vrindavan. However, I had to change buses three
times, apparently due to “technical problems.” It took me some fifteen minutes
to be able to get inside the railway station, for there were hundreds of people
camping around, supposedly pilgrims who came because of the Purusottama month.
29-08-12
I arrived
in Udaipur and went on foot uphill to the temple of Jagdish (about 3 km).
Another 20 min. walking around to get a
room. In a guest house, they refused to give me a room because I was speaking
in Hindi and they concluded that I was Indian (therefore not worth ripping
off). I tried to find out the address of the Oriental Research Institute, but
nobody ever heard of it. After calling their main office in Jodhpur, I got at
least a place of reference, although they themselves didn’t have the
address... The auto driver dropped me on
the way, for he also couldn’t figure out the location. In another call to
Jodhpur, they gave me the number of a worker, whom I had to call twice for
directions, as even in the building opposite the RORI they also never heard of
it... If I had no mobile, I’d have given
up. The officer told me straightaway that if I were Indian he would let me
shoot the manuscripts at once, but since I am a foreigner, I will need to fill
out several applications and “come tomorrow” (this is the favorite sentence
used by folks here when they are not getting anything in the deal). I had to
take a very crowded local bus and then go uphill again on foot in the middle of
the rain and mud.
30-08-12
Bureaucracies
being fulfilled, I shot the manuscripts and paid the stipulated rate: 10 rupees
per shot. They told me that their office used to be in the King’s palace, but
he kicked them out to make a hotel... They also said that the collection kept
there was part of the King’s library, previously named “Sarasvati-bhandara” and
then “Sajjana-vani-vilasa.” I also visited the Sarasvati Bhavan, where they
told me that their manuscripts were given to the National Archives, but they
don’t know exactly where they are now...
At the royal palace, there is also a library, but I was flatly refused
entry.
31-08-12
Public
bus to Nathdwara. To my surprise, the town was unbelievably crowded due to the
full moon of the Purusottama month and I had to stand 3 hours in a line to have
darsana.
01-09-12
to 02-09-12
Raining
heavily, tough to move around. According to what I was told by several people,
there are no Sanskrit libraries and no panditas here. I wished to meet the
Tilakayat (head of the Sri Vallabha sampradaya), but I had a hard time getting
even close to the temple.
03-09-12
As I had
already booked a bus ticket to Jodhpur, I had to pack. It arrived one hour late
and there was no seat available, although I had booked and paid for one in
advance. Somehow, after some 3 km away from the bus stand, a tyre got
punctured, and of course, they had no spare tyre. After uselessly waiting for
another hour, I decided to go back: 3 km plus 1 km uphill on foot with 10 kg of
luggage. I arrived at the temple right on time to meet the Tilakayat. While
waiting in the middle of some 40 people, I was spotted by a jerk so-called
pujari who demanded that I explain exactly what I wanted there. I mentioned
that I had a few questions for Tilakayat Maharaj, and the guy started saying
things like, “Who are you to talk to him?”, “You’d rather mind your own
business in your Nimbarka sampradaya” (!?) As I said that I am not from the
Nimbarka sampradaya, he became even madder and started yelling that he knows
everything very well... What a day! At last, Maharaj was quite polite and sent
me to talk to his son, who seems to be scholarly inclined. He was also very
polite and promised that he will let me know if he finds any of Vidyabhusana’s
works in their personal library, where the original manuscripts of Sri
Vallabhacarya are kept.
04-09-12
Day off
to decide where to go. The only option to reach Jodhpur is that very same
broken-down bus, dirty like a dustbin (Jain Company, for the record). I went to see the Tilakayat’s son again to
give him a DVD with some Pustimarg texts. This time, that pujari respectfully
greeted me and before I left he called me to a corner and gave me some
prasada... I sincerely wish that Durvasa
Muni may visit him some of these days.
05-09-12
Change of
itinerary. Most of the day on a train to Jaipur. Soon after it departed, I
started having a violent crisis of what seemed to be a kidney stone. It was
passed 10 PM when I got a room, and as the shops were closed, I couldn’t get
any medicine.
06-09-12
The whole
day walking up and down, meeting people and visiting libraries. As soon as I
arrived at the Govindaji mandir, a gentleman offered me a full plate of
prasada. Apparently, the Mahant of Galta didn’t really check his library as he
had promised, but he assured me that at least a Govinda-bhasya must be there.
King Jai Singh’s records are still locked and can’t be seen until the court
dispute for the royal property is settled, which may last many decades... The librarian
at the City Palace promised to see if we can get the negatives. In the evening,
I got another violent crisis and then remembered that I was supposed to buy
some medicine...
07-09-12
Sanjaya
Sharma Museum is shifting its collection to a new building. The catalogue is
not ready and there is no prevision about it, so they can’t give me a position
about the list I gave to them. Visit to the Oriental Research Institute. The
library of the Sanskrit College was shifted to a school far away. Remote chances
of going in that way. I got several other references, including the
Nimbarkacharya Tirtha, some 100 km from Jaipur, where they have a manuscript
library too.
08-09-12
Only
today I could meet the Mahant of the Govindaji mandir. He promised to bring his
library catalogue tomorrow, with a remark that they don’t show their
manuscripts so quickly... I talked on the phone with the successor of the
current Sriji Maharaj (Head of the Nimbarka Tirtha) and we marked an
appointment in Vrndavana.
09-09-12
I arrived
at the Govindaji temple exactly at the time I was told to be there just to hear
that the Mahant was not present. When I said that he asked me to come at that
time, the guys in the office became angry and told me to come after one week! I
had another appointment in the evening, but the person also didn’t show up. All
these days I’ve been walking all the way from the guest house in the Station
area up to the Govindaji temple, some 4 km, and then returning on foot also.
Today I had to do it twice and it was past 8 PM when I decided to take a bus,
since I was exhausted. I usually don’t take it because it is unbearably
crowded. It so happened that as soon as
I got on the bus, the collector started a quarrel with some passengers and
ended up stopping the bus to spank them. I got down and went on foot.
10-09-12
Most of
the day on a train to Jodhpur. I arrived in the evening and went straight to
the office of the Oriental Research Institute, which was not easy to find, as
they are unable to give a proper reference for the location and no one goes to
these places. According to their website, they offer accommodations for
scholars, but upon arriving there I was received by a jerk who seemed
determined to drive me away. After bugging me for half an hour, the sub-director
decided to let me stay.
11-09-12
The whole
day reading catalogues. From today onwards a peon was appointed to stay in the
room next to mine, obviously to keep an eye on me. They probably took for
granted that being a foreigner, I must be a terrorist, or at least that I was
planning to have parties at night and bring girls and whisky.
12-09-12
After
going through the catalogues, I had a list of 80 manuscripts to be seen. More
forms, more bureaucracy, more botheration. Despite God knows how many years
there, none of the staff seemed to have an idea of the correct procedure, and I
was being told to do this and that just to have to do it again after a few
minutes because someone else says that it is not in this way.
13-09-12
Although
hardly ever anyone goes there and the guys do nothing most of the day, they are
all stressed and annoyed to show a single manuscript. I barely had a few
seconds to look at each book, that too with someone sitting next to me and
pushing me to do it quickly. The jerk in charge of the accommodations told me
to vacate by tomorrow. The peon neighbor started to ask me when I am going
away. Of course, it was a boring job for him.
14-09-12
Many
manuscripts to see and I didn’t stop even to take water, so I could check each
one. I also visited the Mehrangarh library, but they had only a copy of the
Chandah-kaustubha, which I did not see because they charge a Rs 500
consultation fee. At least I got to see the catalogue of the Rajasthani
Research Institute, in which I found nothing, so I was spared from going 10 km
away to visit them. I got a room next to the railway station. Very noisy, tiny,
dirty, without a window, and expensive – 375 rupees.
15-09-12
I had
planned to go to Bikaner, but this last week overloaded my eyes, patience and
pocket, so I spent most of the day on a train back to Jaipur. When I arrived,
Jaipur was almost underwater. I took a bus from the station, but after getting
off at the bus stop just 200 meters from the guest house, I realized that I was
surrounded by a river of sewage. To make it worse, it started raining heavily,
so I had to stand for half an hour with my luggage till the rain stopped, and
then I had to take a riksha just to be able to cross the road. It literally
watered down my hope of seeing Govindaji today. I didn’t expect such a
prolonged rainy season.
16-09-12
I went to
see the Mahant at Govindaji’s but could not because “he was not feeling well.”
I then tried to see the Galta Mahant at their temple in the city. As they told
me that he was in Galta, I took a bus to the Galta Gate (almost outside
Jaipur), climbed the hill up and down, and finally when I reached the temple, I
was told that the Mahant was giving a lecture at their temple in the city.
Enough for me.
17-10-12
Most of
the day on a local train and local bus to reach Karouli. It was late in the
afternoon when I got a room and something to drink. The temperature was far
higher than in other places, and I got a headache that lasted several hours.
18-09-12
No
manuscripts here, but Madana-mohana’s darsana and prasada compensate. Yet I am
visibly not in good health due to stress and excessive trips. It’s time to have
a break.
20th
Sept. to 05th Nov.
Busy time
in Vrindavan. Ten days in bed with dengue.
06-11-12
I arrived
in Varanasi after 12 PM and went straight to Sampurnananda Sanskrit University
to apply for copies of some manuscripts and was told that I should submit the
application to the librarian, who happened to be on leave and will come only
tomorrow.
07-11-12
What
news! The librarian didn’t show up, so I have to come back the day after
tomorrow, since tomorrow is astami and they are closed.
08-11-12
Most of
the day in the BHU library.
09-11-12
Back to
Sampurnananda, some 7 km away from the Guest House I am staying at, near Assi
Ghat. Yes, the librarian was there, but he just told me that the application
should be submitted to the office, not to him. At last, as they lacked the
librarian’s absence as an excuse, they accepted my application in the office
but insisted that I take back the copies of my ID card and introduction letter,
despite my protest.
10-11-12
Went all
the way on foot to Lalita Ghat to visit the Goenka Library. I had just started
reading when I received a call from Sampurnananda saying that my application
will be sent forward only after I submit a copy of my ID card and give an
introduction letter. Ouch!
11-11-12
to 03-12-12
I had to
wait for one week due to the Diwali holiday just to hear that my application
was rejected. For several days I was visiting the BHU library to read
manuscript catalogues. I spent a couple of weeks revising the
Chandah-kaustubha, and to get the page setting done was another novel. I had
planned to stay in Varanasi for one week, but after one month I still have many
pending issues, so on the 3rd I left for Barddhaman on a Sleeper Class ticket.
Freezing cold.
04-12-12
Local bus
to Navadvip and boat to Mayapur.
05-12-12
Since
long ago I have been trying to have a look at the collection of books kept at
Gopinath Gaudiya Math, where I was lodged, but nobody could locate the keys of
the almirahs. Finally, I paid a professional to make a duplicate key. There was
nothing I was looking for.
06-12-12
I went to
Navadvip to meet four people, but none of them was there.
08-12-12
Another
fruitless visit to Navadvip.
09-12-12
Local
train to Kolkata, a real nightmare. Got a shared room at Sri Caitanya Math.
10-12-12
Upon
visiting the library at the Sanskrit College I was told that I should have
written a letter before coming (!?) The library of the Sanskrit Department of
Kolkata University was closed. They told me that the librarian comes whenever
he wishes (!?) Around 11 AM, I arrived at the central library and was told to
wait a bit to get a visit permit. Half an hour later someone finally informed
me that the person in charge usually does not come before 1 PM. After I
complained to the library superintendent, they let me in. In the manuscript
section, I had to first fill out several forms to be able to see the catalogue
just to find out that it consists of more than sixty thousand A4 pages kept in
some 200 folders without any kind of order. I had a look at one and gave up. It
would take a month to read the whole thing. I took a tram to the Sanskrit
Sahitya Parisad. The librarian was not there. I had to walk a long way until I
got the right direction to the Bangiya Sahitya Parisad. They have quite a few
manuscripts of Vidyabhusana, but they charge 50 rupees per copied page! It was
passed 7 PM when I went back to the Math, empty-handed.
11-12-12
Visit to
the Caitanya Research Institute. I asked to take pictures of a few pages of a
book and the librarian declined saying that it would damage it (!?)
12-12-12
Another
visit to the Sanskrit College. The principal was there, but the librarian was
not. I tried the department library at Kolkata University, and again, no
librarian. Spent the rest of the day reading catalogues at the Sanskrit Sahitya
Parisad, mostly in hardly intelligible Bengali handwriting.
13-12-12
I packed
and crossed the whole Kolkata to reach Pathbari in the hope that I would get a
room there. Got nothing and wasted the day. Back to Gaudiya Math.
14-12-12
Yet
another visit to the Sanskrit College. Guess what? The librarian was there, but
the principal was not!!! Since I was visibly annoyed, the library staff decided
to discuss the matter. I could distinctly hear “the problem is that how can we
give permission to a foreigner...” After
some time, to my surprise, they just agreed and let me take pictures of the
manuscripts. The rest of the day was spent in more catalogues at Sanskrit
Sahitya Parisad.
15-12-12
to 17-12-12
At last,
I got a room at Pathbari and spent these days consulting their manuscripts.
18-12-12
to 19-12-12
Visit to
Remuna. There are rumors of the “discovery” of Baladeva Vidyabhusana’s
birthplace, but no piece of evidence is available. I enquired from several of
the locals, but no positive information. Apparently, there are no manuscripts
or documents in this place.
20-12-12
Train to
Puri. Invitation to stay at Jhanjh Pita Math.
21-12-12
There was
a deceased Babaji who left a collection at a Math, which was now taken over by
a trust. Since last year I have been trying to have a look at it without any
success. This time, the officer said that I should go to Bhubaneswar to get
permission from his superior...
22-12-12
At
Raghunandan Library they have an almirah full of books I needed to see, but
they claimed that the key is lost, and they wouldn’t let me bring someone to
open it. Contrary to what I was told by their pujari last year, they do have a
manuscript collection at Gangamata Math, but we will have to get some intermediate
to deal with them.
23-12-12
Again,
contrary to what they told me last year, they also have a collection of
manuscripts at Siddha Bakul Math, but the key is with the Mahant, who is out of
station...
24-12-12
Puri was
not very productive, so I moved on. Stopped at Kurma-ksetra for darsana.
25-12-12
Bus to
Vizianagar.
26-12-12
Visited
the Sanskrit College just to hear that the manuscript collection was shifted to
Hyderabad. Yet the principal was very
kind and proposed that I give a lecture to the students, but I can’t wait until
they arrange it.
28-12-12 to
01-01-13
End of
the year holidays, so I took the opportunity to have darsana in Mangalagiri and
Ahobalam.
02-01-13
Bus to
Alagadda, bus to Kadapa and train to Tirupati. Arrived at night.
03-01-13
I went to
have darsana at Govindaraja Mandir and it took much longer than I wished. By
the time I arrived at the Oriental Research Institute, it was closed for lunch.
In the library, I was told that they have no Sanskrit books. I was shocked to
hear this. Anyway, I went to see the manuscript library and the director asked
me if I had seen the collection of Sanskrit books. As I expressed surprise, he
told me that it was located upstairs. Too late, they had already closed...
04-01-13
Arrived
right at the opening time and spent a few hours in the manuscript library. The
staff were friendly and let me shoot whatever I wished. In the Sanskrit books
section, the assistant librarian confessed that he is not very much acquainted
with the classification of the books and how to locate them in the stack. At
last, this didn’t really matter much, as the books were missing anyway. I also
went to the library at the Rastriya Sanskrit Vidyapitha, but the librarian
asked me to come after three days to see the catalogue... Late in the evening,
I went to Tirumala thinking of getting a special darsana ticket for the next
day, but there was no such facility and I spent a few hours in line. Arrived in
my room around 1 AM.
05-01-13
Train to
Arakkonam and bus to Kanchipuram. After spending time and money trying to find
the Sanskrit College in a particular location, I came to the conclusion that I
was misled by a wrong map.
06-01-13
Sunday
off to visit the Divya-desas. The auto drivers were asking Rs 800 for a tour
around all the temples, so I thought it better to walk. Well done: three hours
in the morning and three hours in the evening.
07-01-13
I got the
opportunity to see the manuscript collection of the Kanchipuram Sankaracarya in
the library of their new college. The staff were very helpful.
08-01-13
Public
bus to Chennai. Visit to the Government Oriental Manuscript Library. I was lodged in Perambur and it took me one
and a half hours to reach the library, almost by lunchtime. I was told that I
would need the permission of the librarian to copy anything. As he was not
there, I had to wait for a few hours until someone told me that the assistant
librarian could also give permission...
09-01-13
Visit to
the Presidency College. The place is totally decadent and there was no trace of
anyone in the Sanskrit dept. or in the library. It took me a couple of hours
walking around to locate the Kuppuswami Sastri “Research Institute,” as the
address given by them on the website is totally misleading. It was passed 10.30
AM and nobody was in the office to pick up the phone. When I finally got a
response, the person on the line, whom I surmised to be the sweeper, couldn’t
speak a word either in English or Hindi and harshly hung up. I ended up in the
police station to ask for help. After several more calls and long walks, I
reached the place. The name of the road was wrong and the numbers in it would
increase or decrease in any direction. Besides this, nobody in the area knew
such a name for the bare reason that it is actually a library in a small
Sanskrit School. The supposed sweeper was indeed the assistant librarian. I had
to wait for more than two hours to see the manuscript catalogue simply because
they had no idea of where it was kept, and yet I had to pay a Rs 100 fee for
“consulting the library.” This was one
of the worse ones so far. To save the day, a visit to the Madras University
paid off, as I met the coordinator of the Catalogus Catalogorum Project and
they helped a lot.
10-01-13
Visit to
the Adyar “Library,” a real show of incompetence. I was asked a Rs 250 fee just
to get into the library. I asked to see some microfilms and they flatly claimed
they have none. Although I mentioned I had consulted a book called “A Catalogue
of Vaisnava Microfilms in the Adyar Library,” they were adamant. Besides that,
I was also told that I wouldn’t be able to see any manuscript because the
librarian was not there and only he has the key. As I had a quick look at the
rules, I found that Rs 200 of the said fees are actually refundable. When I asked about it, the guy said that it
can’t be done before one month period, since they first have to send the money
to the treasury. As I kept asking about the rules, the fellow became annoyed
and suddenly crumbled my application and gave me back all the money. In this
way, I got time to another visit to Madras University to read catalogues.
11-01-13
One of
the basic difficulties is that I can’t book train tickets in advance for the
bare reason that I don’t know how long it will take me to see a particular
library and get the required copies, as only God knows when there will be any
staff present. So I had to spend 8 hours on a bus to reach Kumbakonam, a way
more painful than by train.
12-01-13
to 15-01-13
I just
came to know that I came in the middle of a major holiday in Tamil Nadu for the
occasion of Makar Sankranti, so there was no chance to find any library
open.
16-01-13
Local
train and bus to Srirangam. I had to walk around for a couple of hours and
couldn’t find any affordable accommodation. At last, I was lodged in the ISKCON
center.
17-01-13
I visited
the Devasthana Library, but the librarian was not there. I was referred to the
temple manager, but he was also not present.
18-01-13
The
librarian could hardly follow a word in English and did not even know what a
manuscript is. Anyway, a brief look around was sufficient to realize that they
have none. I went to meet the manager, but it took him half an hour to
understand what I wanted and just kept referring me to the library, to the
museum, to the bookstall, and at last,
to a book publisher (!?) Enough for me. I had to spend a long time walking
around to locate a pandita who could answer a simple question. It seems that the only large Sanskrit
Pathasala in the place was shut down. Somewhere nearby the temple I saw some
Sri brahmacaris on the road and I asked to see their teacher. They took me to a
young scholar who was speaking fluent Sanskrit and immediately gave me the
answer: the Srirangam manuscript collection was shifted to Tanjore after they
realized they were not taking good care of it...
21-01-13
Train to
Rameswaram. Another hard time to get a room.
23-01-13
It took
me hours in a line for a couple of days to get a tatkal ticket to Mysore.
24-01-13
Local
train to Madurai. Express train to Mysore.
25-01-13
Just came
to know that everything is closed due to a Muslim holiday.
26-01-13
Again closed
due to republic day.
27-01-13
Leaving
for Udupi with empty hands.
28-01-13
Another
nightmare to get a room: everywhere either full or booked. I met the Principal
of the Sanskrit College and he referred me to Dr. B. Govindacharya, whose house
is about 3 km from the central area. I walked all the way just to hear that he
is in Bangalore. I met the head of the Krsnapura Matha and he became indignant
upon hearing that their catalogue was published in Madras. Yet he told me to
come the day after tomorrow to see if they have the manuscripts I want.
29-01-13
I had to
shift to another place because the room I got was booked. Visit to a Research
Centre at Gita Mandir. I wanted to talk to the head of the Sodde Matha, but the
doorkeeper didn’t let me in. After talking to a pujari who was passing by, I
was allowed in. He promised to check their collection and told me to come
tomorrow at the same time.
30-01-13
The guest
house was too expensive, so I packed and went to look for another place. After
one hour of walking here and there I got a place for the same price. At
Krsnapura Matha, the catalogue numbers changed, so I was asked to come tomorrow
again. I phoned the Palimaru Samshodhana Samsat and marked an appointment at 2
PM. After waiting for some time at the gate, I phoned again and was told to
come at 4 PM. I later went to meet the Sodde Matha Svami at the right time, but
again the doorkeeper didn’t let me in, although he knew very well that I was
expected there. Fruitless. I wished I had had the chance to suggest that they
appoint the doorkeeper as head of the Matha, since he seems to be a much bigger
authority.
31-01-13
Shifted
rooms once again, this time to a cheaper place. I was told that I could meet
the said Svami in the office at 9.30 AM. I was standing there for one hour
until someone told me that he had to attend a program and wouldn’t talk to
anyone.
01-02-13
I was
told to meet the Svami at 12.30, but the doorkeeper demanded that I bring a
receipt to let me in. I went to the counter to ask which receipt I need and the
fellow told me that I had to give a donation and he would give me a receipt
with which I could go to see the Svami. I picked a 20 rupee note and he became
indignant asking me if I know how much a receipt sheet costs. Then I asked how
much I should pay to be able to see the Svami and the guy flipped out shouting
at me to get out because he wouldn’t give me anything. I went back to the
meeting place and the doorkeeper told me to wait. I waited and waited and at
last, the Svami just stood up, looked at me and went away. Enough. Night train
to Mysore, so freezing that I couldn’t get any sleep.
02-02-13
Arrived
in Mysore at 5.30 AM and nowhere they wanted to give me room simply out of
laziness to get up, although I saw that many rooms were locked. After some
thirty minutes of walking around, someone agreed to give me a place, but I lack
words to describe how filthy it was. Later in the morning, I went to the
Sanskrit College, but apparently the library there was the only place in Mysore
that was closed. I then visited the Oriental Research Institute, where they
claimed to be in the middle of renovation work and that I would not be able to
see any manuscript in less than six months. Back to my “room,” I realized that
it was behind a non-veg “restaurant.” Unable to tolerate the smell, I went all
the way to Srirangapatnam to chant my rounds. I came back at night but couldn’t
get any sleep due to the disgusting smell and loud talking all night long.
03-02-13
Thus
ended another useless visit to Mysore. Train to Bangalore.
04-02-13
Visit to
the Dvaita Research Foundation. The librarian was not there and wouldn’t come in
this week. The staff didn’t know anything about books or manuscripts, although
they have both. At the Purnaprajna Vidyapitha, the library was closed. In the
office, they told me that the librarian would come in a couple of hours. I
asked for his phone number to confirm it, but they assured me that there was no
need. As I had to spend time, I went walking up to the Samskrita Bharati (3 km away) to buy some books. Back in the
Vidyapitha at the supposed opening time, I found the library still closed. The
nonsense in the office told me to look for the guy upstairs, where they finally
told me that the librarian was out of station and that this is not a public
library. When I asked for the librarian’s phone number they declined to give me
saying that he is also not a public man. Madhvacarya would be so proud of them!
06-02-13
Train to Hyderabad.
