1 item, indented in Chalonh characters on palm-leaves. 102 folios. 62 x 505 mm. Between painted wooden boards, pierced. Leaf 15 is blank on both sides. Edges of leaves lacquered.
Pali
Burma
Manuscript of a Pali version of Abhidamma-samgaha, with word-for-word Burmese interpretation following. The Abhidamma-samgaha by Anuruddha is the most read handbook on Abhidamma philosophy in Burma and Ceylon for many centuries. Its very condensed nature makes it not easily intelligible to lay readers. The manuscript is dated Kawza year 184, 15th waning of the month of Taubaung = March 1822 (AD).
Presented by Mrs H.D. Thorneycroft, 1938.
Text has been edited by the Pali Text Society (P.T.S.) 1884 and translated P.T.S 1910.
MS.6.8
1 item, manuscript painted in square Pali characters on lacquered palm-leaves. 14 folios. 80 x 529 mm. Between lacquered wooden boards, pierced. Edges damaged obscuring the order of the leaves.
Pali
Unknown
The manuscript begins with the chapter relating to the ordination of a monk, the Upasampadapekho.
Not recorded on item
MS.6.9
1 item. Manuscript painted in square Pali characters on lacquered palm-leaves. 2 folios, 116 x 550 mm. Between lacquered wooden boards, pierced.
Pali
Burma
1 fragment of 2 leaves, describing bestowal of the Kathina robe on a monk.
Not recorded on item.
MS.6.10
1 item.
Thai and Pali.
From Ban Kassot, Jalor (Yala State), “Siamese Malay States”.
Country fortune-teller's handbook in Central Thai, written in modern Siamese script, with a section on the interpretation of dreams and painted illustrations in Phromachat (Brahmajati) style of the twelve-year animal cycle, giving general fortune-telling indications based on birth dates. On one cover is a Buddhist invocation in Pali, written inaccurately in the khom (Khmer) style.
Not recorded on item.
MS.6.11
Pali and Burmese.
Unknown.
Texts:
Presented by B.W. Jackson in 1951. Gift accession number: G38703-G38706.
A: Pali Text Society 1947. Digha Nikaya, plage 290. For texts of the Kammavaca, see Frankfurter, A handbook of Pali, page 141 onwards. J.R.A.S. Vol.VII, New Series. J.R.A.S. 1892, 1893. (Journal P.T.S.) 1907. B: the Vinaya Pitakam by H. Oldenberg, 1879-1883 and translation on the Sacred Books of the East series, vols. 13, 17, 20. E. Hsai saung dwe (Burmese) Rangoon (Yangon) 1946, Zabu Meitswe Press.
MS.6.12.
103 folios. 50 x 440 mm.
Pali.
Unknown.
Manuscript indented in Sinhalese characters on palm leaves.
Not recorded on item.
MS.6.13.
Between plain boards. 1 item, indented on palm leaves. 60 folios. 35 x 196 mm.
Tamil.
India?
Palm-leaf book written in Tamil characters. Written on both sides of the leaves, except the title leaf. First leaf and last two folios blank.
Presented by Professor Aylward Manley Blackman (1883 – 1956) in 1955. Gift accession number G52080.
MS.6.17
1 item, indented on palm leaves. 22 folios, maximum dimensions 26 x 402 mm.
Tamil
Southern India
Verses from the long devotional poem entitled Tiru. Translated by Dr. Pope in full.
From the collections of the Gregson Institute, 1938.
SPEC GR.6.3(1)
1 item.
Burmese
Burma?
The Attha-salini-nissaya is Buddhaghosa's Commentary on the first book of the Abhidhamma Pitaka, the Dhammasangani.
From the collections of the Gregson Insitute, 1938. University Archive D136 - Inventory of the contents of the Gregson Memorial Institute - 1915, listing the contents of each room and the contents of various display and book cases. Case 19: Burmese book written on palm leaves, fastened to pieces of wood, may be this item.
The text has been edited by the Pali Text Society (P.T.S.) 1897. Burmese edition by Saya U. Pye, Yangon/ Rangoon (1902). The last leaf states that the manuscript was written at the behest of Maung Yauk, who hoped that by this work of merit he might attain Nibbhana.
SPEC GR.6.3(2)
1 item, indented in Cha-lonh characters on palm leaves. 180 folios, 100 x 150 mm.
Sanskrit
Unknown.
Manuscript in Deva-nagari characters on paper.
Presented by Miss E.M. Hughes, 1923.
Six watercolour paintings of Hindu deities on paper, with metallic silver decoration, on cloth backing, rolled on wooden batons.
Captioned in English
India (Kolkata?)
1. Label with caption: Shiv [Shiva] as "Mahadeo" [Mahadev] "The great God"; 2. Label with caption: "Ram & his brother Lakshman with his wife Sita and Hanuman, the Monkey God, offering homage"; 3. "Parbati [Parvati], wife of Shiv, with Ganesh"; 4. "Krishan [Krishna], au incarnation q. Vishnu"; 5. "Krishan [Krishna], with his favourite wife Radha"; 6."Saraswati, wife of Brahma, goddess of wisdom."
Paper labels on batons: 'Lot 3' and '3/6' and embossed stamp: The Manse, Christchurch, Hants.
MS.6.18-23