________________
Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
II
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
TO THE LIBRARY.
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
THE
THE Tanjore Mahārāja Serfoji's Sarasvati Mahil Library must have had its earliest beginnings about the end of the 16th century when Tanjore was under the rule of the Telugu Nayaks who collected Sanskrit Manuscripts written in Telugu character. In the 17th century the Maharathas conquered the country and since that day, the Library has been increasing. By far the greater portion of the collection was made by Serfoji, during a visit to Benares during 1820-1880. Sivāji his successor added a few. There has practically been no addition of any value till very recent times.
The above collection belonged to the reigning princes of Tanjore-the Maharatha Mahārājas. When the last of them died, the whole property including the above collection formed the subject of litigation among the several claimants. Thanks to their public-spirited generosity and enthusiasm for ancient culture, the library together with a lakh of rupees was created into a Public Trust with the consent of the civil courts. The Tanjore Library is therefore now a Public Library in the full sense of that term, the Government of Madras being responsible for its administration.
Since the Library became a Public Trust, there has been a marked improvement in the reception accorded to it by the
For Private and Personal Use Only