07-02-13
One hour of walking around to find a room, as
no guest house allowed foreigners. Visit to the Sanskrit Academy, where the
staff were helpful and let me copy some books. At the Oriental Research
Institute, neither the director nor the librarian was present. In the Osmania
University library, the staff didn’t know where the manuscript section is,
although there are only two floors.
After 10 min being sent up and down, I met the person in charge. After
writing down the reference of the manuscripts I wanted to see, I was referred
to the computer section to see the scans. Although I gave them the correct
accession numbers, they were searching for the manuscripts one-by-one and after
half an hour of fruitless effort, they told me to come tomorrow.
08-02-13
Bus to Yadagiri-gutta.
09-02-13
Bus back to Hyderabad and train to
Vishakhapatnam.
10-02-13
Sunday. Darsana at Simhachalam.
11-02-13
Visit to the Andhra Pradesh University. The
staff had no idea where the manuscripts were kept and I was sent up and down
several times. At last, after figuring out where the manuscripts were, I was
told to come after one hour, for there was no electricity. After one hour the
electricity was back, but they couldn’t find the key of the almirah. This gives
an idea of how many people have been consulting them... In the office, they told me to come tomorrow,
but I made it clear that I wouldn’t. It
took another hour to open it and another hour to find the manuscript I wished
for, as they were all thrown inside the almirah without any specific order. I
also wished to see a few catalogues, but the staff also didn’t have the
slightest idea of where to find them. Night train to Bhubaneswar.
12-02-13
Visit to the State Museum. Unfortunately, the
bookworms arrived before me and there was not much left. I also visited the
Kedarnath Gavesana Pratisthan, but the library was closed.
13-02-13
Train to Puri. Spent the day meeting people
and making contacts.
14-02-13
Visited the office in the Jagannatha temple
and met a few people to investigate Baladeva’s family background.
15-02-13
Sarasvati-puja holiday. I spent 15 hours on a
bus to have the darsana of Nila-madhava in Kantilo.
16-02-13
I had booked an early train to be able to
reach Mayapur by the evening, but it was delayed many hours and I had to spend
the night in Kolkata. There was no accommodation available near the station, so
I had to cross the city to stay in a Matha.
17-02-13
Crowded local train to Krishnanagar, crowded
tempo to Svarup Ganj and crowded boat to Mayapur. Heavy rain and freezing cold.
Couldn’t go anywhere else.
18-02-13
I had to meet a few people in Navadvip, but
no one was available.
19-02-13
I had booked a train from Krishnanagar to
Sealdah and decided to catch a bus instead of a tempo. It took two hours to
arrive at the station and the train was gone. I was forced to squeeze in
another insanely crowded local train to Kolkata. Most of the day was wasted,
yet I made it to the Bangiya Sahitya Parisat by 3 PM. I asked to see their
descriptive catalogue of manuscripts and the librarian was a bit perplexed.
After consulting with the staff, they declared that they don’t have a copy!!! I
had to go through the hand list and waited for a long time to see the
manuscripts I requested, but they couldn’t find them and told me to come after
3 days...
20-02-13
Train to Varanasi, freezing cold.
21-02-13
Visit to BHU.
22-02-13
Visit to Chaukhamba to pick up the just published
Chandah-kaustubha. They put my name on the cover instead of the author’s name,
besides several other shortcomings. I was disgusted and demanded that they
correct it.
23-02-13
Nityananda-trayodasi. After several years of
quarrel, I received the original hardcopy of my PhD thesis. Thanks to the
Catalogus Catalogorum team, I came to know that they have a manuscript of the
Siddhanta-darpana at the Bharat Kala Bhavan, BHU, which I couldn’t detect
before simply because it is not classified as being written by Vidyabhusana,
but by Nanda Misra, a name I never looked for.
The director told me to write an application and come back after the
holiday, on Monday.
24-02-13 and 25-02-13
Sunday and Ravidas Jayanti, everything
closed.
26-02-13
I submitted the application at the Kala
Bhavan, but they told me to come tomorrow because the man who has the key is
out of station.
27-02-13
The man with the key came back, but the
number I gave didn’t match the manuscript they showed me. I asked to check the
number again against the catalogue, but they had none in the manuscript
section, so I had to go to the library. The librarian was not there and I had
to wait for one hour. By the time I got to see the catalogue and write down
further details, it was about 3 PM and the manuscript in charge told me to come
tomorrow. As I said that there is time enough before they close, he got upset
and made it clear that he wouldn’t move from his chair. I also got upset and
told him that I was going to complain to the director. He shouted that I could
complain to whomever I wished, but he wouldn’t look for any manuscript today. I
went downstairs and met the security officer, a very polite Muslim gentleman.
He was indignant when I told him what happened and insisted that I wait for the
director, who was in a meeting at the moment. After another hour of waiting, by
the time the director arrived, it was passed 4 PM. He was also indignant that
the staff were not cooperating, since he had already approved my application. He was shouting to the staff to bring the
manuscript section guy to talk to him immediately, but he just left swiftly.
28-02-13
Well, after the entire novel, I arrived there
in the morning and the right manuscript was already waiting for me and the
staff were “surprisingly” cooperative. Case done.
01-03-13
Chaukhamba called me to say that they had
corrected the cover and I could go there to take my copies. I didn’t want my
name on the cover at all, but they refused to remove it to avoid more work.
02-03-13
Train to Mathura.
03-03-13
Back to Vrindavan. I was missing home so
much. A friend told me that he met one of the BBT directors and asked why they
don’t invite me to work for them. He replied that they are neither interested
in hiring some non-initiated Bhakta Tom nor in publishing all these
Vidyabhusana’s “stuffs.” Wow!
04-03-13
Someone arranged that a Gosvami from
Vrindavan would help me to get the cooperation of the Gosvamis at Govindaji’s
in Jaipur and would wait for me if I want to go there right now. I barely had
time to pack and jump on the train. It shattered my expectations to do bhajan
in Vrindavan for a while after so long outside...
05-03-13
I arrived at Govindaji’s right on time and
the said Gosvami told me to wait. Instead of taking me to the Mahant, he
brought him to meet me, and the man seemed to be annoyed by that. Speaking in
Hindi, I briefly reminded him about our Project and he just had started
replying in Hindi when the Gosvami stopped him saying that he should speak in
English because I don’t know Hindi. The Mahant got even more annoyed and I was
outraged by such a show of stupidity. To make it short, he just told me to come
again after some two months, the same thing I have been hearing for years. I then
visited the King’s Library and they told me to come tomorrow to see the
manuscripts I wish. I had to visit the Oriental Research Institute again
because last year they showed me only one part of their catalogue, while later
I came to know that they have several more parts. It took them a long time to locate the
correct manuscripts, but at last, I got to see and copy them. I went to have
darsana at the nearby Rama temple and a fellow who introduced himself as a “pandita”
called me to talk. Soon he started speaking all kinds of Mayavada rubbish and I
became so indignant that I started blasting him with slokas. One hour wasted
with those rascals until they shut up.
06-03-13
I arrived at the Palace Library at 11 AM as I
was told, but the staff left me waiting for one hour until they finished
reading the newspapers and then told me to come tomorrow. I tried to locate the
Sanskrit Academy according to the map, but they had shifted to another place
long ago. I then visited the Sanjaya Sharma Museum, where I had a look at their
provisional catalogue. Back at the Palace Library, I met the Librarian, who
told me that their trust might be interested in getting Maharaj Sawai Jai
Singh’s Sanskrit works translated. At the Ramanandi temple in the city, they
told me that the Mahant never comes there.
07-03-13
I went to Galta via the hill and they also
said the same thing: the Mahant never comes there. I had to ask for his phone
number. He told me to call tomorrow to fix a time. At Govindaji’s, I asked for
a coupon for prasada, but they were over. As I crossed the exit gate, a
gentleman asked me how is it that I was going away without taking prasada and
took me with him. Afterwards, I went to the Palace Library and finally could
have a look at some manuscripts and records. I met the Museum Curator, who
expressed interest in assisting the Vidyabhusana Project and publishing his
books through their trust.
08-03-13
The Galta Mahant asked me to come to his
house, quite out of the way. For the first time this year, I had to hire an
auto to get there and later I realized that the rascal took a much longer way
and charged me double. Once there, we had a long talk and Maharaj promised to
show me his library soon after Siva-ratri. Another visit to the Palace Library.
They will discuss the matter with the Princess to see the possibility of
supporting the Vidyabhusana Project and commissioning the translation of King
Jai Singh’s works. I went to Govindaji’s planning to have darsana and buy some
prasada for tomorrow (today is ekadasi), but they didn’t let me in simply
because I had a laptop in my bag. Back to the guest house, I went to buy
something in a nearby shop and they gave me 2 laddus from Govindaji !
09-03-13
As the guest house is about 2 km from the
station, I decided to check out one hour before the train to Kishangarh. They
had no change at the reception and 15 min. were wasted in this. Another 15 min.
wasted because no rikshawala would take me for the right fare. Another 15 min.
wasted to catch a bus and reach the station and another 15 min. wasted in line
to buy a ticket. There was one min. left for the train to depart and there was
no notice about the platform. By the time I could figure it out, the train was
departing and I had to run, not an easy task with luggage. Somehow I managed to
jump into the last coach, general class. After squeezing through a couple of
coaches I came to know that there was no passage to the upper class, so I was
confined in the general class for 2 hours. Upon reaching Kishangarh, I had to
wait one hour for the bus to Salemabad and then spend another hour to arrive at
the Nimbarkacharya Pitha. In the office, the clerk just phoned saying that “a
sadhu has arrived from Vrindavan,” and soon they arranged a room and sumptuous
prasada for me. No questions, no forms and no charges. By contrast, if I want
to spend one night at an ISKCON temple I have to reply to 100 questions and
bring a letter from the GBC…
10-03-13 and 11-03-13
Sriji Maharaj is not in good health, so I
couldn’t talk to him. For three days I waited to talk to Yuvaraj, but he didn’t
bother to give me even a couple of minutes. I had to rely on some intermediates
to find out about their manuscript collection. Since I was not allowed to see
it myself, I take their word: no Vidyabhusana’s work there.
12-03-13
Bus to Kishangarh and local train back to
Jaipur.
13-03-13
Visit to the Palace Library. The Princess is
out of station, so the matter did not progress. Talked to several scholars here
and there.
14-03-13
The Galta Mahant called me to his home to see
the manuscripts. I had to wait for several hours because he was busy.
15-03-13
Finally, I found the address of the Sanskrit
Academy but had to walk some 6 km as there was no straight transportation. They
told me to come after a couple of months to see their catalogue because they
don’t know where it is kept !!!
16-03-13
I had several things to do in the city and by
the time I arrived in the University library, on foot as usual, they were
already closing. I had an appointment in the evening with a professor who
listed 150,000 manuscripts. Again another 8 km walk. Lots of things to see and
discuss there, but no time.
17-03
to 20-03-13
Train to Jodhpur. Another round of headaches
in the Research Institute. Readers may refer to the entries in my previous
visit in September and imagine a replay.
21-03-13
Seven hours on a bus to Nathdwara. At the
temple guest house, they made a case to give me a room and sent me up and down
several times.
22-03 to 26-03
It took me several days to be able to meet
the Tilakayat just to hear that he forgot about my request, so we had to start
from zero once again. One day before Holi I came to know that my room was
booked and I had to vacate. Another trouble to find a place.
27-03-13
Bus to Udaipur and train to Mathura.
28-03-13 to 31-03-13
Vrindavan. Chasing the same folks who have
been making promises for years, such as the Odia Baba Library, etc.
01-04-13
Passenger train to Alwar. After hours and
hours of argument, I got the chance to see some manuscripts at the Research
Institute. I had planned to return to Vrindavan in the evening, but I couldn’t
finish the job, so I had to spend the night in a dump infested with mosquitoes.
02-04-13
Case done. Back to Vrindavan.
03-04 to 30-04
Half of the month revising the
Siddhanta-darpana against all the manuscripts acquired and the other half
visiting people and making contacts. In Govardhan, I tried again a few places
previously visited. At the samadhi of Advaita das Babaji, I was told that they didn’t
find any of the books I am looking for. I never gave them any list, though. I
got a similar response in the Siddha Manohar das Babaji Ashram. There were lots
of other incidents, but I didn’t have time to write down everything. Some time
ago, someone wrote saying that my diary is too negative, so why should anyone
help with such a project? If anyone thinks that there is any exaggeration in my
words, feel free to try and see how it is. By the way, I intentionally avoid
giving any positive information about my findings in this diary, as there are
several thieves after me to steal anything I may discover.
01-05-13
Passenger train to Kasganj at 6 AM.
Two-and-a-half hours standing and being squeezed. The former director of the
Vrindavan Research Institute had requested that I send him a letter specifying
what I would like to see and on his own accord told me to come on the 1st. Yet
he had not kept a single manuscript at hand and I left without seeing a single
page after hearing lots of promises. More 3 hours on a passenger train. Arrived
in Vrindavan at 10 PM, absolutely exhausted.
02-05-13 and 03-05-13
Chalking out a plan for the summer.
04-05-13
The whole day in the Janma-bhumi library. In
the evening I tried to locate two collections in the city. In the first one,
the man insisted that he had none of Vidyabhusana’s works and I then asked him
to explain how I could have gotten his name and address correctly and a wrong
list of manuscripts. He shut up and told me to come another day. Sounded more
like a “get out.” The address of the other one was insufficient and I couldn’t
find the place. Arrived in Vrindavan at almost 9 PM.
05-05-13
I went to
the Oriya Baba Ashram for the 15th time in the last weeks. The person in charge
was not there, as usual.
06-05-13
Tempo to
Mathura and train to Delhi. I was lodged in a dump in Pahar Ganj and the bed
was full of bugs. In a few minutes I was swollen all over after so many bites.
Despite shifting me, the manager was adamant that he couldn’t see a single bug.
The second “room” had as many bugs. When I complained again, the staff said:
“So what!? There are bugs everywhere, why are you making a case?” I didn’t get
any sleep.
07-05-13
In the
morning I moved to another “guest house.” In this one the “rooms” don’t have
any window. In the morning I went to meet the director of the National Mission
for Manuscripts, who made a few promises to help our project. I spent the rest
of the day at the Delhi University. I wished to consult a book in the rare book
section, but the staff couldn’t locate it. It was supposed to be available in
digital format, but I was told that the system has not been working for already
three months...
08-05-13
I had a
waiting list ticket to Haridwar, but on the Railway website there was nothing
about its status. I checked out and rushed to the station early morning. Just a couple of minutes before the train left I found that it was not
confirmed. I decided to forget about it and return to Vrindavan, something I am
always eager to do.
09-05-13
No one at
Oriya Baba’s, so I visited the Akhandananda Saraswati Library. While I was
complaining to the librarian about the difficulty in finding a book which was
published in Vrindavan, a devotee came in and said that he has the book! At
Gadadhar Bhatta Pith, the Gosvami told me that he has been putting me on hold
for all these months to test my patience.
10-05-13
The whole
day in the Janmabhumi library reading catalogues and reference books.
11-05-13
Since
early morning meeting scholars around. Visited the Rama-Krishna Mission
Library, but they could not locate the only book I wanted to see. At
Surma-kunj, I gave a copy of a manuscript that the Mahant was looking for and
he promised to help us with a non-cooperative neighbor. Arrived back after 9
PM.
12-05-13
A couple
of weeks ago, the principal of the Nimbarka College had asked to call him on
the eleventh, when the examinations ended. I didn’t bother to ask what the
examinations have to do with the library, but for sure the librarian is not
appearing for any exam. Upon calling him, he told me to come today at 10 AM.
Finally, when I arrived, he said that the librarian was leaving on vacation and
that I should come in July. That means they don’t have the slightest
embarrassment to make me waste 2 weeks (and I really had other places to go)
and still make me come in the office just to say this. Not to speak that the
librarian was comfortably sitting there and when I asked why we couldn’t see
the library today, they replied that it is a very difficult and time consuming
job to take a book off the shelf!!! In this way, I waste 90% of my time
because of people who do nothing the whole day and think that others also have
nothing to do. At Oriya Baba’s I finally met the person in charge and he
promised to show me the library in this week...
13-05 to
25-05-13
Several
visits to Mathura and some libraries in the Vrindavan area. Finally, I got a
copy of the last printed book which completes the whole collection in
devanagari. At Oriya Baba’s, the man keeps on making me play the fool. The
temperature is daily around 48 C and I am hardly getting any sleep.
26-05-13
At last,
the date stipulated by the Gosvami at Bhattaji Pitha to see his library, the
only reason that held me here till the middle of the summer. I walked for 30
min. under the sun to arrive there at 12 and he merely said that today he is
busy and that I should come tomorrow. Note that I met him a couple of days ago
to confirm the date and time, and he assured me that I didn’t need to call
before coming. Another 30 min. under the sun on the way back.
27-05-13
The same
as usual: another fruitless visit to Oriya Baba’s. We fixed for tomorrow at
Bhattaji Pitha.
28-05-13
No
appointed honored.
29-05-13
I waited
much longer than I should have. Train to Varanasi.
30-05-13
I wished
to see to the Visvanatha Library, but it was closed.
31-05-13
I met the
Vice-chancellor at Sampurnananda Sanskrit University to see if he would help
with the manuscripts issue. He just referred me to the librarian, who is not
the least interested in cooperating. Visit to the Nagari Pracarini Sabha, but
the librarian was not there.
01-06-13
Visit to
the BHU library.
02-06-13
Train to
Barddhaman, hot and crowded like hell. I barely survived.
03-06-13
Bus to
Navadvip, riksha to the ghat and boat to Mayapur.
04-06-13
As usual,
most of the people I have to meet are out of station. The Gosvami at Shashi
Bhushan Pathagar told me to come tomorrow to see his catalogue.
05-05-13
I went to
the Odia Baba Ashram for the 15th time in the last weeks. The person in charge
was not there, as usual.
06-05-13
Tempo to
Mathura and train to Delhi. I was lodged in a dump at Pahar Ganj and the bed
was full of bugs. In a few minutes, I was swollen all over after so many bites.
Despite shifting me, the manager was adamant that he couldn’t see a single bug.
The second “room” had as many bugs. When I complained again, the staff said:
“So what!? There are bugs everywhere, why are you making a case?” I didn’t get
any sleep.
07-05-13
In the
morning I moved to another “guest house.” In this one, the “rooms” don’t have
any windows. In the morning I went to meet the director of the National Mission
for Manuscripts, who made a few promises to help our project. I spent the rest
of the day at Delhi University. I wished to consult a book in the rare book
section, but the staff couldn’t locate it. It was supposed to be available in
digital format, but I was told that the system has not been working for already
three months...
08-05-13
I had a
waiting list ticket to Haridwar, but there was nothing about its status on the
Railway website. I checked out and rushed to the station early morning. Just a
couple of minutes before the train left, I found that it was not confirmed. I
decided to forget about it and return to Vrindavan, something I am always eager
to do.
09-05-13
No one at
Odia Baba’s, so I visited the Akhandananda Saraswati Library. While I was
complaining to the librarian about the difficulty in finding a certain book
that was published in Vrindavan, a devotee came in and said that he has the
book! At Gadadhar Bhatta Pith, the Gosvami told me that he has been putting me
on hold for all these months to test my patience. (2023 update: he “tested” my
patience for a whole decade and never showed a me single page. I heard that in
the meanwhile, white ants made short of whatever they had)
10-05-13
The whole
day in the Janmabhumi library reading catalogues and reference books.
11-05-13
Since
early morning meeting scholars around. Visited the Rama-Krishna Mission
Library, but they could not locate the only book I wanted to see. At Surma-kunj,
I gave a copy of a manuscript that the Mahant was looking for and he promised
to help us with a non-cooperative neighbor. Arrived back after 9 PM.
12-05-13
A couple
of weeks ago, the principal of the Nimbarka College had asked to call him on
the eleventh, when the examinations ended. I didn’t bother to ask what the
examinations have to do with the library, but for sure the librarian is not
appearing for any exam. Upon calling him, he told me to come today at 10 AM.
Finally, when I arrived, he said that the librarian was leaving on vacation and
that I should come in July. That means they don’t have the slightest
embarrassment to make me waste 2 weeks (and I really had other places to go)
and still make me come to the office just to say this. Not to speak that the
librarian was comfortably sitting there and when I asked why we couldn’t see
the library today, they replied that it is a very difficult and time-consuming
job to take a book out of the shelf!!! In this way, I waste 90% of my time
because of people who do nothing the whole day and think that others also have
nothing to do. At Odia Baba’s, I finally met the person in charge and he
promised to show me the library this week...
13-05 to
25-05-13
Several
visits to Mathura and some libraries in the Vrindavan area. Finally, I got a
copy of the last printed book that completes the whole collection in
Devanagari. At Odia Baba’s, the man keeps on making me play the fool. The
temperature is daily around 48 C and I am hardly getting any sleep.
26-05-13
At last,
the date stipulated by the Gosvami at Bhattaji Pitha to see his library, the
only reason that held me here until the middle of the summer. I walked for 30
min. under the sun to arrive there at 12 and he merely said that today he is
busy and that I should come tomorrow. Note that I met him a couple of days ago
to confirm the date and time, and he assured me that I didn’t need to call
before coming. Another 30 min. under the sun on the way back.
27-05-13
The same
as usual: another fruitless visit to Odia Baba’s. We fixed it for tomorrow at
Bhattaji Pitha.
28-05-13
No
appointed honored.
29-05-13
I waited
much longer than I should have. Train to Varanasi.
30-05-13
I wished
to see the Visvanatha Library, but it was closed.
31-05-13
I met the
Vice-chancellor at Sampurnananda Sanskrit University to see if he would help
with the manuscripts issue. He just referred me to the librarian, who is not
the least interested in cooperating. Visit to the Nagari Pracarini Sabha, but
the librarian was not there.
01-06-13
Visit to
the BHU library.
02-06-13
Train to
Barddhaman, hot and crowded like hell. I barely survived.
03-06-13
Bus to
Navadvip, riksha to the ghat and boat to Mayapur.
04-06-13
As usual,
most of the people I have to meet are out of station. The Gosvami at Shashi
Bhushan Pathagar told me to come tomorrow to see his catalogue.
05-06-13
Finally,
when I got to see the catalogue at Shashi Bhushan Pathagar, I noticed that it
was incomplete. I will have to consult the NMM list online and come back
tomorrow.
06-06-13
After two
years of trying, today I got the chance to see a couple of manuscripts at SBP,
but despite a previous promise that I would be allowed to copy whatever I
wished, now the Gosvami decided that he has to consult his father first. He
told me to come tomorrow...
07-06-13
The
Gosvami claimed that his father "was in a bad mood" and declined. He
told me to come tomorrow to see if he changes his mind. Enough for me. At the
old Sanskrit College, I was gifted some books. I met the director of the
Puratattva Parisad, which has a library but is not working. All I got from him
was some good references and more names of people to meet. I went to the
Mahaprabhu Mandir to meet Visnu Prasada Gosvami. I asked the pujari if his name
was Visnu Prasada and he reply “yes,” but that I should come after 2 PM to meet
him. Of course, I have nothing else to do in life besides crossing the river
up-and-down several times a day... Yet it was 11 AM, so I went back to Mayapur.
When I returned to Navadvip around 2 PM, the pujari now decided that he is not
called Visnu Prasada and then showed me the house of the person I am looking
for, just opposite the temple. The old gentleman was at home the whole day, so
I just realized the folly. He was polite and sent me to another Gosvami who
could possibly help me to locate an old publication. Another half an hour
trying to locate his house. Finally, he indeed promised to help in the matter,
and of course, I will have to go there several times again. My life is passing
in this way. And today a Gaudiya Math sannyasi wrote to me insinuating that I
am exploiting Vidyabhusana’s works for my selfish ends. What a world, eh?
08-06-13
The rainy
season has already started here and there is water all over, so not much chance
to go anywhere.
09-06-13
Boat to
Navadvip, riksha to the station and train to Kolkata.
