Shantarakshita Library :: Tibetan Section

The Tibetan Section is one of the richest repositories of manuscripts and documents in Tibetan in the world. The Section includes major editions of Kagyur and Tangyur namely the Dege Kagyur and Tangyur, the Peking Kagyur and Tangyur, the Narthang Kagyur and Tangyur, the Lhasa Kagyur, the Tog Palace Kagyur, the Urga Kagyur, the Lithang Kagyur, the Tawang Kagyur, the Cone Tangyur, the Ser bris Tangyur, the Bonpo Kagyur and Tangyur, the Chinese Tripitaka, the Burmese Tripitaka etc. Tibetan manuscripts collection of Buddhist canonical documents. Kagyur or Word of the Buddha, consists of 108 volumes containing 1115 texts. Tangyur treatises and commentaries of later Indian masters consist of 224 volumes containing 3387 texts. These texts of the Kagyur and the Tangyur were translated mainly from Sanskrit Buddhist texts and Pali over the several centuries by a number of Indian Panditas and the Tibetan lo tsa bas.

he Tibetan manuscripts' collection holding includes xylographic and handwritten canonical documents, books, illustrated manuscripts, Arts and thangka paintings, journals and Sung bums or collected works of the teachers of Tibet's four Buddhist traditions, viz. the Nyingma, the Kagyud, the Sakya and the Gelug, as well as those belonging to the indigenous Bon tradition.

There are approximately 70,000 texts in the section. Some of the manuscripts, which are more than a century old, have archival value. Most of the valuable materials are reproduced in microfilms and other contemporary electronic multi-media formats so as to preserve them for future generations. A list of some important collected works (gsung bums) of four traditional Schools as well as the Bon tradition is given below:

1. Rinchen gter mdzod Chen mo 56vol.
   
2. rgyud 'bum 45vol.
   
3. bka' rgya ma 40vol
   
4. klong chen mdzod bdun 7vol
   
5. bdud 'dzoms gsung 'bum 20 vol.
   
6. Bu Ton gsung 'bum 28vol.
   
7. Dags po bsod rnams rin chen gyi gsung 'bum
   
8. Pad ma dkar po'i gsung 'bum 20vol.
   
9. gdams ngag mzdod 15vol.
   
10. Ta ra na tha'i gsung 'bum 16vol.
    
11. Sa sky'i bka' 'bum 17
    
12. Sa sky'i lam 'bras 46vol.
    
13. sgrub thabs kun bstus
    
14. Grags chen bco brgyad
    
15. Go ram pa bsod rnams seng ge'i gsung 'bum
    
16. rje yab sras gsum gyi gsung 'bum
    
17. Pan chen sku phreng gi 'gsung 'bum
    
18. Gung thang gi gsung 'bum
    
19. 'jam dbyangs bzhad pa'i gsung 'bum
    
20. Pan chen bsod rnams grags pa'i gsung 'bum
    
21. Bon po'i gsum 332vol.

The Section is completely computerized and access is always open on line internal system so called OPAC, library catalogues and bibliographies.

This traditionally designed section having stack cum reading rooms has a capacity of 20 readers at a time. The facilities of consulting, borrowing, and photocopying a text and other bibliography services are provided.

The Section has three adjoining rooms administered by three library professionals. All type of possible help is extended during the working hours.