Aims and objectives
The primary aim of the project was to explore, survey, and digitize ritual manuscripts that
have been kept in institutional collections, individual possession or in the possession of the
ritual performing priests. These manuscripts have been preserved in Vihara collections, with Vajracharya priests, individual collectors, and so on. The subjects of the manuscripts vary widely, although they are primarily ritual manuscripts. Most of the manuscripts are still in use for performing various religious and life cycle rituals. Additionally, some associated manuscripts that have been part of religious devotion and performances have also been digitized in this collection. Among the collection, there are medieval and early modern manuscripts belonging to Buddhism and Hinduism. Some early prints of the ritual texts are also included in this collection due to their ritual significance as well as rarity.
Outcomes
Ritual manuscripts have been digitized, constituting 400 GB of digital items. These consist
of Hindu and Buddhist religious manuscripts, life cycle ritual manuscripts, as well as
performance-related texts. The digitized manuscripts cover dates ranging from the 17th to the 20th centuries. Altogether, 342 manuscripts have been digitized, producing a total of 13,378 folios. The original materials that EAP 1508 worked with come from individual and institutional sources. The Vajracharya priests, other collectors, and institutional repositories hold these manuscript materials. The majority of Buddhist ritual texts are still in use for performing various religious and life cycle rituals. These manuscript originals remain in the possession of their original owners. Digital copies will be made available to the host institution, the History Association of Nepal (HISAN), and the Central Department of History (Tribhuvan University). These manuscripts are freely available for educational, religious, and research purposes.