10-06-13
One and a
half hours in two crowded local buses to reach the Belur Math. It was the
hottest day so far. They refused to let me see the library under the excuse that
it is meant only for their members. Another bus to Uttarpara to visit the
Jaikrishna Library. I had to wait half an hour because it opens at 12. I was
asked which kind of books I am looking for and I said that I need to see some
old Sanskrit and Bengali books. The guy left and came back some 30 min. later
bringing a heap of old books chosen at random (!?) When I asked about the
catalogue, I was told to go to the next building. At that point, it started
raining heavily and I had to wait for another 30 min. Afterwards, I met the
librarian, who was quite efficient and gave me a few good reference books and
let me shoot whatever I needed. Another bus to the Bangiya Sahitya Parisad. I
intended to register as a member, but they said that they are not accepting new
members at present. The librarian was kind enough to let me consult the books
as a visitor. I arrived back at almost 9 PM.
11-06-13
Second
round in the Bangiya Sahitya Parisad. It took me a long time to convince the
staff to bring me a manuscript of the Govinda-bhasya simply because it was
written “Brahma-sutra-bhasya” on it, and they assumed that it was not the same
book. At last, it was painful to see that the world lost another manuscript to
the bookworms. I wished the Gaudiyas had more interest in these books than the
insects have.
12-06-13
Visit to
the Kolkata University library. The fellow at the reception was very much
hesitant to let me in and he thought that my research is not a sufficient
reason to see the library! It didn’t take me much to realize that there was
nothing for me there. Visit to the Sanskrit College library. It was about 2.30
PM and the librarian told me that I should rather come tomorrow, since it is so
late and they close at 4 PM... After bargaining, I got to see at least one book.
From there I went on foot to the Chaitanya Library, several km away. To my
surprise, the library works from 7 to 9, both morning and evening. I wouldn’t
wait that long.
13-06-13
I arrived at the Chaitanya Library around 7.30 AM, but the guy really started working
around 8 AM. When I asked to see the catalogue, I was shown only part of it.
Upon asking for the rest, I was told that it was locked in the office and that
the person in charge comes only on Sundays... I found a list of public
libraries in Kolkata somewhere on the web and wasted time trying to locate one
of them just to know that it was shut down long ago. It is raining heavily
every day, so there is not much I can do, since it is hard to go anywhere and I
simply can’t get good shots if there is no sunlight.
14-06-13
Train to
Balasore. I was taking rest on the upper berth and a dude literally threw his
luggage on my head.
15-06-13
to 16-06-13
Remuna,
in a room full of frogs. No news around, only Khirchor and khir.
17-06-13
I had to
take a bus to the station, but they refused to let me take my bag inside,
although the bus was empty. I was too indignant to wait for the next one, so I
walked 2.5 km on foot with my 10 kg bag expecting to get some transportation in
the main road. Nothing. I ended up having to catch the next bus on the same
route, this time insanely crowded. For half an hour I was pushed and shouted
at. The train to Puri was one hour delayed and there was no place to sit in the
station. When I finally got in the train, I found that my booked seat was
occupied...
18-06-13
Although
I got a room, they made it clear that I will have to vacate before the
Rathayatra. I tried to find another place, but everywhere it is the same story.
19-06-13
to 22-06-13
I visited
the office of the King of Puri and they told me that he would come on the 23rd.
Raining heavily every day, not much can be done outside.
23-06-13
Snana-yatra.
24-06-13
I took
the opportunity that the rain stopped and tried to go to the office of the
King. In the middle of the way I was caught by a storm and became surrounded by
streams of sewage. One hour to get there just to hear that the King is in
Bhubaneswar.
25-06-13
to 17-07-13
Ratha-yatra
and almost daily rain made it difficult to do anything outside, so I spent my
time classifying lots of reference materials, downloading catalogues and
reading them.
18-07-13
Train to
Gaya in the evening of the Bahuda-yatra, the only day when seats were
available... but it was tough to reach the station.
19-07-13
Quite a
few thousand manuscripts at Magadha University, but not much of our stuff.
Visit to the Visnupada mandir.
20-07-13
I got up
in the morning, took a shower, put on clean clothes and went to catch a bus to
Bodh Gaya. While I was waiting on the road, a fellow filled his mouth with
water and spat on the floor, splashing my feet and clothes. I went back to my
room, took another shower, put my clothes to wash and decided that I wouldn’t
go anywhere else but to the station to get away from this place.
21-07-13
Train to
Allahabad. The very same old nightmare to get a room: nowhere foreigners are
allowed. I ended up in a Muslim slum. I lack words to describe it, but it
suffices to say that there is a common bathroom from whose ceiling drops water
when someone is taking a bath upstairs. In the afternoon I went to visit the
Nimbarka Pitha. Even 200 meters away nobody knew the place and the rascals were
deliberately sending me up and down. At last, when I got there I came to know
that the pandita I wanted to meet had passed away years ago.
22-07-13
It rained
intensely the whole night. When I looked outside in the morning, I could see only
a river of sewage in all directions. Very morose, as I already got a skin
infection on my feet. Guess why... I really have lots of things to do here, but
the situation is turning me down, so I was looking at the railway timetable. No
train is available so soon; fleeing is not an option... By 10 AM the sewage
subsided enough to let me search for something that may resemble an
accommodation. I had to bargain for a room without a window, all I could find
around. The roads were blocked due to a protest, so I had to walk 4 km to reach
the Ganganath Jha Research Institute. Although there was sun when I came out
and the prevision was of good weather, in the middle of the way a devastating
storm started. In a few seconds, I was on an island surrounded by sewage. I
swore to myself that from now on I will follow Lord Caitanya’s example and not
move around during the monsoon. By 1 PM the rain had stopped and I was
searching for the Institute. The only thing mentioned on their website about
the location is “nearby the Allahabad Museum.” What news... in front of the
Museum nobody had ever heard of the place. A policeman standing right below the
huge board written “ALLAHABAD MUSEUM” even told me that the museum is very far
from there... Some years ago I would have become flabbergasted. After the usual
waste of time, I found the place, which is indeed somewhere behind the Museum.
At last, some good collections to see.
23-07-13
The whole
day in the Ganganath Jha Library, quite entertained by shelves of manuscript
catalogues and research journals.
24-07-13
Early in
the morning, I went to visit the Bindu Madhava temple. I arrived at the Hindi
Sahitya Sammelan around 10 AM and had to wait half an hour until they open and
another half an hour until the staff show up. It took me another hour to fill
out applications and see their catalogue. Finally, when I requested to see the
manuscripts I wish, they told me to come tomorrow, since the fellow who has the
keys didn’t come today... I then went to see the Museum library and the person
in charge said that since I didn’t mark an appointment, he had no obligation to
show me anything today and that next time I should contact him in advance...
Quite enough of Allahabad and its heaps of garbage all over. Night train to
Mathura.
25-07-13
So
relieved to be back in Vrindavan!
26-07-13
to 21-08-13
It is
still raining, so I’ve not visited many places. Yet I am catching up with
several pending issues in the area. I had to oversee the details to print the
Siddhanta-darpana. A few visits to Mathura to meet panditas, to search for
manuscripts and to consult the Janmabhumi Library. I got a good amount of soft
books in this period.
22-08-13
Tempo to
Mathura and train to New Delhi. I had to go personally to the Embassy of Brazil
just to get a letter to apply for a scholarship for the Vidyabhusana Project
and in this way wasted time and money due to their “efficiency.” It then took
me almost 2 hours and a few km on foot to reach the University Grants
Commission office address given in the form, in the South Campus of Delhi
University. Upon arriving there, the receptionist was adamant that I was at the
wrong address and referred me to their main office, some 15 km away. I freaked
out and at last, someone decided that they could dispatch the application to
the other office. It was already late and I was too exhausted to go back to
Vrindavan, so I had to spend the night in Delhi.
23-08-13
Train to
Mathura and tempo to Vrindavan.
24-08-13
Several
hours looking over the Akhandananda Library up and down.
25-08-13
This time
the fellow at the Odia Baba Ashram asked me to come right after Janmastami.
26-08-13
to 27-08-13
Planning
my next tour around Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharastra and Madhya Pradesh. Got the
train tickets.
28-08-13
Sri Krsna
Janmastami. Started a new translation.
29-08-13
In the
morning I went to meet the Mahant of the Maluk Pith, who supposedly has a
manuscript library. I fruitlessly waited for hours for an opportunity to talk
to him. The time for Srila Prabhupada’s puspanjali was up, so I walked off. In
the afternoon I met an old bookseller and got some stuff from him. At Odia
Baba’s, guess what? The dude told me to come another day, as he was too tired
due to the Janmastami celebration...
31-08-13
Another
day visiting the same places and meeting the same people.
01-09-13
Tempo to
Mathura and train to Udaipur.
02-09-13
Left my
luggage at the station and went to the RORI office, some 7 km away. Although I
had phoned a couple of days before to ask if I could come today, now the
librarian announced that I could read as much as I want, but that I wouldn’t be
able to make any copies, as his boss is on leave till next week... After a few hours of checking some
manuscripts, I took a bus to Nathdwara.
03-09-13
Maharaj
is out of station, so no chance to see anything in the temple library. I
visited the Sahitya Mandal, where they have some manuscripts, but they didn’t
let me see anything under the excuse that everything is packed and they have no
catalogue.
04-09-13
Apart
from Nathji’s darsana and prasada, nothing was accomplished here, so I took a
bus to Udaipur and a train to Mathura.
05-09-13
Spent the
morning in the Akhandananda Library and the evening meeting people around.
06-09-13
Due to
the other night on the train with a fan at full speed on my face the whole
trip, I woke up with a very severe case of tonsillitis.
07-09-13
I waited
for one hour in the office of Nimbarka College till the principal decided to
tell me to come tomorrow because the librarian wouldn’t come today.
08-09-13
Although
the librarian was there, I had to wait more than one hour till the principal
decided to tell me that the man was “too busy” and wouldn’t show me anything
today. Given the number of months I’ve been waiting and the trouble I had to be
moving around with a lot of pain in my throat, I went straight to complain to
the Mahant who is in charge of the College, a couple of km away. He did hear me
very politely and assured me that he will get them to work.
09-09-13
It worked
like a charm! At last, I got to see some manuscripts, never mind if showed in a
bitter mood... Oh, too early to feel relieved: after showing me three texts,
the librarian declared that it was enough of hard work for a single day and
that I should come tomorrow. As I was feeling like taking some medicine, I gave
in.
10-09-13
When I
arrived at the College, it was closed. They will “open” only after Radhastami,
four days later.
11-09-13
to 13-09-13
Radhastami
holidays.
14-09-13
I waited
for a couple of hours in the office of the College, but the librarian didn’t
show up. We see how effective complaints can be here...
15-09-13
I went
again to the College; again it was closed. Spent the rest of the morning in the
Akhandananda Library. After so many days of seeing books one by one, I found
something I was searching for.
16-09-13
Two and a
half hours sitting in the office of the Nimbarka College till someone told me
that the librarian is on leave for one week.
17-09-13
Akhandananda
Library.
18-09-13
Last year
I was told that there was nothing at Bon Maharaj College. Today I decided to
try to have a look. After going through the “parampara,” I was allowed inside
the library to see as much as I wish. I was surprised to find a goldmine there.
What a pity that I came so late...
19-09-13
Tempo to
Mathura. Train to Baroda. Another expedition has begun.
20-09-13
Visit to
the Baroda Oriental Research Institute. Cooperative staff, but high fees, so I
will have to wait for sponsorship to afford it.
21-09-13
and 22-10-13
Bus to
Dakor. For years I’ve been missing Ranchorji, so I couldn’t miss this
opportunity.
23-09-13
I waited
most of the morning to see if the rain would stop. It didn’t. Even so, I had to
catch a bus to Ahmedabad. Arrived late in the afternoon and after dropping my
luggage at the ISKCON temple, I went straight to visit the Bhagavata
Vidyapitha. Somehow I was dreaming that they might have a huge library with
hundreds of Bhagavatam manuscripts and perhaps all editions ever published.
Nothing of the sort. As soon as I left, a heavy storm caught me on the way. I
didn’t know that even by the end of September it rains this much in Gujarat...
24-09-13
Visit to
the L.D. Institute of Indology, which hosts about 75,000 manuscripts. In the
reference library I requested to see the manuscript catalogue and a fellow told
me to go to the manuscript section. In the manuscript section, they told me
that the catalogue is in the reference section. When I went back, the guy took
the phone and started an argument. At last, they settled the matter and I was
shown the catalogue in the reference section... I had a list of reference books
I wished to consult, but he could find only one and told me to look for the
other ones in another library. By 2 PM they closed for lunch, so I went to the
J.B. Institute. When I asked to see the manuscript catalogue, the librarian
sent me to the office upstairs. The clerk in the office was puzzled and
couldn’t figure out why he sent me there, which is actually a sales cell. I
went downstairs and the librarian said that if there is any copy of the
catalogue, it is upstairs, for the ones in the library got lost (!!) Back to the
office. The clerk was not very pleased with the issue but tried to locate a
copy for me. There was none. He told me to try another library, many km away. I
couldn’t avoid commenting on how smart the idea that I have to travel several
km to see the catalogue of their library... I then asked to see a manuscript
whose reference I had previously taken note of. I was told to come tomorrow,
for the person in charge was on leave... By 3:30 they were already getting
ready to close, although the timing is supposed to be up to 5 PM. The Gujarati
credibility has gone quite down on my scale today... One hour of waiting at the
bus stop. As soon as I got on the bus, another heavy storm started. The bus was
crowded and people started to freak out because there was hardly any window and
they were being washed down...
25-09-13
It rained
the whole night and the whole morning. By 11:30 AM the rain stopped and I took
an auto to reach the B.J. Institute by 12. It was closed and the gatekeeper
said that the “working” day was cancelled due to the rain. Curiously, it seemed
that everyone else was working. I had a train in the evening, but it was also
cancelled.
26-09-13
Still
raining. I was very morose and thinking of cancelling everything and going back
to Vrindavan. By 11 AM it stopped raining and I went to book a ticket to Bombay
for the evening. What a surprise: the director of the B.J. Institute was
present today and became strangely excited when he saw me. He quickly invited
me to see the museum and eloquently started to speak about the items on
display. Funnily, a photographer was following us and shooting lots of pics. I
played the game. Since I was very “cooperative,” he did his role: the
catalogues were presented before me in no time and I was allowed to see and
copy whatever I wished! Job done. One hour at the bus stop... Later I took an
auto to the railway station and the guy wanted to charge me almost double.
Enraged, I gave him as much as I thought fine and said that if it is not
enough, then he could call the police. He took the cash and let me go.
27-09-13
Despite
the rumours that the rail track was flooded, the train arrived with a delay of
two hours only. In the morning I went to the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. I went to
the counter in the library and said that I wanted to see a thesis. The guy
insisted that they have no thesis at all. As I protested, he sent me to the
librarian, who was even more emphatic in claiming that they definitely have no
thesis. I had to keep on insisting until they told me to see the catalogue. In
fact, in a few seconds, I wrote down the reference. No one had any idea where
it was kept, so I had to wait for a long time. Finally, they brought the thesis
to me and after having a look, I requested to copy it. The librarian flatly
refused saying that they have a rule that theses can’t be copied, except for
one or two pages. How curious that some minutes ago they had no thesis in the
library and now they have even rules about it! I went to meet the director. The
fellow said that he can’t break the rules of the institute (although he
obviously has no idea of them) and can’t give orders to the librarian! I
started arguing and he took the phone to talk to the librarian. This time the
librarian told him that they can allow 10 % of the thesis to be copied. I had
to remark how from two pages the rule changed to 10 % in just a few minutes
once again! I asked if I could take pictures of this 10 %. He declined.
Pictures are not allowed, only Xerox. Everything is very coherent and very
sensible! I left utterly disgusted. Another place just meant for giving jobs to
incompetent rascals, and if people come to research, let them go to the dogs. I
took a train to the Bombay University. The library was closed for lunch. It
started raining while I walked to the Asiatic Society. At the entrance, there
is a public library and I requested to see a book. The guy told me to sit down.
After sitting for half an hour I was indignant and asked what the matter is. He
replied that the staff went for lunch. I was almost yelling, “Why the hell you
didn’t tell me this before?” There is a common trend everywhere in this country
that they don’t have the slightest hesitation to make us waste time, as they
themselves don’t have anything to do and think that this is probably the case
for everyone else. I went to the Asiatic Society library, took note of a few
reference books and went to the counter. They said that I would have to pay Rs
100 daily for consultation! When I asked if they would allow me to take pics of
the books, they declared: “Rs 100 per shot!” As far as Xerox is concerned,
because it demands the maintenance of a machine and the salary of an employee,
it costs only Rs 2 per page. Again, a show of coherence! Walking in the rain, I
then went to the University library. Lots of bureaucracy and nobody will show
me anything until I fill out all the forms and get all the signatures. Too much
for a single day.
28-09-13
Still
raining and my health is not good, so I will do my homework today.
29-09-13
Train to
Pune. Raining the whole day.
30-09-13
Visit to
the Bhandarkar Institute. In comparison to most libraries I’ve been visiting,
it is quite well-run and has a cooperative staff. In a few minutes, I had all
the manuscripts I wished before me. By the time they closed, it was already
rush hour and all buses were totally packed. More than one hour at the stop and
then a couple of buses. Almost three hours were spent in this way. At least the
rain stopped.
01-09-13
Attempting
to go to the Deccan College, by a double misinformation, I ended up 12 km away
from there. It took me four hours to reach the place, then I had to wait for
another hour because it was lunchtime...
Not much time left, but I got to see the catalogues and some reference
books.
02-09-13
Gandhi
Jayanti, public holiday. Homework.
03-09-13
Visit to
the Anand Ashram, which has nearly 20,000 manuscripts and published more than
100 Sanskrit books. Next, the Bharata Itihasa Samsodhana Mandapa, which holds 34,000
manuscripts.
04-09-13
Train to
Ujjain.
05-09-13
I arrived
at the Scindia Oriental Research Institute at 10 AM; the staff started to
arrive at 10:30; the librarian arrived after 11:30; and the director arrived
after 1 PM... I hardly could see anything before everyone was present. I was
taken to the sub-director, who assured me that I could shoot whatever I wished.
I wrote down the number of a manuscript and handed the slip to the librarian.
After waiting for 15 minutes and noticing that the guy didn’t move a finger, I
asked how long it would take. He asked me back how long for what, since he had
no idea of what I was waiting for. I gasped. I reminded him in a clear tone
that the sub-director had referred me to him to see the manuscripts. With the
magic words being said, he rang the bell and handed the slip to the staff. Then
started another drama: they had no idea of how to find the given number and
kept on bringing me the wrong manuscript. More half an hour to locate it. Soon
after I started to shoot the pages, someone came in and objected. I was then
sent to the director, who demanded that I “write an application, fill out the
forms and pay the fees.” Thank God I had just the right amount at hand. Later
on, I had a list of reference books I wished to consult. After seeing seven
books and asking for another one, the librarian declined claiming that they
have a rule that no more than four books can be consulted in a day! It occurred
to me that I myself should have some set of rules to preserve whatever is left
of my mental sanity after visiting such “libraries” day after day...
06-10-13
Train to
Mathura. The sleeper class was literally hijacked by a crowd without
reservation, and there was no trace of any ticket collector during the whole
journey. Somehow I was lucky to have an upper berth and to succeed in kicking
out the guys who were lying on it. Whoever was on the lower berths had to sit
the whole night.
07-10-13
Back to
Godhead.
08-10-13
to 13-10-13
Again on
the track, getting on the case of the same folks who have been promising to
show me their libraries for aeons...
14-10-13
Visit to
several libraries in Govardhan town. Refused entry in all of them. One of them
read “Abhiram Granthagar” at the gate, but when I mentioned that I was looking
for some old books, they replied that they have none. As I referred to the name
written at the entrance and asked how possibly can they have no old books, they
evaded the question by saying that it would be very difficult to find the key.
At last, they came to the point and made it clear that it would take too long
to let me see the books and that they prefer to remain sitting down idly as
they were doing before I came to disturb them. In the nearby Caitanya
Mahaprabhu Mandir they also have a library and gave me a similar reception
claiming that the books are meant for them only and by no means they would let
me see anything. Somehow I couldn’t detect the slightest trace of literacy in
their auras... For the first time I am considering seriously the idea of using
the local media to let everyone know that this Project is welcome at the
libraries of the Rama Krishna Mission, Akhandananda Sarasvati Ashram,
Nimbarkis’, Sri Vaisnavas’, Madhvas’, Sankaras’, government and private
institutes all over the country, while in Gaudiya temples and libraries they
don’t want to hear a word.
15-10-13
I went to
the Nimbarka College, but it was closed. I was told to come to the Bhataji
mandir today. Again turned down and told
to come the day after tomorrow. Visit to the Braj Culture Research Centre.
16-10-13
I tried
the Nimbarka College once again. Still closed. Someone told me they will open
again after one week... I guess they have to rest due to such hard work they do
opening for a couple of hours a week a few months a year...
17-10-13
National
holiday.
18-10-13
Visit to
the Bon Maharaj College. It was closed and will open only on the 21st...
19-10-13
Visit to
the Radha-Syamasundar mandir. We made some arrangements to visit the Syamanandi
Pitha in Gopivallabhpur.
20-10-13
I had an
appointment at the Bhattaji mandir at 3 o’clock, and once again, upon arriving
there, the Goswami told me that he is too busy. He has done this about ten
times so far.
21-10-13
Finally
the Nimbarka College opened again and I was fortunate to meet the Mahant there,
so I got to see some granthas.
19-11-13
On the
plea of “Diwali,” no library opened for one month. Finally, they showed up
again in the office of the Nimbaka College but refused to let me see anything
today “because we didn’t bring the key.” I’ve been hearing this kind of rubbish
since the beginning of the year and this time I really lost my patience. We
started an argument and soon they were yelling at me. I had to call the Mahant
to report them. They shut up but were stubborn: if I want to see the
manuscripts I should “come tomorrow.” I wouldn’t cancel my ticket on the word
of such characterless rascals. Tempo to Mathura and train to Allahabad.
20-11-13
I went to
see the librarian in the Allahabad Museum, but although I sent him a message beforehand
to “mark an appointment to see the manuscripts” as he had commanded in my last
visit, he claimed that he received nothing and that he is too busy to show me
anything. I then went to the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, where I was previously
told that they wouldn’t show me any manuscript because the staff were on leave,
and therefore I should come another day. This time they told me that they have
no staff at all to hand the manuscripts to any possible reader, so there is no
point in going there again and again. Fabulous! Another useless trip to
Allahabad dump city.
21-11-13
Train to
Kolkata.
22-11-13
Local
train to Navadvip, boat to Mayapur.
23-11-13
Visited
some libraries in Navadvip.
24-11-13
Visited
some libraries in Mayapur.
25-11-13
to 29-11-13
Daily
visits to Navadvip to meet some Goswamis and see some libraries.
30-11-13
Boat to
Svarup Ganj, auto to Krishna Nagar and train to Kolkata. Visit to the Sanskrit
College. I submitted an application to copy some manuscripts and they told me
to come on the 4th. I then went to the Bangla Sahitya Parisad but couldn’t see
all the manuscripts I wished because it was too difficult for the staff to
locate them…
01-12-13
Visit to
Pathbari. I had called the librarian several days before to ask if the library
would be open and he confirmed it. Now he decided that he won’t open it for ten
days…
02-12-13
Visit to
the Caitanya Doba Vaisnava Research Institute in Hali Sahar, 50 km from central
Kolkata. Visit to Sanskrit Sahitya Parisad. The staff are good for nothing and
won’t let you copy anything. There was a book I had to consult, but they
declined under the plea that it was in too bad condition. Visit to the Bag
Bazar Gaudiya Math. No one was there to open the library, even hypothetically.
03-12-13
I went to
search for the family of a pandita who owned an important manuscript collection
hundred years ago. All I had was the name of the lane. No clue. Visit to the
Rama Krishna Mission library in Gol Park. Polite people and well-organized.
Visit to the Bag Bazar Reading Library. I said one word and they started
yelling at me that they have nothing and that I should go away! I would love to
have a hidden camera recording these wonderful moments to share them with the
world through Youtube, especially those who read this diary in disbelief… I
eagerly canvass for a donation.
