INTRODUCTION
 
The public are perhaps aware of the fact that the Govern-
ment of Madras have launched upon a scheme of publication
of rare manuscripts treasured in two premier institutions of
this state, namely, the Madras Government Oriental Manus-
cripts Library, Madras, and the Tanjore Maharaja Serfoji's
Sarasvathi Mahal Library, Tanjore. Financial help has also
been extended to Dr. U. V. Swaminatha Iyer Library, Adyar,
Madras, for similiar purpose. Though the publication of rare
manuscripts was started as early as 1909 by this library, only
12 works were taken up for publication till 1942. Of these,
the printing of three works has not yet been completed.
 
Only in the year 1949-50 a regular scheme for the publi-
cation of manuscripts was prepared and accepted by the
Government of Madras under the MADRAS GOVERN-
MENT ORIENTAL SERIES. This scheme included the
Manuscripts in all the South Indian Languages in which there
are manuscripts in the library. Till now 158 manuscripts in
different languages have been printed. Of these, 35 manus-
cripts are from Tanjore Maharaja Serfoji's Sarasvathi Mahal
Library, Tanjore, and three from Dr. U. V. Swaminatha Iyer
Library, Adyar. In addition, four manuscripts, three from
this Library and one from Dr. U. V. Swaminatha Iyer
Library, Adyar, are in the press.
 
All the manuscripts under the Madras Government
Oriental Series were edited by various scholars drawn from
different learned institutions. The publication of manuscripts
under the Madras Government Oriental Manuscripts Series
was resumed in the year 1950-51. All the manuscripts
published under this series before 1942 were in Sanskrit. But
since 1950-51 the manuscripts in other languages also were
included. These are edited by the Curator with the assistance
of the Pandits in respective languages. Till now 60 works
have been printed including the total number of 51 works
since 1951.
 
The Government of India also have decided upon a
programme of printing rare and useful manuscripts in the
different languages of India. For this purpose, the Ministry of
 
B