04-12-13
Visit to
the Asiatic Society. I was expected to visit the Sanskrit College today. Upon
arriving there, the librarian told me that my application is on hold and that I
should meet the principal. The fellow is a jerk and was talking to me as if I
were “uske baap ka naukar.” I started speaking in Hindi and he yelled that I
should speak in English. He demanded my original passport so that they can
prosecute me if anything becomes damaged! I really had no time to go up and
down several km to bring my passport, nor the patience to deal with this psycho
twice on the same day.
05-12-13
Train to
Bhubaneswar. Visit to the Kedarnath Gavesan Prathisthan. The librarian was very
kind and let me see the manuscripts although I don’t have membership.
06-12-13
Visit to
the Bhubaneswar Museum. Quite cooperative staff. Lots of catalogues to read,
mostly in handwritten Odia. Not an easy task…
07-12-13
Visit to
the State Archives and State Library. The librarians couldn’t give any help to
find the reference materials I was looking for, and I had no time to see all
the shelves.
08-12-13
Local
train to Khurda Road. Train to Vijayawada.
09-12-13
Darshan
of Lord Narasimha in Mangalagiri. Train to Chennai.
10-12-13
A
nightmare to find a room. More than one hour roaming in the street with my
luggage. Visit to the Oriental Manuscript Library. A couple of manuscripts I
wished to see were allegedly damaged and they refused to let me see them. I
asked if they would be repaired. They declined. Visit to the New Catalogus
Catalogorum office, a real oasis for researchers.
11-12-13
The whole
day at the Madras University.
12-12-13
What a
surprise: the “librarian” of the Adyar “library” is out of station and won’t be
back so soon. To the present day, he never bothered to reply to any of my
messages. With the help of some contacts, I requested the curator to get the
manuscripts repaired in the OML. All I got was a promise. The rest of the day
reading manuscript hand lists.
13-12-13
Train to
Tirupati. Visit to the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan.
14-12-13
Visit to
the Venkateswar Oriental Research Institute.
15-12-13
Darshan
of Balaji.
16-12-13
Train to
Chennai. Train to Kumbakonam.
17-12-13
Local
train to Tanjore. Visit to the Sarasvati Mahal.
18-12-13
Darshan
in some Divya Desas.
19-12-13
Local
train to Srirangam.
20-12-13
to 22-12-13
Met some
Sri panditas. They were glad that I gave them a copy of the hand list of the
ancient manuscript collection that belonged to the temple. The collection was
given to the government and is now in the Tamil University, Tanjore.
23-12-13
Train to
Mysore.
24-12-13
I wanted
to stay in the dormitory of the railway station, but the clerk was on leave, so
they won’t bother to give place to anyone for many days. All rooms in the area
were full. At last, I found a dump. As soon as I sat on the bed, bugs started
to eat me up. Although the holiday is tomorrow, they decided to close
everything today, so once again I couldn’t see anything. Train to Udupi.
25-12-13
No rooms
anywhere. After walking for one hour or so, I ended up paying for an overpriced
accommodation.
26-12-13
Another
hour was spent trying to find another room. I was refused a room because I am a
Hare Krsna. Visit to the eight Mutts. It seems that most of the Swamis are out
of station again. Visit to the Tattva Samshodhan Samsat.
27-12-13
Visit to
the Vadiraja Research Institute.
28-12-13
to 30-12-13
Met a few
Swamis and visited a few libraries.
31-12-13
Bus to
Sringeri. They were very kind and helpful, but unfortunately, it seems that the
specific manuscript I was looking for was thrown in the river long ago. Bus
back to Udupi.
01-01-14
Train to
Mysore.
02-01-14
Bus to
Melkote. Visit to the Sanskrit Academy. There was a book in the almirah which I
wanted to see, but the librarian insisted that they don’t have it, although it
was a few inches from his nose. I was standing in the manuscript section and
the fellow in charge pretended I don’t exist. I went back to the reference
section to ask what the matter is and they told me to complain to the
administration. As the fellow heard this, he decided to ‘notice’ my existence
and asked what I wanted. Although I explained very clearly that I am doing
research work and wished to see the catalogue, he ignored the point and started
showing me some displayed items as if I were a tourist. As I insisted on my
point, he declared that he wouldn’t show me anything without the permission of
the director. There I go to meet him. Without much ceremony, the director told
me I could see whatever I wish. Back to the manuscript section, the librarian
was gone. He managed to show up by the time of lunch, and of course, told me to
come later… A couple of hours later, as I repeated to him the director’s words,
he demanded a written statement. In this case, I invited him to the director’s
office. After a long discussion in Kannada, he convinced the director that he
shouldn’t show anything to me, and that if I wanted to see their manuscript
list, I should wait several years until they publish it! I then went to the
Sanskrit College, but it was closed. Upon inquiring around, I found the house
of the principal. His wife opened the door and told me to wait. I heard some
murmurs and she came back with some excuses and told me to meet him in the
office tomorrow morning.
03-01-14
I was in
the Sanskrit College early in the morning as I was told. The principal arrived,
greeted everyone but me, and then went to the temple. Half an hour late, he
comes back, sits in front of me, writes a few notes, stands up and walks off to
start the class without saying a word to me. I got the message. Bus to Mysore.
No news: no library is going to open for many more days. Bus to Bangalore.
04-01-14
After a
long time, I finally met Prof. Pandurangi, one of the greatest Madhva scholars
of our days. We had a nice talk and he gave me some references and advice.
Visit to the Uttaradi Mutt. The librarian was not there.
05-01-14
Bus to a
village some 50 km north to meet a Swamiji in the hope that he could have
something to say.
06-01-14
Train to
Nellore.
07-01-14
Visit to
the Sanskrit College.
08-01-14
to 24-01-14
Visit to
several places in Andhra Pradesh.
25-01-14
to 01-02-14
Puri and
Bhubaneswar. I met Gajapati Maharaja at his house. Unfortunately, it was too
late, as the royal collection was no more. Yet he gave some good contacts.
02-02-14
Local
train to Cuttack and bus to Kendrapara, about 70 km away. Visit to Dr. Fakir
Mohan Das. His library is kept in another town, so I will have to come on
another occasion.
03-02-14
Bus to
Cuttack, train to Balasore and bus to Remuna.
04-02-14
and 05-02-14
At last
some findings in the area. Met some local scholars and got a few books.
06-02-14
Bus to
Remuna, bus to Baripada and bus to Gopiballabhpur, one worse than the other,
not to speak of the road. I had previously contacted the Mahant of the
Syamanandi-gaddi, who told me to come on the 6th and 7th to see his library. I
arrived late in the morning and he told me to come in the evening to talk.
After the evening talk, he told me to come in the morning to see the library.
07-02-14
After
attending the morning program in the temple, at 8 o’clock I sat in the
courtyard to wait for the Mahant. Someone went upstairs to inform him and I was
told to wait, and I did so until 2 pm. After being informed that the last bus
was at 4 pm and that I was simply playing the fool, I stood up and was walking
off when all of a sudden the Mahant shows up with a surprised/annoyed
expression on his face due to my impertinency in not waiting for him… I had
barely started seeing a few of his books when he interrupted and commanded that
it was time for lunch. Half an hour later, instead of his own, he decided that
it would be better to see the neighbor’s library. It was indeed a quite good
collection, but by the time I finished, it was already night. This was the end
of our two days appointment and the next day he wouldn’t be “available.”
08-02-14
Bus to
Kharagpur and train to Kolkata. Visit to Pathbari.
09-02-14
The whole
day at Pathbari. In the evening I went to the Caitanya Research Institute to
consult some old GM magazines. I was indeed shown one magazine, but when I
asked for a previous volume, the librarian promptly said that they don’t have
it. I asked if he was sure about it, and he was adamant. Quite before the
proper time, he told me it was time to close.
10-02-14
Local
train to Navadvip and boat to Mayapur. Visited a few libraries and met a few
people.
11-02-14
Nityananda
trayodasi.
12-02-14
to 15-02-14
Several
visits to Navadvip and nearby places.
16-02-14
Auto to
Krishnanagar and train to Kolkata.
17-02-14
Train to
Varanasi.
18-02-14
to 22-02-14
Visits to
the Nagari Pracarini Sabha, BHU and Sampurnand. Lots of headaches to get a few
copies from BHU.
23-04-14
Train to
Mathura.
24-02-14
to 18-03-14
Busy time
in Vrindavan meeting the very same folks.
19-03-14
to 21-03-14
National
seminar on unknown and little-known Vaisnava manuscripts. Meeting with the
director of the National Mission for Manuscripts.
22-03-14
to 21-04-14
More time
wasted in the so-called Nimbarka College just to hear a lot of rubbish. One of
the prominent acharyas, Sri Gopal Sharan Devacharya Maharaj, went there
personally and requested them to cooperate with me, but they couldn’t care
less. Meanwhile, I spent some time intermediating to have an ancient library of
the Radha-ramana parivara donated to the Jiva Institute. Short time to do so
many things, but I made a few good discoveries in this period.
22-04-14
Tempo to
Mathura, train to Hindaun, bus to Karauli. Darsana of Sri Sri
Radha-Madana-mohana ji to get their blessings for this Rajasthan expedition.
23-04-14
Bus to
Jaipur. Visit to the City Palace library. Due to the lack of staff, they told
me to come next week if I wish to see some manuscripts. Meeting with several
people. Examined several manuscripts at the Oriental Research Institute.
24-04-14
Long talk
with the Mahant of Balanand Math, who did a lot of research on his sampradaya.
He told me lots of anecdotes about the kings and sadhus of Jaipur. I was
introduced to the Mahant of the Madana-Gopala ji Mandir, who promised to
intermediate in the Govindaji Mandir. I tried to meet the Queen, but she is out
of station.
25-04-14
Another
meeting with the Balanand Mahant and others. Talked to the Galta Mahant, who is
out of station but is coming back in the evening. Got more several
contacts.
26-04-14
Visit to
the Centre for Jain Studies.
27-04-14
In the
morning I went to meet the Goswami at the Govindaji Mandir, but despite all the
previous promises and intermediation, this time he said some ten times that he
is not gonna show me anything. I hope Rupa Gosvami is watching everything.
28-04-14
Visit to
the Jain Vidya Sansthan, where I was received very politely and in a couple of
minutes got the manuscripts I wished to see in my hands. Visit to the SRC
Pracya Vidyapitha, where I was told that it would take them four days to show
me any manuscript. Visit to the City Palace library.
29-04-14
The whole
morning in the Sanjaya Museum and lots of discussions about manuscripts. The
rest of the day in the City Palace library. I tried to meet the Queen once
again. After waiting for 45 min. in the office, I was told that she is still
out of station.
30-04-14
The Galta
Mahant asked me to meet him in Galta at 11 AM. I went all the way uphill on
foot and upon arriving there the pujari told me that he wouldn’t come but would
wait for me in his house in the city at 4 PM. Again, all the way uphill in the
scorching heat of the Rajasthani summer. Spent a couple of hours reading in the
City Palace library. Visit to the SRC Pracya Vidyapitha. Visit to the Sanjaya
Sharma Museum.
01-05-14
It took
me a couple of hours and several km of walking under the noon sun to be able to
locate the Prakrita Bharati library after being sent up and down several times.
Once again, I was cordially shown the library by the Jain staff. Visit to the
Jaipur Record Centre. The director, a Muslim gentleman, was not much aware of
the collections available there but was very polite and tried to be helpful.
What an age: we receive help from Jains and Muslims, but so-called Gaudiyas
won’t even talk to us... Visit to the
Rajasthan Sanskrit Academy, where I was finally shown the catalogue, but it was
too late to go through it. Visit to the Sanjaya Sharma Museum till 9 PM.
Exhaustive day.
02-05-14
I had to
catch a train at 6 AM, so at around 5 o’clock I asked the gatekeeper to open
the gate. He asked for the “checkout slip” and I showed him the receipt, as I
had already paid. He was not convinced and demanded the “checkout slip,” and in
case I don’t have one, then I should wait until 6 o’clock when the manager
comes. I kept on saying that I have to catch a train at 6 and the dude kept on
saying that I have to wait for the manager. When I started yelling, the manager
just popped up, gave me the slip and opened the gate. He was silent when I
asked why the heck he didn’t say anything about a checkout slip. The whole morning on a train to Jodhpur.
Visit to the Oriental Research Institute, where I heard lots of shouts as usual
and spent the rest of the day reading manuscripts. I couldn’t see it all
because the staff were too busy playing games and surfing the internet for
Bollywood. I spent the night in a dump in front of the station and hardly got
any sleep.
03-05-14
Most of
the day on a train to Bikaner.
04-05-14
Sunday,
my first day off since I left Vrindavan. Spent a long time trying to find a
room, as the one I got is too expensive. At last, I found a dharmashala that I
can afford, but the room is absolutely nasty. I hadn’t taken anything during
the day, so in the evening I went around to find something to drink. After
walking a long way, I spotted a tetra pack juice. I walked into the shop and
asked for the juice, but the guy stubbornly said he had none. I just walked off
to spare whatever was left of my good mood.
05-05-14
In the
morning I went to the State Archives, where they asked me to fill out lots of
forms and give copies of all possible things, even a photo. Despite a board
that says that the office opens at 10 AM, it was more than 12 o’clock and the
director had not arrived yet. After all this waste of time, someone was kind
enough to say that he wouldn’t come before 2 PM. I decided to visit the
Oriental Research Institute meanwhile. The director and the officer were
sitting idly as I walked in and said “namaskar,” but none of them replied. The
director asked me which country I am from. I said it thrice, but still she
couldn’t get it. “For the fourth time: Brazil.” She then became indignant and
started saying that I have no patience and know nothing about research. She
made me fill out all the forms and applications and demanded originals from all
my documents. When at last I gave the list of the manuscripts I wished to
consult, she said: “Isopanishad? Which kind of book is this?” Meanwhile, the officer
also gave me a register to sign. He insisted that my home address abroad should
be written in Hindi. God knows wherefrom I got the patience for this, but I
still tried to explain that there are no Hindi addresses abroad. The guy
started calling me arrogant. I was silently watching how far this would go. He
then started narrating some incident from the Mahabharata which describes how
arrogant a disciple of the sage Gautama was. The director liked it and wanted
to know the name of Gautama Buddha's disciple (!!!). How I wish to record these
wonderful moments to share them on Youtube! Note that this is the intellectual
elite of India managing the prestigious Oriental Research Institute of
Rajasthan, which holds some of the most important collections of manuscripts in
the world. Back to the Archives, I had to get my wish list typed and printed
because the staff were not able to read anything handwritten in either Roman or
Devanagari. By 3 o’clock I was sent to meet the director. As he put his eyes on
me, he had already decided that he wouldn’t show me anything. He started by
saying that this is not a public library. As I mentioned that I am doing
research work, he said that they don’t allow independent scholars. As I showed
him my documents and letters of affiliation, he started to demand imaginary
documents. We had already been talking in Hindi for several minutes when I
mentioned that I am from Brazil. He then asked me if I am able to speak Hindi.
Oh, Bhagavan, what a day! At last, he decided that I need a letter from the
Brazilian Embassy allowing me to consult his library. I still tried to explain
that embassies are not meant to give letters for visiting libraries. Crying in
the wilderness. Far beyond the limit. Straight to the station to get a ticket for
the first train. Garbage all over and a zombie population. They call it
Bikaner.
06-05-14
Having no
other option, I arrived in Delhi in the morning. It took me almost two hours to
reach Nizamuddin. No trains so soon, so I had to catch a crowded bus to Mathura.
Arrived in Vrindavan in the afternoon. Felt like waking up from a nightmare.
26-05-14
Next
expedition. Tempo to Mathura, train to Allahabad.
27-05-14
Visit to
the Allahabad Museum. Visit to the Ganganath Jha Research Institute. This time
I got good cooperation from the staff in both places, and despite taking
several hours, I could consult the manuscripts I wished.
28-05-14
Another
visit to the Ganganath Jha RI. Train to Barddhaman.
29-05-14
Bus to
Kalna. The whole day visiting temples and meeting Goswamis. Lucky to see some
manuscripts and get some contacts.
30-05-14
Had to
catch a train to Kolkata before 5 AM but decided to visit the Caitanya Doba
Research Institute on the way. It was a trouble to reach there – local train to
Naihati, bus to Halisahar - and the day schedule had to be changed. Bus to
Naihati, local train to Howrah, local train to Mecheda, bus to Tamluk. Arrived
there in the evening. Visit to the Vasudeva Ghosh Para. The head pujari kindly
let me see his library and presented me with some books. Tempo to Mecheda.
31-05-14
Local
train to Kharagpur at 4:38 AM, two hours on a bus to Gopiballabhpur. Arrived
there by 10 AM. Upon meeting the Mahant, he said that I should have marked an
appointment and that he has no time to show me anything. Yet he introduced me
to some of his relatives who were very kind to let me see their collections.
01-06-14
I was
supposed to catch a bus at 4:30 AM, but the guest house gate was locked and
there were no staff around, although I had informed them the night before.
Missed the bus. The next one was at 5:30 and because of this, I arrived too
late at Kharagpur, missing all the trains that would reach Kolkata in the
morning. Arrived there at noon, which spoiled the plan I had for today. Decided
to stay at the ISKCON temple, catch on my japa and rest. In this last week I
was barely getting 4 hours of sleep at night.
02-06-14
Visit to
Pathbari. Visit to the National Library. The staff didn’t know where the
manuscript section is and sent me up and down several times. After figuring out
the location, I had to again go up and down several times because there was no
straight lift or staircase, and no one was able to explain the way. One hour
wasted to reach the place. Upon asking to see some manuscripts, they insisted that
I should have a membership card. Somehow I got my case done and they gave me a
“concession.”
03-06-14
I had to
catch a train to Puri at 6 AM from Howrah. When I was coming out from the
temple around 5 o’clock, some dudes on a motorbike spat on my face. I wouldn’t
be even slightly surprised if they are “Hindus,” as I never had issues with
Muslims or Christians. After spending some 15 minutes at the bus stop without
seeing any trace of a bus, I had to catch a taxi.
04-06-14
Met some
panditas.
05-06-14
Visit to
Gambhira to read the library catalogue. At Siddha-bakul, the Mahant claims that
the whole library was destroyed.
06-06-14
Visit to
Gangamata Math. Although there was a big bundle of manuscripts visible in the
temple compound, the Mahant and the pujari insisted they have nothing. Crying
in the wilderness.
07-06-14
Visit to
the Raghunandan Library, where I couldn’t see the books I wished last year
because they didn’t find the key of the almirah. Water is dropping from the
ceiling and spoiling all the books. The staff had not even noticed it, and when
I pointed it out, they said, “So what?”
08-06-14
Srila
Baladeva Vidyabhusana’s disappearance mahotsava. The whole day fasting and
translating.
09-06-14
Dry
fasting for Pandava Ekadasi. Too hot here, so no outside activities.
10-06-14
to 22-06-14
Visits to
a few libraries such as the Jagannath Research Centre and meeting with a few
scholars.
23-06-14
Finished
a rough translation of the Tattva-dipika. It still needs a deep revision and
lots of explanatory notes.
24-06-14
Visit to
Alarnatha. Train to Howrah.
25-06-14
Local
train to Navadvip, boat to Mayapur.
26-06-14
Visit to
Navadvip to meet some Gosvamis.
27-06-14
to 03-07-14
Raining a
lot every day. Homework.
04-07-14
Most of
the day in Navadvip meeting panditas.
05-07-14
Boat to
Navadvip, local train to Katwa, bus to Srikhanda. I asked the conductor to tell
me where to get off, but the rascal didn’t. I asked the locals how to get to
the Chittranjan Library, but no one had any idea. At last, a shopkeeper claimed
to know the place and arranged a sort of ‘riksha.’ Three km later, he dropped
me in a Gaudiya temple. The pujari said that I was in the wrong place and he
didn’t know of any library. I decided to call the library, the same number
through which I had asked for directions the day before. A lady on the phone
said that I dialled the wrong number. The pujari gave directions to the
rikshawala to take me back claiming that the address I am looking for is in the
opposite direction. Another three km to the same place I was before. After
several minutes of argument, the locals finally ‘remembered’ exactly where the
library is and put me on another ‘riksha.’ I shouldn’t be surprised anymore,
but the library is just a few meters from that same temple... The first thing I
inquired is why they speak nonsense on the phone. The librarian claimed that he
was outside and the sweeper picked up the phone... After a few minutes of
looking at the library, I felt like running away. The government published a
catalogue of their manuscripts, but they don’t have a copy of it in the
library. I was shown an incomplete hand list. There was no book catalogue
either, only a hand list horribly written and without any specific order. It
started raining heavily and I was forced to wait. As soon as the rain stopped,
I went out, but there were no rikshawalas around and the road was flooded.
After inquiring here and there, I was told to go to a rikshawala’s house to
call him. I took a bus to Katwa station
and arrived right on time to catch a local train, but unfortunately, it took
one and a half hours to start. Arrived in Mayapur at night.
08-07-14
Boat to
Svarupa Ganj, train to Kolkata. Visit to the National Library. As per their
directions, I sent a letter a month ago but received no response. I had to wait
for one hour to talk to the director. He didn’t remember any letter but
approved my application to copy the manuscripts I need. The letter I sent was
lying down on someone’s table in the manuscript section. Despite the director’s
approval, they made it clear that they won’t let me copy anything. I went back
to the director’s office. He had left for lunch and I had to wait for another
hour. At last, after some phone exchanges, they told me that the problem is
that the section in charge was not there and would be coming later. Back to the
ms section, when the librarian came, I asked why he hadn’t replied to my
letter. He said that they needed time to think about it and that in any case, I
applied for a Sanskrit ms, while they have only Bengali mss. This he assumed
because most mss there are written in Bengali characters. It took me half an
hour to make him understand the difference between a language and an alphabet.
Yet he was adamant that copies were not allowed. I went back to the director’s
office, who then called the ms librarian to come. I deeply regret I didn’t
bring anything to record this memorable meeting and show of rubbish. To make it
short, the director became convinced that it is the law of the Indian govt.
that mss should be neither copied nor published at all. By the time I had to
leave, it was raining heavily.
09-07-14
Visit to
Pathbari, but they didn’t open the library under the excuse that today is
ekadasi. They also said that they won’t open tomorrow either, probably because
it is dvadasi... Another visit to the National Library, at least to have a look
at the mss, all I got from them. I needed to consult a printed book in the main
library, but the catalogue number was wrong. I had to spend more than one hour
trying to find out what the correct number could be. After getting the said
number, I waited another couple of hours while the staff tried to locate it,
but they failed. I had to write a request and hope that one day they will be
able to find it...
10-07-14
I had
just come out to go to Jadavpur University when it started raining like hell,
although a few minutes before the sun was shining. What seemed to make sense
from the map turned out to be a nightmare as I had to cross lanes full of
butcher shops to catch a local train at a nearby station. I jumped on the first
train assuming there was only one line and I had only a couple of stations to
cross, a mistake which cost me more than one hour wasted. Meanwhile, the rain
became even heavier. It took me more than two hours to arrive at the library.
The librarian promptly tried to convince me that they have nothing of what I am
looking for, without even suggesting that I check the catalogue... Night train
to Varanasi.
11-07-14
The whole
day at the BHU library.
12-07-14
to 13-07-14
Met some
panditas.
14-07-14
I had an
appointment with a professor at the Sampurnananda Sanskrit University at 11
o’clock. After making me wait for a couple of hours, he told me that he is too
busy and that I should come the day after tomorrow. I went to the library and
they prohibited me from going inside because I had a laptop, which is of course
very dangerous for them and harmful to the books. Several hours of walking up
and down under scorching heat to visit a few places, then more 5 km on foot
back to my guest house in Assi because the roads were closed and there was no
transportation available. I got flu because of drinking too cold lassi.
15-07-14
Visit to
the Ramnagar Fort. I was told that the manuscript library has been closed for
more than 15 years and that I would need the permission of the King to see
anything there. He is out of station, so I gave them an application.
16-07-14
I had
another appointment at 11 AM with the said professor. When I arrived at
Sampurnananda, he told me that he had to attend a meeting and hardly gave me a
few minutes... The rest of the day in BHU meeting several professors.
17-07-14
Train to
Mathura.
18-07-14
Back
home. Lot of work waiting for me here.
17-09-14
Train to
Udaipur.
18-09-14
Most of
the day at the Oriental Research Institute.
19-09-14
Bus to
Nathdwara. Visit to the Sahitya Mandal.
20-09-14
Bus to
Udaipur, train to Baroda.
21-09-14
Visit to
a local pandita. Train to Mumbai.
22-09-14
Visit to
the Mumbai University. The guard flatly refused to let me cross the gate
claiming that only their students are allowed inside the campus. I wonder how
someone could even possibly be admitted if entrance is not allowed.... I had to
go the way around and enter through another gate. Once in the library, I asked
to copy a manuscript and they told me that I would have to meet the chief
librarian in the other campus, some 25 km away, submit an application and then
wait for several days until they hold a meeting and have a reply...Visit to the
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, despite the reception they gave me last year...
23-09-14
The
Asiatic Society will be closed for a few days, so I had to tweak my plans.
Train to Pune. Visit to the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute. It is
supposed to open at 11 AM, but the staff of the manuscript section showed up at
around 1 PM. Around 3 PM I was told that the section in charge wouldn’t come
today. In the reference section, I had to wait for one hour until they could find
the book I wished to see. Since they were not being able to locate it, they
tried to ‘entertain’ me with other books whose titles were similar...
24-09-14
Bhandarkar
again. At last, I got the copies I had requested and paid for exactly one year
ago. The director was very surprised to know that the staff didn’t send the
copies to me as they were supposed to and seemed to be inclined to escalate the
case. They could not find one of the manuscripts I asked to see. After checking
the catalogue, they concluded that the number must be wrong and that the only
way to find it is to look through the collection one by one. Sounds like it
will take another year... In the reference section, after another hour of
waiting for another book, I gave it up and ran away. I couldn’t escape the
rain, though.
25-09-14
Train to
Mumbai at 4 AM. Visit to the Asiatic Society. The staff were helpful but
couldn’t find the manuscript I was looking for.
26-09-14
The whole
day around some local libraries.
27-09-14
Train to
Baroda. Because I had to cancel the ticket I had due to the change in the
schedule, I didn’t get a confirmed berth on the train and had to sit down the
whole night.
28-09-14
Sunday
off.
29-09-14
Visit to
the Sanskrit College. Visit to the Baroda Oriental Research Institute. Helpful
staff, but I will have to come again tomorrow because they could not open some
of the almirahs.
30-09-14
I had
requested to have the manuscripts ready before I arrive, and I intentionally
delayed one hour to give them time. As I could guess, when I arrived at the
Oriental Institute by 12 o’clock, they did not even remember anything of the
sort. I had to wait for one hour while they were tracing the manuscripts in the
almirahs... Night train to Jaipur.
01-10-14
Visit to
the City Palace library. They told me that they can’t show me any manuscripts
at present because the library caught fire some days ago and it is under
repair. Still, they don’t believe that there is a need to have the collection
scanned... Visit to the Sanjay Sharma Museum. Met several of my local contacts.
02-10-14
Visit to
the Sanskrit Academy. I called before going and they told me it was open, but
when I arrived there they told me that I wouldn’t be able to see anything
because they were all busy...
03-10-14
I had to
catch a train to Bharatpur at 4 AM. In the evening I paid the guest house bill
and informed the manager and staff that I needed to leave before 4 AM and
didn’t want any drama, to which they promptly agreed. At around 3:30 AM I
called the very same staff to open the gate, but instead of doing it, they
started questioning if I had paid the bill. A few shouts made them suddenly
‘remember’ that I had already paid. Once in Bharatpur, there was no one in
charge of the resting rooms in the station, and the only place in the area
seemed to be a filthy dharmashala. Having no option in sight, I got a room
there. On the wall, there was a board in Hindi that read “Do not spit on the
walls,” a request that was visibly not followed by most of their “guests.”
After 11 AM, I walked 2,5 km up to the local branch of the Oriental Research
Institute. Although I had called the officer a day before to ask if he would
open today, to which he acceded, when I arrived there, the door was closed. I
called the guy to ask what is going on, and he said that today is a holiday.
When I asked why the hell he didn’t say that when I called yesterday, he
replied asking who I think I am to question him and that he doesn’t need to
give explanations to anyone. Once again the “learned” staff of the Oriental “Research”
Institute displaying how much they “care” for the researchers who visit them. I
rushed back to my room, packed, and jumped on the first bus to Mathura. End of
this expedition.
04-10-14
to 18-11-14
Kartika
in Vrindavan, studying, translating, doing parikrama and running after the same
old folks to get the chance to see their manuscripts.
19-11-14
I had
booked a train ticket from Mathura to Allahabad, but at the last moment I came
to know that the railway decided to cancel the Mathura halt and I had to jump
on the first bus to Agra. Arrived together with the train. So started another
expedition...
20-11-14
Met the
principal of the Ganganath Jha Research Institute and after a brief talk in
Sanskrit, she approved my application to copy a few manuscripts. In spite of
that, the staff told me to sit and wait, and that is what I did the whole day
there without being shown a single page. Meanwhile, I visited the Prayag Hindi
Sammelan, where I had previously been first told that the manuscript section
staff were on leave, then that they have no staff at all and the ms section was
permanently closed, and then that the ms section was under renovation and
wouldn’t open for many months. This time an intermediate put me in touch with
someone from the administration, who went with me to meet the “librarian.” It
became evident that the ms section is not closed, nor under renovation, nor
lacks staff. Yet the “‘librarian” had to call the staff to know why he was not
present. The guy was “too busy” somewhere else and would come only tomorrow. I
said that tomorrow I have to go to Varanasi, so I can’t guarantee that I would
be able to come. The “librarian” seemed very satisfied with the idea that I am
leaving and assured me that they would look for my manuscripts...
21-11-14
Since I
couldn’t accomplish anything yesterday, I was forced to stay on today. I
arrived at the Ganganath Jha around 10 o’clock, but the staff started to arrive
after 11 AM. After another hour wasted, someone informed me that they decided
to send my application to the vice-chancellor and that only after they hold a
meeting they will come to a decision and then will send a letter to Vrindavan
to notify me... Since I am still here, I
decided to go again to the Hindi Sammelan to see what would happen. The
“librarian” very shamelessly said that the staff had actually come yesterday
and looked for my mss but unfortunately could not find them. I asked how
possibly could he fail to locate two different mss. After being puzzled for a
moment, the “librarian” said that the mss are both kept together in a single
bundle. This is one of the grossest and most stupid lies I heard recently.
Enough of these idiots. I rushed to the station and jumped on the first train
to Varanasi. Too bad that the track was under repair and the train arrived at
night.
22-11-14
Visit to
the Visvanatha Library, Gopala Mandir and Sampurnananda Sanskrit University. My
application to see the library of Kashiraj was rejected by him under the
pretext that the building is under renovation.
23-11-14
Met some
panditas.
24-11-14
Visit to
BHU and a private library. Train to Howrah.
25-11-14
The train
was several hours late and thus I lost the whole morning. In the afternoon I
visited the Sanskrit College. This time the Principal immediately approved my
application without any drama. However, the staff failed to locate the mss I
wish. Visit to the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad. I requested copies of a few pages
of a ms and they told me that it will take one week to “process” it.
26-11-14
I had a
plan to visit Pathbari and got someone to call the Baba in charge. He has no
intention to open the library in less than one week. Given the circumstances, I
took a local train to Navadip.
27-11-14
Local
train to Katwa and bus to Srikhanda. Visit to Narahari Thakur Bari, but the
Mahant was not there. I arrived too early at the Chittaranjan Pathmandir and
had to wait one hour until the librarian came. On the phone, he had agreed to
let me take pictures, but on the way, he changed his mind and decided to send
my application to the general secretary... Although we had to purchase a copy
of the printed catalogue of that library, which they don’t have there, the
numbers in it became useless after the National Mission for Manuscripts staff
went there, messed up everything, and left without finishing the job. As he
failed to locate the mss I want, the librarian’s bold tone faded when I told
him that I will have to report the case to the government. Back at Narahari’s
Mandir, I met the Mahant, who told me that the collection they used to have was
given to that same library and that I do well in reporting them. Bus to Katwa.
I had checked the timetable of trains to Navadvip and there was none so soon,
therefore I was planning to catch a bus. Somehow a dude convinced me that there
was a train to Navadvip now, so instead of going to the bus stand, I got off at
the railway station. There was indeed a train on the platform, but it remained
there for more than one hour and delayed more than one hour on the way, thus I
wasted the rest of the day in a 40 km journey.
28-11-14
Visit to
the Sadharan Granthagar. I asked for the manuscript catalogue and they almost
sent me to the dogs. Met some local Gosvamis. After two days of staying in an
ashram infested with mosquitoes and with a “bathroom” under the open sky, I got
flu and stress enough to run away as far as possible.
29-11-14
Met some
local panditas.
30-11-14
Local
train to Kolkata.
01-12-14
Visit to
the Sanskrit College. They could locate most of the manuscripts I had to see,
but not all. Visit to the Kolkata University. In the manuscript section, they
said that they have no staff available and therefore cannot show anything. They
also couldn’t say anything about anything and therefore gave me the phone
number of the lady in charge in case I want to talk directly to her. Visit to
the National Library. I didn’t bring my membership card, yet they were kind
enough to let me see some manuscripts.
02-12-14
Visit to
the Caitanya “Research” Institute. The librarian was on leave and the library
won’t open until he comes back after some two weeks. Visit to the Bangiya
Sahitya Parisad. As one week passed, I thought they would have my copies ready.
Not at all. They just told me to copy the manuscript with my own camera. I then
asked for a copy of a couple of pages of an encyclopedia. They told me to fill
out an application form and wait for another week so that they can “process”
it. For those who have read some of my previous entries, at this point this
should not be much surprising, isn’t it? And this is one of the main libraries
in Kolkata, one of the largest cities in the world. I had a friend call the
lady in charge of the ms section in Kolkata University and NMM in West Bengal
to find out what time she is available in the office. She just wanted to know
who the hell had given us her phone number and made it clear that they have
none of the manuscripts that we are looking for. Curiously, they have about
60,000 and no catalogue. Well, I was just going to ask her if they will finish
their job in Srikhanda or if I will have to report them to the director of the
NMM in Delhi. astu.
03-12-14
Visit to
Pathbari. After being previously turned down on several visits, finally, the
baba in charge was in the mood to open the library and I got to see some nice
scriptures. It paid off. Visit to the Bag Bazar Reading Library. I arrived just
a few minutes before their opening time. I had barely said a couple of words
and the staff told me to get the hell out of there because it is closed. So
sweet! Check out my previous entry on 03-12-13. This much of West Bengal for
now. Night train to Puri.
04-12-14
Visit to
several temples. I’ve found the remnants of a ms library but was not allowed to
have a look. Spent the night at Siddha Bakul.
05-12-14
Morning
bus to Bhubaneswar. I got off at the ISKCON temple thinking of getting a room
in the guest house, but it was full. I asked for a place in the ashram, but
they declined under the plea of lack of space. I had to catch the local
transportation to go to the station area and was forced to get a noisy, sticky,
albeit overrated room. Visit to the State Museum. The manuscript section was
closed. I asked the staff about it, but they couldn’t say anything substantial.
I walked around for a while and was about to give it up when someone suddenly
took me to the peon of the library, who was sitting idly somewhere else. He
told me that the librarian had gotten another job somewhere else and therefore
he doesn’t bother to open the library... I could read some mss, but when I
requested some copies, he told me that they have no one working on the computer
to give me a CD. I had to write an application and meet the curator, who told
me to call the librarian to find out when she plans to be present in the
library and possibly arrange my copies. I called her, explained my case, and
she hung up the phone.
06-12-14
Train to
Vijayawada.
07-12-14
Sunday.
Darsana at Mangalagiri. Train to Chennai.
08-12-14
I arrived
at the Govt. Oriental Manuscript Library at 11 AM and was told that the staff
had gone to drink tea. After one hour of waiting, they had not come back yet
and someone in the office told me to go to complain to the librarian. I went to
the librarian's room, but there was no one there. At last, the staff showed up
and I had to wait for another hour while they searched for the mss I wanted to
see. Despite several applications since last year, they still did not locate
them, and obviously did not even attempt to previously. Visit to the Sanskrit
department.
09-12-14
Visit to
the Gaudiya Math to see their library. The devotees were helpful and I could
find something interesting. Visit to the Adyar Library. This time,
surprisingly, I could meet both the librarian and the director. Check out the
entries on 10-01-13 and 12-12-13. I showed them a Xerox copy of the front page
of the “Catalogue of the Microfilms in the Adyar Library...” and they coughed
asking who said they have no microfilms. After one hour of talking among
themselves, opening drawers and almirahs, looking for keys here and there, etc.
they very proudly brought a few rolls to me. I had to inform them that
microfilms cannot be read without a projector. They were clueless about it.
Someone had a good idea and told me that the projector is broken.
10-12-14
Visit to
the Madras University library. Visit to the K.V. Sarma Research Foundation.
11-12-14
Train to
Tirupati. Visit to the Vedic University. Someone had told me they have 1 lakh
mss, but actually, they have around 3,000 only... Visit to the Rastriya
Sanskrit Vidyapitha library.
12-12-14
Visit to
the Venkateswara Oriental Research Institute. I asked for the catalogue of Sanskrit
books and they told me they don’t have one and then invited me to see the books
one by one. Not much productive, and soon I had to leave to have darsana of
Balaji.
13-12-14
Visit to
the Tirupati Tirumala Devasthana Library, but it was closed.
14-12-14
The whole
day on a train to Tiruchchirapali.
15-12-14
to 07-01-15
I had
decided to spend these days in Srirangam studying and translating to avoid all
the turmoil of the end/beginning of the year vacations, but things didn’t turn
out well. The Vaikuntha-ekadasi festival happened to be right in this period,
which made it tough to get accommodation. For almost a week I had to sleep on
the floor with several people. As it was quite cold and I hardly got any sleep,
I ended up sick for the next one week or so. I was lucky to rent a room at
someone’s house, but by the time I felt well, I just had a few days left and
had too many rounds to chant, so I rather went to visit some divya desas in the
area. Yet I visited several local libraries, met some panditas and copied some
good reference books.
08-01-15
Arrived
in Mysore in the morning, where this time I had made some arrangements to stay
at some devotee’s house, given my extremely back luck with accommodations here
(check the entries on 02-02-13 and 24-12-13). As I didn’t get any cooperation
from the staff in the Oriental Institute on my previous visits, this time I
chalked out a plan. I came to know that they have an adviser for foreign
students, so I marked an appointment with him. Once on the campus, nobody was
able to explain where his office is. I was fortunate that my host was taking me
around on a two-wheeler, as it took us some 40 minutes going up and down until
we could find the place, otherwise, I would have spent the whole day walking,
as usual. At last, the man was quite
polite, heard my case and called the ORI library to ask them to cooperate. When
we stood up and were about to leave, I just asked if he could tell us some
directions to go to the library, as we had been moving around for a long time and
had no idea where we were. The guy just flipped out and started screaming a lot
of nonsense: “If you have been there before, why the hell are you asking for
directions?” Note that his office was even on a different campus. Too bad I
didn’t have my pencam running... Anyway, once in the ORI, the staff were
surprisingly cooperative. Somehow the director arrived right on time and was
pleased to approve my application after exchanging some Sanskrit words with me.
While they were scanning a ms for me, I went to visit the Maharaj Sanskrit
College. What a surprise! The librarian was not there, just as in all the
previous years. Back at the ORI, I got my stuff on a CD and was about to leave
when I found a book that I had been looking for since long ago. The director
had already left, so I had to write an application and wait until tomorrow.
09-01-15
Darshan
of Lord Ranganatha in the morning. Back in the university, my application was
approved, but I would have to pay almost Rs 800 to shoot the whole book. I
thought it better to agree, as I had already wasted time and money looking for
it before. After a couple of hours of taking pictures, I was requested to give
a copy to the library. I copied and pasted the files into their PC, unplugged
my cam and was already at the door when I heard a little voice at the bottom of
my mind: “Why don’t you check your data before leaving?” Good idea. When I
opened the picture viewer, it said: “No image available.” Back to the computer,
I noticed that actually my memory card was empty. The program was set to delete
everything after copying, and of course,
nobody would tell me that... They had to burn a CD for me, as their
system settings wouldn’t allow copying the files back. Anyway, after several
fiascos in Mysore, at last, I got the job done! All is well that ends well.
Night train to Udupi.
10-01-15
to 19-01-15
Daily
visits to local libraries, research centers and temples. Met some of the Swamis
and also Dr. Bannanje Govindacharya.
20-01-15
Arrived
in Bangalore in the morning. Visit to
the Vyasa Madhva Samsodhana Pratisthana.
21-01-15
Visit to
the Madhva Visva Parisad library.
22-01-15
Train to
Vijayawada.
23-01-15
Darsana
at Mangalagiri.
24-01-15
I had a
few things to do in Vijayawada and a train ticket for tomorrow morning, so I
thought it better to get a room nearby the station. Despite being called
‘Srinivasa,’ I soon realized that the so-called guest house was full of
drunkards, including the staff, who spent the whole night screaming and
laughing. As if it were not enough, my bed was full of bedbugs. God knows how I
spent this night.
25-01-15
Train to
Rajahmundry. Given the last nightmare, I requested some devotees to arrange
accommodation in the ISKCON temple. I walked 1,5 km from the station and when I
arrived at the gate, I asked the guard about the guest house and he told me
that it is not here and that I should walk ahead, which cost me another km
walking under the sun with 15 kg of luggage almost up to the bridge until I had
the luck of meeting a temple devotee on the way. The guest house is just behind
the same gate where I asked for information...
26-01-15
I had a
few places to visit in the area but totally forgot that today is Republic Day
and no library will be open.
27-01-15
Train to
Visakhapatnam. I went all the way uphill with my luggage expecting to get
accommodation in the Simhachalam temple guest house and had to walk all over
the complex until I found the office just to hear that they don’t give rooms to
single males and that this is a ‘government rule.’ Again all the way down the
hill where I was given a room in the first guest house I saw. Apparently, they
never heard of that ‘government rule.’
28-01-15
Train to
Puri.
29-01-15
Visit to
the Jagannath Chetana Gavesana Pratisthan.
30-01-15
to 31-01-15
Visit to
several temples and mathas.
01-02-15
Visit to
the Rama Krishna Mission Library.
02-02-15
Visit to
the Jagannath Research Institute
03-02-15
Visit to
the Bharat Seva Ashram library.
04-02-15
Visit to
the District Library. Despite its name, nobody in the town seems to know its
location, so I had to spend a long time going up and down to figure it out.
05-02-15
Visit to
more a few local libraries. I need to consult a few old issues of the magazine
“Orissa Review” published by the state government. I couldn’t find them in any
of the local libraries but was again and again referred to their publication
office. I went to see the officer there, explained that I was doing research,
showed him a list with the reference of the magazines and asked where I could
find them. When the fellow saw the dates of the magazines, as early as 1988, he
became enraged and asked me if I know that we are now in 2015, as if I were a
retard asking a very stupid question. Again remarkable how these kinds of folks
are in charge of the ‘culture’ and ‘publication’ sectors.
06-02-15
Train to
Balasore. Darsana of Ksiracora Gopinatha.
07-02-15
As the
locals are planning to build a temple for Baladeva Vidyabhusana, I am looking
forward to making his books available here, since this is the reason why he is
known to us, first of all. I checked out from Remuna in the afternoon to depart
to Gopiballabhpur (95 km away) but soon came to know that there would be no bus
to the city before evening. When the bus came, I decided to ‘save time’ by
getting down at the bypass stop to catch another bus to Baripada instead of
going another 4 km to the bus stand. Bad idea. I got on the first bus without
being able to see the situation inside. By the time I figure it out, the bus
had already started. It was packed in such a way that not even a fly could move
inside. I had to spend one and a half hours being squeezed and having my
luggage tossed around. At last, when I arrived they told me that there won’t be
any buses to Gopiballabhpur before tomorrow morning. I had to spend the night
in a dump by the bus stand.
08-02-15
Nobody
could say exactly when there would be a bus to Gopiballabhpur, so I had to
wait. After waiting for almost a couple of hours, the bus departed and took
another two hours to reach, although it is just 35 km. Although we had called
the Mahant and he said that he would let me have a look at his library, now he
says that he is too busy with some celebrations... I briefly looked at someone’s
library in the neighborhood and that was it.
09-02-15
I had to
catch the first bus in the morning, so this time I notified 10 times the staff
and the manager of the same lodge (vide the entry on 01-06-14), and they
assured me that this time they wouldn’t lock the gate. Around 4:15 AM, I came
downstairs and – what a surprise – the gate was locked from the outside. This
time I had the phone number of the receptionist, so I had to call him twice to
make him open the gate. I arrived at the bus stop at the last moment and there
were no more seats available. Train from Kharagpur to Howrah. Spent the rest of
the day reading at Pathbari.
10-02-15
Visit to
the Bangiya Sahitya Parisad. Visit to the Sanskrit Sahitya Parisad. The
librarian passed away and there is no one looking after the manuscript section
now. Visit to the Caitanya Research Centre.
11-02-15
Another
visit to the Bangiya Sahitya Parisad. This time, for some reason they felt
suspicious that I was several times consulting the same manuscript and decided
to hold me while they check each page. This took almost a couple of hours, but
in the end, there was actually an extra number of pages. Visit to the Chaitanya
Library (different from the one above), but it was closed.
12-02-15
I visited
the Chaitanya Library early in the morning at the scheduled time, but when I
arrived the librarian told me that he was closing and I should come in the
evening. Visit to the Bag Bazar Gaudiya Math just to check the position in the
library. They told me that if I want to see any book, I will have to wait for
two years until they open their museum.
13-02-15
Visit to
the Sanskrit College. I had purchased many books and went to the post office to
dispatch them, but they were not working because their network was off. I was
referred to another branch where they said that they would ship my books only
if I could produce a license! The result of this show of incompetence was that
I had to spend the whole day carrying a load of books and was forced to travel
with them. Night train to Varanasi. I woke up in the middle of the night
totally frozen, which later caused ear and throat infections.
14-02-15
Visit to
the Chowkhamba Sanskrit Sansthan and Gopal Mandir. Met some contacts supposed
to help me to acquire copies of manuscripts.
15-02-15
Most of
the day in bed, ill.
16-02-15
Visit to
BHU. Train to Mathura.
17-02-15
Not in
very good condition, but back home at last.
18-02-15
to 09-04-15
Translating
in Vrindavan.
10-04-15
Train to
Jaipur.
11-04-15
The whole
day visiting temples and meeting people.
12-04-15
I
received an invitation to attend a function at Galta, so I took the opportunity
to meet the Mahant. He told me to come tomorrow to talk better.
13-04-15
The
Mahant postponed our meeting for tomorrow. Visit to the Sanskrit Academy.
14-04-15
Most of
the day in Galta. Upon discussing Vijaya Gopala, it became apparent that the
background history behind the deity is quite obscure and a proper investigation
is most desirable.
15-04-15
Visit to
the Oriental Research Institute.
16-04-15
Visit to
the City Palace Library.
17-04-15
and 18-04-15
Spent a
lot of time searching for temples called Vijaya Gopala. I came to know of four
of them so far, a couple of them right at Badi Chaupad, but there is no hint that
any of them had any relation with Vidyabhusana. No clues of Vijaya Syamasundara
either.
19-04-15
Early in
the morning, I left for Karauli. I booked a ticket by the window, but soon
after I sat down, a fellow got on demanding that I vacate the seat, which he
claimed to be his. I pointed out the seat number and made it clear that I had
booked this particular seat, but he started yelling that I was not in the right
place. I asked if there was anyone around able to read and count to show it to
this fellow, who was either illiterate or just a seasoned jerk, but nobody came
forward, so I had to start yelling twice as loudly to make him understand. He
shut up and only then someone decided to explain to him how to count the seats.
The window was not of much use, since I hardly could open it because the fellow
on the front seat was spitting all the way. Five painful hours to reach Karauli
and the temple was already closed.
20-04-15
Chanting
my rounds and putting my data in order.
21-04-15
Bus to
Hindaun, train to Mathura, tempo to Vrindavan, right on time to have Candana
Yatra darsana in the main temples.
22-04-15
to 08-06-15
Intense
research work to write the introduction of the
‘Gaura-gana-svarupa-tattva-candrika,’ which implied several visits to various
local libraries and a long time of looking for references. After more than a
year, I visited the Vrindavan “Research” Institute to see if there was any
“improvement.” I wanted to consult a book, but there is no catalogue; I needed
to see a microfilm, but there is no projector; I wished to check a few
manuscripts, but they were all sent to be repaired…
09-06-15
Bus to
New Delhi, where I have several matters to deal with. I was told the 5 am bus
is always empty, so I didn’t book a ticket. However, when I got on, there were
about twenty people standing and I didn’t get a seat before Faridabad…
10-06-15
Most of
the day busy to renew my passport.
11-06-15
Visit to
the National Mission for Manuscripts office. I had all my requests declined
under the excuse that the staff are on leave. There is no director for more
than one year and the coordinator at present is unable even to coordinate
answers to the questions he is asked. I kept on asking if I could consult the
updated catalogues and he kept on saying that they cannot give me copies of the
manuscripts. Ouch, my pencamera is not working anymore…
Visit to
the Indira Gandhi Kala Kendra, where the staff were helpful and polite as
usual, but I couldn’t see everything I needed before they closed for lunch…
12-06-15
Back to
Vrindavan, this time by train.
13-06-15
to 05-08-15
Continuous
research and translation work.
06-08-15
Despite a
previous resolution that I wouldn’t go anywhere during the rainy season, I had
to catch a train to Varanasi to solve a few matters. Ironically, just today it
started raining after several weeks without rain…
07-08-15
The train
arrived several hours late, as usual. I had received a promise that the
Vice-chancellor of the Sanskrit University would facilitate manuscript copies,
so in the evening, I called him to mark an appointment. He asked me to come to
his house at 11 o’clock tomorrow morning.
08-08-15
Meanwhile,
I came to know that the VC who had made the promise was removed from his post
due to several fraudulent activities and there was someone else in his place. I
arrived at the gate of the VC’s residence right on time, but the gatekeeper
informed me that he had left for his office. In the office, I had to fill out a
request for meeting him and wait in line. When at last my turn came, there were
several people talking to the VC, who then just handed my application to
someone else and referred me to the librarian, the same jerk who had previously
rejected my applications. So I was caught in the same situation as in the
previous attempts. This time the librarian said that my application was not in
the proper terms, and that if I get another letter more to his taste, then they
might consider my case. After that, I went to meet the head of the department
of Buddhist Philosophy to ask a few philosophical questions. He could not
answer them but instead asked me a couple of very ‘brilliant’ questions: first
if I was Japanese (duh), and then, not being satisfied with the answer, if
Brazil was near Japan (duh, duh). Sometimes I simply can’t understand how I
could spend ten years in Varanasi…
09-08-15
Since the
Sanskrit Faculty in BHU is open today, Sunday, I went there to meet some
professors, but it was not much productive because they were in ‘Sunday mood’…
10-08-15
Visit to
the central library in BHU. I had written down the accession number of a book
and handed it to the staff. The guy argued that the number was wrong. I said
that it is exactly as displayed in the OPAC. He retorted that it is not
possible because in the OPAC there are no such numbers. I went back to the
computer terminal and this time I took a screenshot. When I showed him, he just
avoided the matter saying that the book is misplaced and he can’t do anything
now… I tried another book in another section, but there was no trace of it on
the proper shelf, although I am quite sure that nobody would borrow it. Well,
this is just routine in most libraries around, anyway.
I moved
on to the Sanskrit Faculty, and this time I managed to have some more
intelligible interactions. In the evening, I went to put some copies of my last
publication, the Mula-ramayana, in some bookstores. Chowkhamba took five
copies, Harmony took two copies, but at Indica the guy just looked at me and
said, “We don’t keep this kind of book,” even before I could say or show
anything. I couldn’t help but ask which kind of book he meant. He insisted, “We
don’t sell religious books.” I softly mentioned that what I have here is a
didactic publication meant for scholars. “We don’t sell these either.” At this
point, I just walked off as fast as I could. Remark that they boast to be a
leading seller of Indological books… And I spent ten years in this place!!!
11-08-15
Visit to
the Gopala Mandir to try to meet the Maharaj there, but I missed the time in
which he receives visitors. Yet I didn’t miss a nice darsana. Afterwards, I had
a pleasant meeting and discussion with a professor at Sanskrit University, who,
by the way, is not from Varanasi. Spent the evening making contacts to get
access to Kashiraja’s library.
12-08-15
Visit to
the Vidya Math, but the library was not open. Another visit to the central
library in BHU. I went to see if I could find the supposedly misplaced book.
Neither was the number wrong nor was the book misplaced; it just took me a
couple of minutes to find it. The staff guy was looking with dismay. Visit to
the Udupi Math to ask a few questions.
13-08-15
I met the
Maharaj at Gopala Mandir to ask a few questions. He asked me to come back after
a couple of hours. Since this is the time it would take to go anywhere and come
back, I went to the Bindu Madhava Mandir to have darsana and try to chant some
rounds. Too crowded for the latter. Maharaj was very kind to answer my
questions and filled my hands with his publications. Enough of Varanasi, and
once again, no manuscripts. Extremely hot and no electricity most of the night
during this whole week. Night train to Lucknow.
14-08-15
That was
the most stinking train I’ve ever taken. I barely could breathe. Arrived early
morning but had to walk around for one and a half hours to find a room vacant –
and what news – a real dump for an outrageous rate. I knocked at every
dharmashala far and wide, all packed up to the top. By the time I could take a
shower, it was already time to go to work. Visit to the Lucknow Museum, where
the director very politely told me I wouldn’t be able to see anything today
because the lady in charge of the manuscript section is on leave. Does this
sound familiar? The next stop would be the UP Sanskrit Sansthan. As there was
no straight public transportation, I asked an autowala how much he would
charge. The rascal asked more than double. I walked to the next crossing and
asked another wala, who incidentally was then talking to a couple of policemen,
and in front of them asked me even more than the previous guy. I turned to the
policemen and remarked, “Just see how they rip off people even in front of you
without the least hesitation.” Yet it didn’t occur to them that there was
anything wrong… A devotee was passing by on a scooter, saw the whole thing and
offered me a lift. In a few minutes, I reached the place, but when I asked to
see some manuscripts, they told me that I would need the permission of the
director, who – what a wonder – was out of station and they had no idea how
long. I was ripped off other three times before the end of the day. Really a
memorable first visit to the capital of the state!
15-08-15
Several
hours on a public bus to reach Naimisaranya. Spent a painful evening and night
without electricity until 6 o’clock in the morning. Extremely hot and full of
mosquitoes.
16-08-15
Visited
temples and mathas around. Met the Mahant of the main temple here, but when I
told him what I am looking for, he was not the least interested and referred me
to his assistant, who did not even know what a manuscript is (‘pandulipi’ in
Hindi). Met other ‘panditas’ around, but the response was the same…
17-08-15
It seems
that here there is electricity only for a few hours early in the morning and
that is it... After enquiring from many people and walking up and down many
times, at last, I found the only research institute in town, but – surprise,
surprise – the director was not in town. Bus to Lucknow. Spent the night at another dump by the
railway station.
18-08-15
The
director of the Lucknow Museum had told me to come today, but he himself did
not. The lady in charge of the manuscripts, the hell of a psycho, flatly
refused to show me even their list without written permission from the
director. Here we go… I called the UPSS, but no news about the director. On the
way back, I asked a shopkeeper how to go to the station, but he turned his face
away without replying. Enough of Lucknow, one of the most disgusting places
I’ve ever seen. Train to New Delhi.
19-08-15
Visit to
the IGNCA. I could see only the reference section of the library because the
librarian was on leave…
20-08-15
and 21-08-15
The whole
day reading catalogues and microfilms at IGNCA.
22-08-15
and 23-08-15
Libraries
closed, so weekend off to do homework.
24-08-15
and 25-08-15
The whole
day at IGNCA trying to locate materials that were not exactly where they were
supposed to be… Yet I have to give credit to the staff for being very helpful.
26-08-15
Bus to
Vrindavan, right on time for the Jhulan Yatra. Three weeks out felt like many
months.
27-08-15
to 26-09-15
Visit to
several local libraries. Finishing the introduction to the
Gaura-gana-tattva-svarupa-candrika and getting it ready for printing.
27-09-15
The whole
day on a train to Haridwar. When it was just 5 km away from the final stop, the
engine failed and we had to stop for a couple of hours…
28-09-15
Moving
around making contacts and visiting temples.
29-09-15
The whole
day on a bus to Joshimath. Felt badly nauseous and had a hard time. Arrived in
the evening and visited the local temples. Got a cheap room in a lodge but
couldn’t sleep because there were bedbugs on the bed.
30-09-15
Bus to
Badrinath. Again no sleep at night, this time because I was freezing. At least
it was too cold for any bedbug…
01-10-15
Visit to
the Badrinath temple library. I asked to see the catalogue, but the guy in
charge claimed they had none. I pointed out the numbers on each book. After a
moment of silence, he said that he would have to search for the catalogue. By
good fortune, the manuscripts were in the same almirah as the catalogue, but
when I said that this is what I am looking for, he retorted that they have no
manuscripts… Even this far up on the hills it is the same thing…
02-10-15
Bus to
Deoprayag. I asked for directions in the local temple to reach the Naksatra
Vedhashala, where they have a manuscript library, but the pujari said that the
people there were out of station. I pondered for some time and decided to
verify it, although I would have to climb a hill and it was already dark. It
paid off, as indeed the owner was at home and was very helpful.
03-10-15
I was
told that the first bus to Haridwar would come at 6:30 AM and that there would
be plenty of vacant seats. It actually came at 7 o’clock and there was no seat.
I had to squeeze on the motor with my luggage.
04-10-15
I had a
waiting list train ticket to Delhi, which unfortunately didn’t get confirmed
and I was forced to take a public bus to Delhi. The driver was probably a drunkard
and at some point the bus almost collapsed, which made my head hit the window
very badly.
05-10-15
The whole
day at the IGNCA library.
06-10-15
Visit to
the National Archives. The Oriental Records Section in charge is a Muslim, and
when I requested to see the catalogue of Sanskrit manuscripts and records, he
tried to evade the matter saying that if I am doing research, I should ask my
guide where I can find materials instead of coming here to see if they have
anything. I replied that my ‘guide’ did send me here to search. He opened a
voluminous hand list and started flipping the pages at random. “This, this and
this is about Sanskrit, but as I don’t know much on the matter, I can’t let you
read it. Come another day and talk to the director.” If I had not seen this
almost daily for quite a few years, I’d probably have become really enraged. I
just walked off and took the first train to Jaipur.
07-10-15
I was
missing Govindaji. The whole day at the City Palace Library.
08-10-15
Visit to
the Sanjaya Museum.
09-10-15
Visit to
the Oriental Research Institute and the Sanskrit Academy.
10-10-15
Another
visit to the City Palace Library.
11-10-15
Meeting
with a local pandita who owns a manuscript library.
12-10-15
Visit to
the Maharaj Sanskrit College.
13-10-15
I had
planned to go to Bikaner but just realized that today navaratra starts and it
is unlikely that I will find anyone working in these days… Train to Udaipur.
14-10-15
Visit to
the Devasthan Vibhag.
15-10-15
Bus to
Nathdwara.
16-10-15
and 17-10-15
I was looking
for some Pustimarg scholar to put a few questions but found no one…
18-10-15
Bus to
Udaipur and train to Mathura.
19-10-15
to 18-11-15
Kartika
in Vrindavan, studying, translating, doing parikrama and trying to get the
“Gaura-gana” printed. In a lapse of sense, I decided to give a chance to a
local printer. They cut the paper in the wrong size and set the pages in the
wrong order…
19-11-15
Starting
a new expedition despite some health issues. Tempo to Mathura, train to
Chitrakoot. There was a joined family on the train that simply refused to turn
any light off or stop talking loudly for even a minute until they got down late
in the morning. I got zero sleep.
20-11-15
Parikrama.
21-11-15
Visit to
the Sanskrit College. Of course, the principal was not there.
22-11-15
Train to
Varanasi.
23-11-15
Visit to
the Sampurnanand Sanskrit University. For years my applications for copies of
manuscripts have always been rejected. This time I sent an application by mail
in advance requesting to read a few manuscripts. The librarian rejected it
because I’m submitting too many applications… I was advised to meet the State
Governor to report the matter.
24-11-15
Visit to
the BHU library.
25-11-15
Due to
the Sampurnanand rascals, I couldn’t book a ticket in advance, and at the last
moment, all I could get was a lower berth on a train to Barddhaman, which was
many hours late. Of course, there were several people without reservation
sitting there. Besides being freezing cold, someone decided to keep the window
open. Needless to say, I got zero sleep.
26-11-15
Madly
crowded bus to Navadvip, squeezing with my luggage. There were Devi processions
all over Navadvip and the roads were blocked. I had to walk with luggage all
the way to the ghat (3 Km) to catch a boat to Mayapur. Arrived in pieces.
27-11-15
Meeting
with a local scholar.
28-11-15
Visit to
Navadvip to meet some Gosvamis. No one was available, though.
29-11-15
Boat to
Navadvip, bus to Barddhaman, and train to Bolpur. In the manuscript section at
Visva-Bharati, I came to know that the reference numbers I had were useless
because they made a new list. The so-called list has no head and no legs, was
handwritten in such a way in Bengali characters that there is hardly anyone
able to understand it, and, as if it were not enough, the new numbers also
don’t help much, since the manuscripts are not kept in order anyway… At least I met some local devotees who may
try to help in the matter.
30-11-15
Train to
Kolkata, crowded like hell. In Kolkata, there was a Jain procession blocking
the road on which I was supposed to catch a bus. It cost me a few km walk with
luggage. I have a feeling that this expedition started with the left foot…
01-11-15
Visit to
Kolkata University. I requested to consult a few manuscripts, and they replied
that usually, they take one week to locate them… Despite my previous
experiences, I tried once again the Bagbazar Reading Library. For the first
time, they let me read the catalogue, and there was no drama! Contrary to what
they claimed, and as I suspected, they indeed have some good Gaudiya books.
02-12-15
Visit to
the Chaitanya Library, which is supposed to open at 7 AM. I arrived at 7:30 and
had to stand at the gate until they opened at 8 AM and then rush before they
close at 8:30… Visit to the Chaitanya Research Institute, but the librarian was
not there…
03-12-15
I
attempted to visit the Asiatic Society, but someone at the gate stopped me
saying that years ago I had taken some pictures without permission. They made a
drama and didn’t let me go inside. My request to speed up the process at
Kolkata University was only partially successful, as they located only some of
the manuscripts. Moreover, they made it clear that they won’t allow any copies
whatsoever… All the time while I was
reading, I could hear a lady growling and roaring like hell the next door. It
was the manuscript section in charge… Visit to the Sanskrit College, but neither
the librarian nor the staff were present.
04-12-15
Train to
Balasore. Ksiracora Gopinatha’s darsana gives solace after a couple of weeks of
struggle.
05-12-15
Train to
Puri.
06-12-15
Still
trying to have a look at what is left in some of the local temples. At
Bhattacarya’s house, there are a few bundles of manuscripts, but the Mahanta is
just letting them rot and is adamant about not letting anybody read them…
07-12-15
and 08-12-15
Visiting
temples and meeting people.
09-12-15
Meeting
with a research officer of the Jagannatha Sanskrit University.
10-12-15
Train to
Bhubaneswar. Visit to the State Museum library. Visit to the State Archives.
11-12-15
Train to
Vijayawada.
12-12-15
Darsana
at Mangalagiri. Train to Chennai.
13-12-15
I didn’t
know what to expect, but Chennai is dry, sunny and hot, despite the devastating
flood just a few days ago. I got a dump nearby the University and couldn’t
sleep because the bed was full of bugs.
14-12-15
Visit to
the Government Oriental Manuscript Library. For three years they have been
failing to locate the mss I want to consult. This time they promised they will
make it.
15-12-15
GOML
again. I was flabbergasted to see that they managed to find the mss! Visit to
the Sanskrit Dept. of the Madras University.
16-12-15
Local
train to Kanchipuram.
17-12-15
Visiting
temples and meeting people.
18-12-15
Bus to
Villupuram. Another dump by the station and again no sleep at night, as most of
the other ‘guests’ preferred to spend the night talking loudly, laughing
hysterically and watching TV at maximum volume.
19-12-15
For the
first time in almost twenty years in India, I caught the wrong train thanks to
consistently wrong information. It dropped me 40 Km in the opposite direction
and I lost a couple of hours in two buses to reach Cuddalore. Too much
travelling, too much stress and hardly any sleep for more than a week made my
health collapse. In bed with fever and several other symptoms, possibly due to
the flood after effects.
20-12-15
Local
train to Chidambaram.
21-12-15
Bus to
Sirkazhi.
22-12-15
Bus to
Mayiladutturai.
23-12-15
Bus to
Nagapattinam.
24-12-15
Bus to
Kumbakonam.
25-12-15
A
motorbike accident put me out of action. I will have to cancel the next
destinations until I am able to walk again.
14-02-16
After a
whole night on a train without much sleep, after catching a riksha to the ghat,
after crossing the river, after catching a bus, and after tottering all the way
to the reception carrying a heavy bag, I was flatly refused a room at the
ISKCON Mayapur Guest House. "We can't give a room to a single male."
I hardly could believe what I heard. The staff called the administration to say
that I am a foreigner and a brahmacari and ask if they could give me a room.
Rejected: they won't give any accommodation to a foreign brahmacari, and that
is it. They did not even attempt to offer any suggestions or assistance so that
I could get a place to stay somewhere else. How ironic that I receive
invitations to stay for free in several Gaudiya Mathas, in the houses of
friends, and even in Babaji's ashrams around Mayapur and Navadvip, yet I was
thinking that it would be better to stay nearby the temple to attend the
programs and thus also give some contribution to the complex. Little did I know
that I am not welcome even if I pay, and that only because I am a brahmacari. Srila
Prabhupada would be so proud that devotees are coming from the other side of
the planet and are shown the gate... As I have been to Mayapur so many times, I
had no difficulty in immediately getting a good room outside, but I feel sorry
for other foreign visitors who might have been coming for the first time, and
being unacquainted with the place, after so much trouble might end up in some
of the low-class lodges around, which are known to also work as brothels.
Apparently, the administration in ISKCON Mayapur doesn't mind if brahmacaris
might have to stay in such places, but staying in the temple guest house is
unacceptable.
26-02-16
After
such a turbulent expedition, I am more than glad to be back in Vrindavan, where
a lot of work was awaiting me. There were several destinations in between and I
did get some job done, but I didn't feel like keeping records.
27-02-16
to 23-04-16
Doing
some translations for the Sri Sri Radha-Shyamsundar Temple and working on the
next publications.
24-04-16
Trip to
Jaipur.
25-04-16
The whole
day visiting temples and meeting people. Visit to Galta, but the Mahanta was
not there.
26-04-16
Visit to
the City Palace Library. Things have been deteriorating there and I couldn’t
consult the books I wished because they have no functional catalogue at
present.
27-04-16
I met the
Mahant of Govindadev Mandir, but as usual, there was not a sign that he will
ever take any interest in this project. Someone had promised to help in the
matter but actually did nothing and almost sent me to the dogs when I inquired.
28-04-16
Visit to
the Sanjay Museum.
29-04-16
Visit to
the Sanskrit Academy.
30-04-16
I called
a professor from Jaipur University on the phone to ask if I could meet him to
put a few questions related to my research project. He asked me who the hell I
think I am to speak to him in this way (!?)
01-05-16
Sunday. I
had booked waiting list tickets to Bikaner for two different trains for today,
but somehow I didn’t get a seat in either.
02-05-16
Visit to
the Maharaj Public Library, where they supposedly have some books I need, but
although they have a catalogue, the books are not kept in any order. I had to
give up after wasting a lot of time roaming in the stack... And of course, the
staff are clueless about anything related to books...
Night
train to Bikaner.
03-05-16
Visit to
the Rajasthan State Archives. At last, the director gave me permission to have
access to the library. Thanks to some friends’ arrangements, this time I
received the hospitality of a local family, which spared me from the usual
headaches with accommodation.
04-05-16
Struggling
a lot to figure out what is what in the middle of millions of records, mostly
in old Rajasthani. I was shown a ‘catalogue’ fallen apart and highly
unintelligible. When I asked some basic questions about the collections and the
classification, the staff told me that the only person who knows about these
things is on leave...
05-05-16
After
wasting the last couple of days trying to figure out their ‘catalogues’ – which
are nearly useless for most purposes and do not even have accurate centuries
mentioned – at around 11 AM I requested to see a bundle of documents. Every
half an hour or so I received a “it’s coming” notice. By 4 PM the clerk was
“kind enough” to tell me that he was going to phone the guy who works in the
stack to come to work. By the time I received the said bundle, it was almost
time to close... Before I left, I met the director and told him why I couldn’t
finish my job, and he chastised me for not complaining to him several hours
earlier, as if I knew what was going on... I had already booked a ticket for
tonight, so I had to go.
06-05-16
In the afternoon,
the research officer of the Archives calls me on the phone indignant because
the director reprimanded him... I had to stop in a few places and ended up on a
very delayed train. Reached Vrindavan around 11 PM.
June -
July, 2016
Visits to
several libraries in Mathura, Alwar (Rajasthan) and a few other places. Working
intensely on the next publications.
05-08-16
For years
I’ve been visiting the Madana-mohana Mandir with the hope of having a look at
the library, and the Mahant has been always refusing under several lame
excuses, such as the old story of the lost key. Being a regular visitor, I
developed what I believed to be a friendly relationship with the family and was
often bringing them prasada from different places in India and even carrying prasada
for their relatives in Jaipur. After years of hearing their complaints about
health problems, I requested an acquainted chiropractor to treat the Mahant and
his wife, and for two months he gave them free treatment several times a week
at their home. Not that we expected anything in return, except perhaps for a
pinch of humanity, but taking the opportunity of the Hariyali Teej, today I
went to the temple and once again inquired about the library. The Mahant told
me straight away that he has absolutely no time to show me anything, which
obviously means that he will never let me see the library, as we are speaking
of a 70 year-old whom I’ve never seen doing anything except for sitting idly
any time of the day. People like these make me think that I’ve adopted the
wrong religion. No surprise that hardly anyone visits this temple. Note that
this is the oldest Gaudiya temple in Vrindavan, established by Sanatana
Gosvami.
06-08-16
to 06-09-16
Getting
the Tattva-dipika ready to print.
07-09-16
Tempo to
Mathura, train to Bharatpur, train to Jodhpur.
08-09-16
Visit to
the Oriental Research Institute. At this point, everything is quite
predictable. Vide the previous entries on Jodhpur…
09-09-16
Train to
Jaipur.
10-09-16
to 12-09-16
There is
a viral epidemic around and I was unlucky. Three days in bed with a fever.
13-09-16
Most of
the day in Galta. Several hours of talk with the Mahant.
14-09-16
Visit to
the Rajasthan Sanskrit Academy. Visit to the City Palace Library.
15-09-16
Train to
Mathura.
19-09-16
Train to
Dehradun.
20-09-16
Not much
impressed by the local libraries, but the number of bedbugs in the guest houses
nearby the station is a record.
21-09-16
Bus to
Janaki Chatti.
22-09-16
Visit to
Yamunotri.
23-09-16
The whole
day on a bus back to Dehradun.
24-09-16
The whole
day on a train back to Mathura.
26-09-16
Train to
Udaipur.
27-09-16
Visit to
the Oriental Research Institute. On the contrary of their other offices, the
librarian here is always gentle. On the other hand, he has the habit of keeping
talking to me while I am reading the manuscripts, or at least trying to…
28-09-16
to 01-10-16
Nathdwara.
Despite my efforts, there is no clue that I am anywhere closer to having access
to Vallabhacarya’s manuscript library.
02-10-16
Train to
Ajmer.
03-10-16
Visit to
Pushkar.
04-10-16
Train to
Jaipur.
05-10-16
Visit to
the Balanand Math. On my last visit, the Mahant had told me to come after one
week. Now he told me to come after one month because he is “too busy.” In this
case also, we are speaking of a 70-year-old who sits idly the whole day in a
temple that is hardly ever visited by anyone and there is hardly ever anything
happening.
06-10-16
I had an
appointment at the Oriental Research Institute in Bharatpur in the morning, but
due to misinformation displayed at the station, I got on the wrong train and
ended up in another direction. As I couldn’t make it on time, I decided better
to head towards Kaurali to see Madana Mohana ji, since my train was going to
that district. I recollected that when I quickly passed by some months earlier,
I lamented for not being able to stop for a couple of days as I usually do
every year. Somehow my wish was fulfilled…
08-10-16
Back to
Vrindavan, where the Tattva-dipika has just arrived from the press.
09-10-16
to 20-11-16
Working
on the next publication. For three years I’ve been applying to see a ms at the
VRI, but they persistently refuse. At last, we exposed them in the media and
lodged a complaint in the Prime Minister's office.
21-11-16
Train to
Lucknow. Beginning the winter expedition.
22-11-16
Arrived
at the UP Sanskrit Sansthan at noon. The lady in charge of the manuscript
section was not there and nobody knew her whereabouts. After some time I came
to know that she was in the bank and would come back in a “few hours.” I was
told to wait and so did I until 4 PM when she showed up. She agreed to show me
the mss I wished, but there was a “small” inconvenience – they were not kept in
any specific order and I would have to see them one by one. By 5:30 it was
already time to close and we found nothing. She “invited” me to come tomorrow.
23-11-16
As I
really don’t have time to squander, I caught an early morning train to
Allahabad. At Ganganath Jha Research Institute, the fellow in charge of the ms
section was on leave, so I was told to write an application... Someone from the
Prayag Hindi Sahitya Sammelan promised to help with the staff in the ms
section, but he was also not in the office due to health issues. I was on the
way to visit the State Archives library when someone informed me that the ms
section in charge was also on leave... And note that there is an absurd number
of holidays in this country and in any case these folks hardly do any work...
24-11-16
As things
didn’t go well, I had to catch a train to Varanasi at 4 o’clock in the morning.
Visit to the Gopal Mandir, where last time the present Acharya had promised
that he would show me his ms library list. Although I refreshed his mind about
the matter, this time he declared that the list is “private” and “confidential”
and therefore he won’t show me anything. At this point, I shouldn’t be so
surprised anymore, but it is really shocking that even such a so-called
Vaisnava leader and guru doesn’t have the slightest hesitation to break his
word, let alone show even a pinch of sympathy for the work I do. Since I was
there, I decided to stay for prasada. Soon after I was served, the cooks
started yelling hysterically because one of them had given a plate to a sadhu
and therefore there would not be prasada enough. The argument became more and
more heated and culminated with one of the “cooks” kicking the sadhu’s plate
full of prasada. I’d like to have filmed the whole incident to share on Youtube
some of the most barbaric scenes I’ve witnessed in life, particularly from
people I judged to be Vaisnavas. I used to have respect for the Pustimarg.
25-11-16
Visit to
the Sanskrit University. Trying to get some assistance to get something from
the ms library.
26-11-16
The whole
day in BHU. Visit to the ms section.
27-11-16
Visit to
the Vidya Math
28-11-16
I had
booked a ticket to Kolkata months ago, but the train was more than eighteen
hours late, which means it would depart in the mid of the night and arrive in
the mid of the next night. After checking the options and recollecting the
feeling of sitting or standing for hours in a railway station at night in the
winter, I cancelled it.
29-11-16
I had to
book nothing less than five tickets until I was lucky to get a confirmed one,
that too for a train five hours late.
30-12-16
to 02-12-16
Moving
around in Navadvipa meeting some Gaudiya scholars.
03-12-16
I’ve been
unusually unlucky with trains these days: I had a waiting list ticket (number
1) in one of the few trains from Navadvipa that can be booked, but I didn’t get
a seat. When I came to know it, it was already too late to catch an early
morning local train, and this spoiled my whole plan for today. Reached Kolkata
late in the evening after a couple of local trains.
04-12-16
I had to
meet a librarian today, but he didn’t show up.
05-12-16
to 06-12-16
The whole
day seeing manuscripts at Pathbari.
07-12-16
Visit to
the National Library. I patiently waited for one hour after submitting a slip
to see a book but got no response. I was referred to one of the library
supervisors, who had to go himself to the stack and came back with the book
after another ten minutes. They lost my slip and could not explain why they let
me wait... Visit to the Sanskrit College. I went inside the library, but there
was no one. I looked around. No one. I stood for some minutes and then thought
it better to sit down, as God knows how long this may take... Since I was
sitting in the library, I just picked a catalogue that was at hand so that I
could do something meaningful instead of sitting idly. After some time, one of
the workers showed up and started to make a case asking me who let me in and
who gave me permission to pick a book. I explained that I was waiting for a
long time, etc., but my reply didn’t appeal to her. She called the section in
charge, who came in yelling at me that he won’t let me read anything.
08-12-16
Train to
Balasore.
09-12-16
Meeting
people in Remuna. Baladeva Vidyabhusana’s birthplace memorial is almost ready.
Surprisingly, the trust also founded an “international research centre.” So far
no clues of anything implied by these words...
10-12-16
Train to
Puri.
11-12-16
to 17-12-16
Meeting
people and visiting libraries.
18-12-16
Train to
Vijayawada.
19-12-16
Darsana
at Mangalagiri. Train to Chennai.
20-12-16
Visit to
the Oriental Manuscript Library. I wrote down the accession number of a text
and handed it to the staff. After some time, the guy came back with a
manuscript of a different text, although the number was the same. I pointed out
that there was a mismatch with the information in the catalogue, and the guy
told me that I wrote down the correct number but the wrong title (!?), as if
people looked for numbers instead of texts... The case went to the librarian,
who just advised me to search for another text, since they have so many. Like
that, as if it were an ice cream shop and there was no issue if they don’t have
this or that flavor...
21-12-16
Visit to
the library of the Sanskrit department of the Madras University.
22-12-16
to 25-12-16
Kumbakonam,
Tanjore, Tiruvarur, Trichy.
26-12-16
to 01-01-17
Srirangam.
Vising places and attending the Vaikuntha Ekadasi festival. Investigated a
rumor about the local samadhi of Laksmipati Tirtha.
02-01-17
Karaikkudi,
Tirumayam, Tirukostyur.
03-01-17
to 04-01-17
Ramanathapuram,
Rameswaram.
05-01-17
to 06-01-17
Madurai,
Sivakasi, Srivilliputur.
07-01-17
to 09-01-17
Tirunelveli,
Srivaikuntham, Nanguneri.
10-01-17
to 11-01-17
Nagercoil,
Tiruvattar, Kanyakumari.
12-01-17
Trivandrum.
Visit to the Oriental Research Institute to have a look at the Travancore
collection. The director – a Muslim lady – was very polite and in a few
minutes, I was shown all the mss I wanted to consult and was allowed to get
copies without any drama. I wished I could meet more people like these in the
libraries I visit...
13-01-17
Varkala.
14-01-17
to 15-01-17
Chenganur,
Tiruvalla, Changanassery.
16-01-17
Ernakulam
17-01-17
Shoranur
18-01-17
to 31-01-17
In Udupi,
visiting libraries and meeting scholars.
01-02-17
Visit to
the Maharaja Sanskrit College in Mysore. When I arrived, one side of the
two-sided door of the library was closed and the other was open. Behind the
closed side, there was a notice and the timing, so I stopped for a second to
read it. Exactly at that moment, the librarian popped from inside and when she
saw me she jumped and screamed as if she had seen a ghost. I remained standing
in the same place and looked steadily at her, probably with an expression of
“what the heck” on my face. After a moment, she again jumped and screamed in
the same fashion - albeit in a much more artificial way – and at last
exclaimed, “Are baap!” (Oh, gosh!) I replied, “yah main bhi bolta hun. itna
natak kyon?” (I also say the same thing. Why all this drama?). She tried to
compose herself and said that I should have knocked at the door. I pointed out
that I was more than a step away from the door and had practically not even
arrived at the library yet. As she shut up, I said that I wanted to see the
catalogues. As the readers could have already predicted, she replied that she
will show them to me only after I get permission from the principal, who, of
course, is out of station. I left feeling relieved that I won’t have to see
this psycho again so soon. I then went to the Oriental Research Institute,
where the staff were way cooler.
02-02-17
Another
visit to the Oriental Institute library.
03-02-17
Visit to
Srirangapatnam.
04-02-17
to 06-02-17
Visit to
several research centres and libraries in Bangalore.
07-02-17
to 09-02-17
Hyderabad
10-02-17
Visakhapatnam
11-02-17
to 16-02-17
Puri
17-02-17
to 18-02-17
Kolkata
19-02-17
to 21-02-17
Varanasi
22-02-17
Back to
Vrindavan.
March,
2017
Working
intensely to get the Viveka-satakam ready to be printed.
April to
June
Working
day and night in the translation of the Brahma-sutra-karika-bhasya.
03-07-17
Bus to
Faridabad and metro to New Delhi. Arrived at the Bangladesh High Commission
quite late and came to know that the information on their website is far from
being accurate. They were asking me for things like a confirmed air ticket, a
hotel booking, and a letter from my embassy allowing me to go to Bangladesh
(!?) By the time I deposited the fees in the bank, the visa section was already
closed.
04-07-17
Another
trip to the HC, some 30 km away from the place where I am staying. Despite the
“information” on their website that they return one’s passport with the visa on
the next working day, they told me to come the day after tomorrow.
05-07-17
Visit to
the National Mission for Manuscripts. The staff declined to let me consult a
scanned manuscript in their database giving all kinds of lame excuses. The
director arrived a bit later but then promptly arranged for me to see that ms
on his own computer. We also had a discussion about the present situation
regarding the policies for accessing their collection. I heard lots of
promises.
06-07-17
I was
told to be at the HC at 5 pm to collect my passport. They opened the gate only
after 6:30 pm. After waiting in a long line, they told me to come tomorrow
because they couldn’t get my visa ready. I protested saying that my ticket is
for tomorrow and whatever the case I want my passport back. Surprisingly, they
considered my case and after another half an hour of waiting, they gave me the
passport with a valid visa. I had the intention to go back by an evening train,
but it was too late. Metro to Faridabad and bus to Vrindavan. Arrived after 11
pm.
07-07-17
Train to
Varanasi, which arrived with eight hours of delay under the excuse of the rain,
although I didn’t see water anywhere on the way.
09-07-17
I could
hardly get any rest before catching another train to Howrah.
10-07-17
Bus to
Sealdah, local train to Bongaon, a crowded mess as usual. I crossed the border
in a few minutes and went to Haridas Thakur Pathbari in Benapole.
11-07-17
to 13-07-17
There is
indeed a library in the temple premises, and a claim that they also have some
manuscripts. Yet it remains closed year-round except during some festive occasions
when the person who has the key shows up. Raining every day, so I got stuck
here.
14-07-17
Bus to
Jessore. Train to Rajshahi. I arrived at the manuscript section of the Museum
maintained by the Rajshahi University quite in time to meet the person in charge,
who was very helpful and immediately brought a set of their catalogues.
15-07-17
I was
somewhat delayed in the morning because of a very annoying “rule” that visiting
foreigners can go out only escorted by the police. No surprise they do not
receive many tourists... I met the director of the Museum to get permission to
do my work. I spent the rest of the day reading the catalogues but couldn’t see
the mss because the staff were busy with other things.
16-07-17
After the
police “procedure,” I went once again to the Museum and soon got to see all the
mss I wanted, and they let me copy most of them. I still had time for a visit
to the reference library and in the evening went to visit some temples in the
area.
17-07-17
Early
morning train to Dhaka. I was packed in a compartment and everyone around was
eating meat with their hands. If I had anything on my stomach, I would have
probably vomited. Arrived in the evening and was invited to attend a program
with the students at Dhaka University, which ended quite late. Went to bed
around midnight.
18-07-17
Visit to
Dhaka University and meeting with the head librarian, who received me very
politely and asked if I could help in classifying their unsorted manuscript
collection. I purchased a set of the available catalogues.
19-07-17
The whole
day reading catalogues.
20-07-17
Visit to
the manuscript section of the University. The whole day consulting mss. The
staff are quite helpful and prompt, and most mss seem to be in quite good
condition. It has been raining heavily every day, and to move around is tough.
21-07-17
to 22-07-17
Day off.
Taking part in some activities in the local ISKCON temple and preaching
programs.
23-07-17
to 26-07-17
Daily
visits to Dhaka University, whenever the rain allowed.
27-07-17
I spent
one hour in the line at the railway station just to hear that no tickets were
available for tonight. I booked a bus ticket and only at the last minute came
to know that it was cancelled. Caught a bus to Benapole at 1:30 AM.
28-07-17
There
were hundreds of people in the line to cross the border to India, and I got
stuck there the whole day.
29-07-17
Local
train to Kolkata. Train to Varanasi.
30-07-17
to 02-08-17
Visiting
libraries and meeting people.
03-08-17
Train to
Mathura.
04-08-17
Back to
Vrindavan.
05-08-17
to 10-09-17
Revising
and glossing the Karika-bhasya.
11-09-17
Morning
train to Jaipur, which was late and arrived in the evening. There was a curfew
downtown due to some serious riots and the market and everything else were
closed. The network is off and not many people are outside.
12-09-17
Night
train to Bikaner, one of the dirtiest I’ve seen so far. I also couldn’t sleep
because the other passengers didn’t shut up the whole night.
13-09-17
I arrived
at the Rajasthan State Archives at 11 AM, and the door of the director’s office
was closed. I asked if he would come, and the staff told me that he would be
coming in 5 or 10 minutes. I sat at the entrance until 1:30 PM when one of the
workers asked another – with scorn and in Rajasthani, probably thinking I
wouldn’t understand – why I was sitting there, to which the other replied, “He
is just sitting idly.” I told them a few things and walked off. Just in case, I
passed by the research room and came to know that the section in charge is “on
leave,” so there would be no point in waiting for the director anyway. Vide the
previous entries for Bikaner for more about this “wonderful” place.
14-09-17
After a
long time, at last, the director arrived and instructed the staff to assist me.
Yet they “surprisingly” failed to locate the volumes I needed the most, and of
course, suggested that I look at something else... As I already knew, the staff
know nothing about the collections and their contents, so I am on my own to
find my stuff. Several hours later, I requested copies of a couple of
documents. After some time the peon came with the Xerox copies and charged me 2
rupees. When the section in charge heard that, he was outraged, “Only 2
rupees?!” I wouldn’t be surprised if they come up with a new table of fees for
foreigners... In the evening I walked a few km to meet a pandita who was
recommended to me as an expert in historical records. Unfortunately, he is
already very aged and due to politics is not allowed in the Archives.
15-09-17
The whole
day looking for documents, among thousands of them, apparently without any
definite order. I was so concentrated that it took me hours to realize that
they had not even turned on the fan for me, so I was sweating a lot and ended
up with a headache. I found important documents, but some seem to be missing.
They suggested that I look at the bundles one by one to check if by chance the
documents I want were not put in the wrong bundle. This would probably take a
day of Brahma, as we are speaking of hundreds of bundles and millions of
records... I could not book a train ticket in advance because I didn’t know how
long this ordeal would take, and now there were no seats available for several
days, so I had to catch a night bus to Jaipur, which was extremely
uncomfortable and resulted in zero sleep again.
16-09-17
Too
broken down to do much, so I just had darsana of Govindaji and spent the rest
of the day indoors.
17-09-17
Visit to
the Sanjay Sharma Museum.
18-09-17
Most of
the day in Galta, long discussion with the Mahant.
19-09-17
Visit to
the City Palace library.
20-09-17
The whole
day at the Sanjay Sharma Museum.
21-09-17
Making
contacts and arranging some meetings.
22-09-17
Yet
another visit to the Sanjay Sharma Museum and City Palace library.
23-09-17
The whole
day in the City Palace reading manuscripts.
24-09-17
In
connection with the court case regarding the Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi’s
authorship, a Babaji came from Radha-kunda to meet the Gosvamis of the Govinda deva
Mandir to request a copy of an ancient manuscript preserved there. I
accompanied him after telling him about my previous experiences, but somehow he
didn’t take it very seriously. As he showed them the documentation and
explained the situation, in a minute the junior Gosvami there was blasting at
him like hell. Some highlights of the discussion – “Who is this
Prabodhananda?,” “Who is this Radha-kunda Mahant?,” “Radha-ras... what?,” “I’ve
checked in our list. We don’t have it.” Let alone copying anything, we were not
allowed even to see the list.
25-09-17
to 26-09-17
Karauli.
27-09-17
Bus to
Hindaun, train to Mathura, auto-riksa to Vrindavan.
October
and November
Getting
the Karika-bhasya ready to print.
27-11-17
Train to
Allahabad.
28-11-17
Visit to
the Allahabad Museum. The manuscript section in charge was out of station and
therefore I couldn’t see anything. Visit to the Ganganath Jha Research
Institute. The principal was not there and therefore I couldn’t see anything.
Visit to the Hindi Sammelan. The director was not there. Visit to the State
Archives. Guess what? The manuscript section in charge was out of station. Not
to speak of manuscripts, I hardly get the chance to see even the people
supposed to “work” with them. Yet in the last place, the librarian was kind
enough to let me see the catalogue. When I was given a volume written “part
one,” I asked how many of them there are. At first, I was told “two,” then
“three,” and at last “only one.” Go figure.
29-11-17
Another
visit to the Hindi Sammelan. Check my previous entries for a picture of the
buffoonery. So for the first time, I managed to meet the director and he called
the librarian and gave express directions that they should let me consult the
manuscripts I wished. There were also some whispered directions that I couldn’t
get. Since they never show mss to anyone, they were totally clueless about how
to locate them. After one hour of running up and down, to and fro, they
insisted that the numbers I wrote were wrong. I replied that we can easily sort
this out by referring to their catalogue. Another half an hour trying to find
it... A peon whispered to me, “ye sab bekar, kamchor hain,” (they are all
useless slackers). At last, they brought the first part of the catalogue with a
smirk of victory on their faces because the titles I asked for are not there. I
retorted that the references are from the second part. Elementary, Watson. Now
they were adamant that there was no second part and that I was definitely
mistaken. They were already sure to get away when someone from the staff popped
bringing the second part. “All of a sudden” they remembered that they actually
have another part of the catalogue and remarked that the numbers I wrote are
indeed correct... Another hour passed while they were “excavating” the library.
When I finally got the mss and started reading, they came with a camera and
asked me to pose. This was the whispered part... As if it were not enough, they
requested that before leaving I should write down a positive review
acknowledging their efficiency! When I was done with the mss and they had gone
for a tea break, I quickly left without writing the review they deserve.
Another visit to the GJ Research Institute. This time I could meet the
director, who was quite polite and immediately approved my case. Yet in the ms
section, they told me to come tomorrow...
30-11-17
Another
visit to the GJ Research Institute. By the time I had looked at a few mss, it
was 1 PM and upon requesting to see another one, I was told that it was
lunchtime and that I should come tomorrow... Well, it was already too much of
an accomplishment for a single day...
01-12-17
Train to
Varanasi.
02-12-17
The whole
day in the BHU library. In the evening I met the Sankaracarya of Varanasi in
order to see the rest of his manuscript collection. He told me that they would
look for my mss tomorrow and asked me to come the day after tomorrow.
03-12-17
I had
requested to digitize a book at the BHU library and the senior librarian had
told me to come today. When I remarked that there was a holiday today, he
dismissed the matter assuring me that there would be no holiday. When I arrived
in the library I was told that he wouldn’t come today because it is holiday...
04-12-17
I went
again to the Sankara Math. From the Swami’s servant’s expression and tone, they
had looked for no ms. He asked me what time my train would depart and was
pensive for a moment until he had a “better” idea. He decided that he would
have to ask “someone” if they had found the mss I want. After being absent for
a moment, he came back with a forced smirk saying that unfortunately, they
couldn’t find my mss and that nothing can be done. Several years of investing
time and money to come here again and again ended up in this way. Train to
Barddhman.
05-12-17
I met
some devotees on the train and they kindly gave me a lift to Navadvip.
06-12-17
to 08-10-17
I had to
meet a few people in Navadvip and Mayapur, but none of them were in town.
09-10-17
Train to
Kolkata.
10-11-17
Train to
Balasore, tempo to Remuna.
11-12-17
Visit to
Vidyabhusana’s supposed birthplace memorial.
12-12-17
Train to
Bhubaneswar. I had a few things to do in town and decided to spend the night in
a “guest house” behind the station. As soon as the sun set, dozens of bedbugs
popped up. Needless to say, I got no sleep at all.
13-12-17
Train to
Puri before sunrise.
14-12-17
to 16-12-17
Visiting
places and meeting people.
17-12-17
Train to
Vijayawada.
18-12-17
Mangalagiri.
19-12-17
to 20-12-17
Tirupati.
21-12-17
Sholingur.
22-12-17
Tiruvallur.
23-12-17
Sriperumbudur.
24-12-17
Chengalpattu,
Singaperumal, Madurantakam.
25-12-17
Bus to
Tirucchirapalli.
26-12-17
to 09-01-18
Srirangam,
Nammakal, Karur, Tanjore.
10-01-18
Mannargudi,
Vaduvur.
11-01-18
Tiruturaipoondi,
Sikkal.
12-01-18
Chidambaram,
Srimushnam.
13-01-18
Kattumanar,
Chelgapattu.
14-01-18
Tenganur,
Kanchipuram.
15-01-18
Chennai.
16-04-18
Train to
Hindaun, bus to Karauli.
17-04-18
Bus to
Jaipur.
18-04-18
I wish to
meet the Galta Mahant, but his phone is always switched off. Upon asking about
him in one of his temples downtown, I was told that I could meet him at Galta
today at noon, as there is some function going on. I went all the way up and
down the hill under the scorching noon sun just to hear that there was no
function at all and that the Mahant was out of station. This is the third or
fourth time this happens.
19-04-18
Visit to
the Sanjay Sharma Museum.
20-04-18
Visit to
the Maharaja Public Library.
21-04-18
Visit to
the City Palace Library.
22-04-18
Another
visit to the Sanjay Sharma Museum.
23-04-18
Another
visit to the City Palace.
24-04-18
Another
visit to the Sanjay Sharma Museum.
25-04-18
Met some
panditas. I came to know that Anantadas Babaji recently sent some of his
disciples and a lawyer in another attempt to request the help of the mahant of
Govinda deva Mandir. He replied that only if he receives an order from the
Supreme Court he would give them a copy of the manuscript they need.
26-04-18
Udaipur.
27-04-18
to 01-05-18
Nathdwara.
02-05-18
to 04-05-18
Baroda.
Visit to the Oriental Institute and other places.
05-05-18
to 28-05-18
Dwarka.
29-05-18
to 30-05-18
Somnath.
31-05-18
to 01-06-18
Dakor.
02-06-18
Baroda.
04-06-18
Mathura.
June and
July
In
Vrindavan, mostly working on the Siddhanta-ratna.
August
Most of
the month in Kathmandu visiting several manuscripts libraries.
September
Back in
Vrindavan. Translating the Siddhanta-ratna and chasing the same old folks who
have manuscript collections here and there.
06-10-18
to 08-10-18
Visiting
some government libraries in New Delhi.
09-10-18
Jaipur.
Visit to the Sanjay Sharma Museum.
10-10-18
Visiting
a few places and meeting people in Jaipur.
October-November-December
In
Vrindavan, working on the Siddhanta-ratnam.
01-01-19
to 05-01-19
Visiting
libraries and meeting scholars in Chennai.
06-01-19
At the
gate of a major Sri temple, a fellow selling books approached me and offered a
book by Rangaramanuja. I replied that I have it. He then showed me one by
Raghavendra Tirtha. I replied that I also have it. I pointed out that he had
just shown me a Sri text and then a Madhva one and asked him about his
affiliation. He claimed to be a Sri Vaisnava. I had a look at the other books
and saw some by Sankara. I asked why he was selling those too, since he is a
Sri Vaisnava. He became indignant and started arguing that there is no
disagreement between Ramanuja and Sankara and that ISKCON people are the only
ones who say such a thing and criticize the latter. Wow! This is the first time
I hear that their philosophical divergence is an ISKCON discovery! I asked if
he had read the Sri-bhasyam. “Yes.” I again asked whether he had also read
Sankara’s commentary. “Yes.” I then asked him to explain why the latter’s
philosophy is called Mayavada. He couldn’t answer and just started yelling at
me. I walked away to avoid wasting more time.
07-01-19
to 26-01-19
Srirangam.
Translating, meeting scholars and attending the temple celebrations.
27-01-19
to 14-02-19
Udupi.
Translating, meeting scholars and visiting libraries. One day I met a Madhva
scholar, PhD holder, in one of the Mutts and we had a discussion in spoken
Sanskrit. To my shock, he also started to defend Sankara saying that his
philosophy had been badly distorted and that many of his conclusions are
actually correct. As right now I am going through the third consecutive chapter
on Advaita refutation in the Siddhanta-ratnam, I didn’t hesitate to correct his
claims and bring to his attention that there is no way a Vaisnava could adjust
to many of Sankara’s tenets. He preferred to change the topic...
March to
June
In
Vrindavan, getting the Siddhanta-ratnam ready to print.
July
Short
visit to Tamil Nadu.
August to
September
In
Vrindavan, working on the Vedanta-syamantaka.
13-09-19
to 14-09-19
Karauli.
15-09-19
Bus to
Jaipur.
16-09-19
Visit to
the Govindadeva Mandir. I asked the staff about the library, and they told me
that they have instructions not to show manuscripts to illiterate people like
me. I didn't say a word but just thought ‘atmavan manyate jagat.’
17-09-19
I phoned
the Galta Mahant, but he didn’t pick up the call. Although I had seen this
movie quite a few times, I went all the way uphill on foot and upon reaching
the temple I was told that he was busy and won’t meet anyone.
18-09-19
The whole
day in the Sanjay Sharma Museum sorting out manuscripts.
19-09-19
Visit to
the Oriental Institute. I arrived right in the middle of an altercation between
the officer and the peon. They ignored me and kept on with the argument, which
soon turned into shouts, verbal abuses, and punches. Another “enlightening”
visit to them. Check the previous entries on their offices in Jodhpur, Bikaner,
Bharatpur, and Alwar.
October
and November
In
Vrindavan, getting the Vedanta-syamantaka ready to print.
08-12-19
to 14-12-19
Hyderabad.
15-12-19
to 16-12-19
Mangalagiri.
17-12-19
to 18-12-19
Antarvedi.
19-12-19
to 21-12-19
Chennai.
Visit to the University of Madras.
22-12-19
to 23-12-19
Chengalpattu.
24-12-19
Cuddalore.
25-12-19
to 25-01-20
In
Srirangam, translating and researching.
26-01-20
Nagercoil.
27-01-20
to 28-01-20
Varkala.
29-01-20
to 08-02-20
In Udupi,
visiting libraries, meeting scholars, purchasing books, translating and
researching.
09-02-20
to 10-02-20
Mysore.
Visit to the Oriental Research Institute to see some manuscripts. Visit to the
Sanskrit College, whose library, as usual, was closed.
11-02-20
to 12-02-20
Mantralaya.
The present Acarya was out of station, so I couldn't see his library as I
intended.
13-02-20
to 14-02-20
Pandharpur.
March
2020 to September 2021
Locked up
in my room in Vrindavan amidst lockdowns and curfews. Worked way too much, and
sitting in front of the computer day and night without a break took a toll on
my health.
29-09-21
First
official short expedition post-lockdown. Train from Mathura to Hindaun, tempo
to Karauli.
30-09-21
Moving
around and meeting locals in an attempt to find out what happened to the
manuscript collection of the royal family. A pandit claimed that it was fully
burnt due to the negligence of the palace staff. I went to meet another pandit
to see his private collection, but he was not at home. His wife was very eager
to know what I wanted, but as soon as I explained it, she lost all interest and
even refused to give me his phone number.
01-10-21
Arrived
in Jaipur. Tried to locate a few Jain temples to see their libraries. No one
was available.
02-10-21
Visit to
the Balanand Math, where the NMM has listed a manuscript collection. The Mahant
flatly denied having a single manuscript.
03-10-21
Train to
Udaipur.
04-10-21
to 08-10-21
In
Nathdwara, visiting libraries and purchasing books.
09-10-21
Visit to
Kankroli, where there is a manuscript library that remains closed because only
the Mahant has the key, but he lives in Baroda… Bus to Udaipur and train to
Jaipur.
10-11-21
Visit to
the Sanjay Sharma Museum to consult multiple manuscripts.
11-11-21
Visit to
the Rajasthan Sanskrit Academy.
12-10-21
Train to
Mathura.
13-10-21
to 15-11-21
In
Vrindavan, once again pursuing the matter with local manuscript holders.
16-11-21
Train to
Prayagraj.
17-11-21
Visit to
the Ganganath Jha Campus. I arrived late in the morning and was told that the
director would come only after 1 PM. After I had waited for a couple of hours,
someone from the staff was kind enough to tell me that he would not be coming
at all…
18-11-21
Train to
Varanasi. Visit to the Sanskrit University, where the staff changed and I could
consult a manuscript without any drama. Visit to the Kashi Vidyapith. I had
been trying to contact them for over one year, but no landline works, and
despite my requests from several people, nobody was interested in going there.
To make it short: the librarian was on leave for a whole week and the staff
refused to show me anything. Exactly what I intended to avoid…
19-11-21
Purchasing
books.
20-11-21
Visit to
the Nagari Pracharini Sabha, where I wished to consult a manuscript but was
told to come on Monday.
21-11-21
Sunday.
Meeting with some old acquaintances.
22-11-21
Another
visit to the Nagari Sabha. I explained that the entry for the manuscript I
wished to consult was obtained from the NMM and was not found in the Sabha’s
catalogue. They insisted to make me sit there and go through all catalogues, just
to confirm that the entry is in fact not there. When I requested them to check
the stack, they told me to come tomorrow… Late in the morning, the librarian
was back at the Vidyapith and kinda approved my application to consult and copy
manuscripts, but under a restricted time due to the lack of staff. He appointed
someone to make sure I wouldn’t damage anything. Right. I was told to come at 3
PM. I decided to go back to my room, on the other extreme of the city, instead
of hanging around for several hours. I arrived at the library on time just to
see the gate closed: some students were holding a protest and put a padlock
from outside the entrance gate. I was standing in the street wishing I had been
locked inside the library. Soon they broke the padlock, but that was a good
excuse to suspend all work. I was told to come tomorrow...
23-11-21
Again at
the Vidyapith, I finally made it inside the manuscript room just to find out
that there is no order whatsoever. Adding injury to misery, the staff announced
that the librarian allowed only 30 minutes to finish my task. I gasped. The
time was over and I found nothing of what I needed. I had to explain the
situation to the librarian. He excused himself saying that this is the first
time they allow anyone in the manuscript section and decided to give me another
couple of hours, but the day after tomorrow…
24-11-21
Visit to
the Goenka Library.
25-11-21
Another
visit to the Nagari Sabha. This time there was someone else in the library, and
although I explained the whole thing, he flatly refused to check the stack for
any entry not found in the catalogue. I left for the Vidyapith and frantically
searched for the manuscripts. By the time I located a few and shot them, the
library was already closing. I had to again beg for an extension. Granted.
26-11-21
Again at
the librarian’s office, he told me that since I am working on manuscripts, I
should know very well that it is a copyright violation to copy them. I looked
at him in disbelief. He also insisted that there should not be any
acknowledgement in my work, lest they end up facing legal troubles. Wow!
Apparently, he had a meeting with his staff, who convinced him to not allow me
to copy anything else. He was not interested in getting the facts right, since
he has such well-informed assistants… I had to be content with sitting there
and reading. Yet only after locating the manuscripts…
27-11-21
I got an
extra couple of hours for reading, which barely served to have a random look at
the manuscripts.
December
2021 to September 2022
In
Vrindavan, getting the Nāmārtha-sudhā and the Prameya-ratnāvalī ready to be
published. Extensive research work for the front matter of the latter. Multiple
visits to local manuscript owners who keep on wasting my time.
27-09-22
Arrived
in Karauli
28-09-22
Meeting
with local panditas.
29-09-22
Visit to
the palace.
30-09-22
Arrived
in Jaipur. Two and a half years later, some govt. run libraries are still
closed under the excuse of the pandemic.
01-10-22
Visit to
some Jain temples that hold manuscript collections.
02-10-22
Once
again, I climbed the Galta hill up and down both ways (and the sun was feeling
as scorching hot as in the summer) just to hear that the Mahanta was out of
station. After ten years, this regular ritual is becoming less and less
appealing.
26-11-22
to 02-12-22
In
Jagannatha Puri, visiting libraries and meeting people. After a whole week of
fruitlessly looking for the house of a supposed manuscript holder, I concluded
that it was another NMM’s will-o’-the-wisp.
03-12-22
Rajahmundry.
04-12-22
to 07-12-22
Tirupati.
Visit to the Oriental Research Institute et al.
08-12-22
to 09-12-22
Arakkonam,
Kanchipuram.
10-12-22
Vellore.
11-12-22
Katpadi.
12-12-22
to 14-12-22
Chennai.
Meeting with the VC of Madras University.
15-12-22
Chelgalpattu.
16-12-22
to 14-01-23
In
Srirangam, researching and translating. They reopened the temple library and
are boldly advertising a digitization project. I was curious about it, as I
know that long back they shifted all the manuscripts to Tanjavur. They brought
freshly hand-copied versions of palm leaves, which they are now digitizing...
When I said that this is a waste of resources, they became hysterical and
started screaming at me.
15-01-23
Madurai.
16-01-23
to 17-01-23
Srivilliputur.
18-01-23
to 19-01-23
Madurai.
20-01-23
Trivandrum
21-01-23
to 23-01-23
Kollam,
Ambalapuzha, Chertala.
24-01-23
Thrissur
25-01-23
to 30-01-23
Guruvayur,
Triprayar, Irinjalakuda.
31-01-23
to 06-02-23
Udupi.
Visiting libraries and meeting scholars.
07-02-23
to 09-02-23
In
Rajapur, a village in Maharashtra where I expected to retrieve a manuscript
copy listed over a hundred years ago. I missed it for a few months, as the
owner gave the whole collection to the government last year.
February to September 2023
In Vrindavan, working on the Vrajaiśvarya-kādambinī and Śyāmānanda-śatakam, researching and tackling manuscript holders in Vraj.
29-09-23
Visit to the NMM and IGNCA.
30-09-23
Arrived in Patna. Unaware of the metro construction, I took a route that cost me a couple of hours to reach the Caitanya Mandir, 7 km away from where I am lodged, by the railway junction. I was told to come tomorrow morning.
01-10-23
Arrived at the Mandir right on time and the mahant was kind enough to give me access to the manuscript collection. Yet I soon realized that the available list is useless for all purposes, which forced me to go through 60 bundles containing over a thousand manuscripts. This implied opening and wrapping them one by one. I didn’t stop even for a moment, and by the time I finished, it was already night.
02-10-23
Another morning visit to the Mandir, where I spent a few hours having a better look at some of the mss and digitizing them. In the evening, I got a message from the Railway: my train to Kolkata has been cancelled.
03-10-23
Having no better option, I had to catch a morning train that arrived in Kolkata in the evening, thus costing me a whole day of work.
04-10-23
Visit to the Kolkata University. The manuscript section is under renovation and I was told to come after a couple of months. I had other libraries to visit, but it started to rain heavily.
05-10-23
Train to Bardhaman. Visit to the University library. Upon requesting to see the catalogues of their manuscripts, I was told to wait while they dug the stacks. It so happens that they don’t have a set, although according to their OPAC they should have one. After waiting for a while, I went to the manuscript section and explained the situation. Fortunately, they do have a set there. After going through the catalogues and writing down a list, I was told to submit an application and wait for a few days. I then proceeded to the Bengali Dept., where they have a different ms collection. At my request to copy a single, short, and incomplete manuscript, they first claimed that “it is against the rules of the university to allow copies.” As I had just come from the central library and the librarian didn’t say anything of the sort, and as I was quite sure that the same university doesn’t have different sets of rules, I braced myself for an upcoming session of clownery. Next, they said that I should “write an application and get permission from the registrar.” I didn’t argue and walked almost 2 km to the registrar’s office, where they, obviously, said that this is none of the registrar’s business and even called the said dept. in front of me to make their point. After another 2 km back to that dept., they now decided that my application should be signed by the dean of the Faculty. Upon visiting the dean’s office, I was told that he is out of station and should come tomorrow.
06-10-23
When I arrived at the dean’s office, I had to wait for almost an hour, as he was having a meeting. At last, he called me but declined to sign my application on similar grounds, as if it were a very grave matter… When I mentioned that there was no such commotion in the central library, the dean promptly started attacking the librarian, whom he claims is “violating the university rules.” He then said that I should rather “go to meet the registrar for this purpose.” I lightly hinted that I had already gone through one round of that and it didn’t go well. I added that I don’t mind going for another round, but chances are that the registrar may become annoyed if they send people to pester him for petty things such as photocopies, as if he didn’t have other things to do. I was already half a block away went a peon came running after me: the dean changed his mind and decided that the person in charge of library matters is the head of the dept. of chemistry and that he is the one who should sign my application. Unfortunately, he was in a meeting and I will have to come on Monday…
09-10-23
After a miserable weekend in a room infested with mosquitoes in this unpleasant city, later in the morning, I again visited the dean’s office just to pick up my application, which had not been forwarded to anyone, and was told to go myself to get it signed by the chemistry HOD, who was giving a class and won’t be available before 2 PM. At this point, I already had enough and it would be indeed a good idea to meet the registrar to say quite a few things. Some 2 km later, I came to know that he wouldn’t be coming today. I decided to go to meet the chemistry HOD just to check what he had to say on the matter, which turned out to be an incredible load of rubbish. He stuck to the “not allowed” claim, but when I asked whether this was written somewhere, he couldn’t answer. I repeated the question, and he still gave no answer. To clarify, it was the peon of the Bengali dept. who told the HOD that “the University” doesn’t allow copies, and she repeated this to the dean, who said the same to the chemistry HOD, who now thinks himself very well informed about “rules.” I quoted to him the 5 laws of library science displayed on their website, such as “books are for use,” and “don’t waste the reader’s time,” and he looked surprised as if he had never heard about these before. He then started talking about copyrights. I asked whether he knew for how many years copyrights are applicable in India. He couldn’t answer. I repeated the question, and he again failed to give an answer and started saying that perhaps “they” don’t want to allow me to digitize the manuscript because it is too old and damaged, but added that I am free to read and copy by hand for as long as I wish. Fantastic! So, when a manuscript is too old and damaged, a digitization that would barely take 5 minutes is not allowed, but they have no restrictions if one needs to handle the manuscript for hours a day for a week or so to copy it manually! As it was so clear that there was no rule whatsoever, and as I realized the number of days and thousands of rupees spent here just to hear all this nonsense, I was just about to lose my cool. The man was even cheeky enough to give me back my application and direct me to go to the Bengali HOD to get it marked and then go again to meet the dean to get his signature or whatever. I don’t think I’ve ever met this level of incoherence and incompetence inside a university, not to speak of disrespect for scholarship and academic work, so it would be appropriate to bring the matter to the state and central governments. Without delay, I went back to my room, packed, and left. Arrived in Navadwip late in the evening.
10-10-23 to 12-10-23
Visit to libraries in the area, including the Sanskrit Research Institute, where no research is done…
13-10-23
Arrived in Bishnupur late in the morning and went to visit the Acharya Jogesh Purakriti Bhavan, which hosts whatever mss were left in town. The curator doesn’t seem to know much about the collection and insisted that they have no list at all, which I later found out to be a black lie. When I questioned about the govt. project to digitize the mss, he responded that 12 lakhs of rupees had been granted for the task, but they “suddenly” ran out of money after digitizing just a fraction of the mss… I didn’t get to see anything today because he had other things to do.
14-10-23
As today is a local holiday, I spent time visiting the multiple ancient temples in the town.
15-10-23
Another visit to the Purakriti Bhavan, where I had to wait over an hour until they could locate the few mss I wanted to see.
16-10-23 to 18-10-23
Back in Kolkata, where I visited several libraries.
19-10-23
Back in
Delhi after many hours on an AC couch insanely freezing, which made me fall
sick for several days. At the end of last month, I had submitted an application
at the NMM requesting to consult a few mss, which they had agreed to. Now they
claim that they know nothing about my application and that the director is
abroad.
20-10-23
to 30-11-23
In
Vrindavan, researching and translating. After a whole decade of struggle, at
last I could copy a few mss from the Nimbarka College, which I had been refused
earlier. I literally had to wait for the whole previous staff to be removed. It
took me dozens of visits, each of them involving a 2 km walk.
01-12-23
to 02-12-23
Ranchi.
03-12-23
to 06-12-23
Remuna.
Visit to a research centre in Nilagiri.
07-12-23
to 10-12-23
Puri.
11-12-23
Vijayawada.
12-12-23
to 14-12-23
Markapur,
Srisailam.
15-12-23
to 17-12-23
Kadapa,
Ontimitta, Siddhavatam.
18-12-23
to 22-12-23
Tirupati, Tirumala, Srikalahasti.
23-12-23 to 28-12-23
Chennai.
29-12-23
Chengalpattu.
30-12-23
Vriddhachalam, Sirkazhi.
31-12-23
Tiruvarur.
01-01-24
Vedaranyam.
02-01-24 to 03-01-24
Trichy.
04-01-24 to 05-01-24
Madurai.
06-01-24
Tenkasi, Papanasam.
07-01-24 to 08-10-24
Tirunelveli.
09-01-24 to 11-01-24
Nagercoil, Panagudi, Tovallai.
12-01-24 to 13-01-24
Thrissur, Irinjalakuda.
14-01-24 to 15-01-24
Kasaragod.
16-01-24
Udupi.
17-01-24
Sringeri.
18-01-24 to 20-01-24
Chikmagulur, Belur.
21-01-24 to 27-01-24
Udupi.
28-01-24
Gokarna.
29-01-24 to 30-01-24
Madgaon, Mardol.
31-01-24
Miraj, Kolhapur.
01-02-24 to 02-02-24
Jalgaon. Exactly one year ago, I had visited the Rajapur Sanskrit Pathshala to look for a manuscript, but they had recently given their whole collection to the MJ College in Jalgaon, which only now I could visit. The librarian was polite and cooperative, but there was a catch: the mss are still unsorted. I literally had to go through 700 mss, one by one, opening and closing the wraps. Ironically, after a few hours, I found the ms was looking for at the bottom of the last box. I had been meditating on this ms copy for more than ten years
February to March 2024
In Vrindavan, working on the Gopala-tapani.
18-03-24 to 23-03-24
Nathdwara and Kankroli. I was told to be there before Holi to meet the Mahant at Kankroli, and so did I. Yet he was not aware of the whereabouts of their manuscript list and asked me to give my contact info to be called later on…
24-03-24
I was staying in the temple guest house but was told to vacate because it was booked for Holi. I shifted to a lodge, where the owner demanded that I pay several days in advance with promises that my reservation was secured and that he definitely would not ask me to vacate. Yet on the eve of Holi, “all of a sudden,” he remembered that my room was booked and demanded that I vacate. I had to catch the first train to Jaipur.
26-03-24
Most of the day in the Sanjay Sharma Museum.
27-03-24
Visit to the Oriental Research Institute. Visit to several Jain temples, where they keep telling me stories and asking me to come another day.
28-03-24
Visit to the Sanskrit Academy.
29-03-24
Visit to Galta. The same up and down the hill ritual to no avail, as the Mahant was again out of station.
30-03-24
In the morning, I called a certain Prof. Jain, who told me to come to his place at 5 PM to see his database. After catching a couple of buses and walking several blocks, I arrived at his address, some 10 km away from where I was lodged, just to hear that he was not there and would come back after some 90 minutes. I literally spent a couple of hours walking around and then tried again at around 7 PM. He had not yet arrived and I was told that it might take another 90 minutes. I just had enough for today and went all the way back. With the traffic jam and all, it was almost 9 PM when I reached my lodge. Just tried my luck, as I heard from several people and also noticed myself that the guy was a jerk…
31-03-24
Visit to the Balanand Math. Just learnt that the Mahant passed away and the new one has no clue about the library there.
01-03-24 to 02-03-24
Meeting people here and there.
03-04-24
Moved to the Sanjay Sharma Museum, primarily to sort out their collection of Bengali mss.
04-04-24
For the past three years, I had been trying to gain access to the library in a Jain temple near Badi Chaupar, but all I got was a “Yes, yes, we will call you later.” It took a while to make contacts and reach the right person, who took me inside, got all the doors open, and let me copy what I needed. The “yes, yes” dude was pissed off…
05-04-24 to 07-04-24
Going through some of the collections of the SSM.
08-04-24
Early morning bus to Karauli, which was incredibly crowded due to the Amavasya.
09-04-24
Meeting with the Prince. We had a long discussion about the holdings in the palace and he instructed the staff to make due arrangements so that I may have a look.
10-04-24 to 14-04-24
I waited for several days for the said arrangements, but instead of that, the staff now decided that they have no manuscripts at all, and meanwhile, the Prince went out of station.
15-04-24
Left early in the morning for Bharatpur. I had called the Oriental Institute in-charge yesterday and he told me that their office would open around 11 AM. By 12 o’clock it was still closed, so I called him again. Only then he informed me that the peon, who has the key, has gone to his village and is not picking the phone… Wasted the whole day with those clowns and will have to waste more time reporting them.
16-04-24 to 28-04-24
In Vrindavan starting another project.
29-04-24
Visit to the NMM office, where my application to consult a few mss remains ignored and the director was again absent and didn’t pick my call. I wrote to the IGNCA administration requesting that the whole data be made available in the library like all their collections. Curiously, as soon as the NMM director came to know this, he called me on the phone screaming hysterically at me and speaking all sort of nonsense, including stating that he doesn’t give a damn for my application, although he himself told me to write it. Go figure.
30-04-24 to 01-05-24
Visit to the Kurukshetra University.
02-05-24 to 04-05-24
Visit to the Sanskrit College and State Library in Shimla.
05-05-24
Chandigarh.
06-05-24 to 07-05-24
Visit to the Sanskrit College in Amritsar. The principal had never heard of Gaudiya Vaisnavas.
08-05-24
Visit to the Ranbir Sanskrit Research Institute in Jammu. Clueless staff and messy handwritten lists.
09-05-24
Katra, Vaishno Devi.
10-05-24
Visit to several libraries in Jammu.
11-05-24
Pathankot.
12-05-24
Jalandhar.
13-05-24
Visit to the Vishveshvaranand Vedic Research Institute in Hoshiarpur. Helpful staff and organized library. In a few minutes they located the material I needed to consult and let me shoot it. I wish there were plenty of places like this.
14-05-24
Ambala. Got stuck at the Hariyana border for half a day due to a protest held by farmers. I got a room at the nearest dharmashala and as soon as I laid down on the bed I realized it was infested with bedbugs. Another sleepless night…
In Vrindavan, translating and researching.
16-09-24
It took 12 hours to reach New Delhi due to an unannounced diversion.
17-09-24
Visit to the Pradhan Mantri Museum Library.
18-09-24
Train to Baroda.
19-09-24
Visit to the Sayajirao Oriental Research Institute and the central campus.
20-09-24
Visit to a Jain college.
21-09-24 to 22-09-24
Dakor.
23-09-24 to 24-09-24
Visit to Koba Tirtha, Gandhinagar.
25-09-24 to 26-09-24
Arrived in Jodhpur with a high fever and a sore throat, probably due to extreme weather and insufficient sleep. Visit to the Oriental Research Institute, where the director took a medical leave. My request to consult the digitized Bharatpur collection was first declined and then reconsidered after I narrated the years of ordeals. When the scans were finally brought before me, it turned out that all of them had wrong numbers and names, which made it impossible to locate the texts that I needed to consult. Ouch!
