Introduction—The Manuscripts of the Sucindrasthalamahatmya

SUCINDRASTHALAMAHATMYA-CRITICAL APPARATUS Manuscripts It is for the first time that an attempt is made to bring out a critical Edition of Sucindrasthalamahatmya of anonymous authorship. The unpublished part of New catalogues catalogorum and catalogues of manuscripts libraries of the University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, M.S University, Vadodara, Sarasvati Mahal Library, Tanjore and A list of South Indian Manuscripts, Kern Institute, Leiden, Netherlands have brief accounts on the manuscripts of Sucindrathalamahatmya, depostited in the various manuscripts libraries and abroad (Thiruvaananthapuram, Tanjore, Madras, Adayar, Ledien) and various private collections such as Vattappallimatham, Sucindram, Tekkematham Brahmasvam, Trichur and Avanappalampu Mara. Of these, the manuscript of Thekkematham Brahmasvomand Avanapparampu mana, Vadakkancherry, Trichur are not available now. The researcher has personally approached these places and search the manuscripts sections, but to no avail. Classification of manuscripts Collation of manuscripts revealed that there do exist two recensions of the text. They are here categorized as A and B. This division is based on the omission of certain lines from a group of manuscripts. Those who have the lines are given the name A and those which do not include these lines are named as B. 198

For example:Chapter 2 Verse : 21 B atrih bhagavan pundarikaksa maya janmani janmani | kutena punyalesona bhavana dusto hi madhavah || vividhanyaghayuktani dhrtva nityalasosmyaham || f atri bhagavan pundarikaksa maya janmani janmani | kutena punyalesona bhavan drsto hi madhavah || mamalam janmana natha samsarahadhavaridhau | matustanyam payah pitva patitosmyalaso bhusam || caturasiti laksani sariraniha madhava | vividhanyadhayuktani dhrtva nityalasosmaham || A The lines 3,4,5 in the version are necessary for the proper understanding of the situation. Omission of lines are repeated in the 24 th chapter also. Verses 21, 22 of the same chapter is omitted in B group. These lines are also necessary for the proper understanding of the meaning. S.M. Katre' notes that : Omissions are the surest test of affinity, says Hall since if they are numerous they can hardly have arisen by S.M. Katre, An Introduction to Indian textual criticism, Pune, Deccan College, P. G. Research Institute, 1981, p. 38. 199

accident, and all of these can be imported into a text by a comparison with other manuscripts. The frequently imply a far closer connection that could be inferred by the identity of reading, and often show the immediate descent of one manuscript from another'. The A-group is considered more authentic than the B-group ommitted because the lines are necessary for the situation and A manuscripts are L comparatively older than the B manuscripts. The oldest dated manuscript belongs to this group. LIST OF MANUSCRIPTS The manuscripts utilized for the present edition of Sucindrasthalamahatmya are as follows. A. GROUP 1. A₁ = c.400, Oriental Research Institute and Manuscripts Library, University of Kerala, Karyavattom, Thiruvananthapuram. 2. A₂ = 16101, ORI & MSS. Library, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram. 3. A₁ = 19498, ORI & MSS. Thiruvananthapuram. Library, University of Kerala, 4. A = 66090, Adyar Library, Chennai. 4 5. A = 6799, Oriental Institute,M.S University, Vadodara. 5 6. A = 17145, QRI & MSS Library, Thiruvananthapuram. 6 7.A, = 1 c. 1900, QRI & MSS Library, Thiruvananthapuram. 8.A₂ = c.2065.A, QRI & MSS Library, Thiruvananthapuram. 200

9.A, = 16004. b, ORI & MSS Library, Thiruvananthapuram. 10 A 10 == V.B, 298, Adyar Library, Chennai. B. GROUP 1. B₁ = c. 2342, ORI & MSS Library, Thiruvananthapuram. 1 2. B₂ = 16066. c. QRI & MSS Library, Thiruvananthapuram. 2 3. B₁ = 75346, Adayar Library, Chennai. B. 3 4. B₁ = c. 2398 QRI & MSS Library, Thiruvananthapuram. 4 5. B = c.2512 ORI & MSS Library, Thiruvananthapuram. 6. B = 22754 ORI & MSS Library, Thiruvananthapuram. 6 7. B, = 77569 Adayar Library, Chennai. 8. B. 7 8 ====== 6963 OrientalInstitute, M.S. University, Vadodara. 9. B, = 1.45, Kern Institute, Leiden Netherlands. 10. B₁ = No. 277 P.A collection, Sarsvati Mahal Library Tanjore. 10 11. B₁₁ = 2726, Government OrientalManuscriptsLibrary, Madras. 11 Detailed Account of Manuscripts. 1. A 1 University of Kerala, C. 400 of Curator s office collection of the Oriental Manuscripts Library and Research centre, Thiruvananthapuram. Procured from Muttu Sastrial, Kanyakumari. Total number of folios 70, with about 7 to 9 lines per page and 50 to 64 letters per line. Size 40 cm 2.5 cm. Total number of Granthas : 2500. Text is complete. Palm leaf manuscript with wooden Boards; good handwritting. Date of the manuscript M.E. 1030 (AD 201

1855 ) Details of day, date and month is written in Tamil language at the end of the Manuscript 9 th Monday Masi 1030. It seems that the scribe is a saivite Brahmin whose tutelary deity is Lord Siva enshrined at the Cidambaram temple. Colophon. iti skande purane sthanavaibhavakhande sucindrasthalamahatmaye caturviso'dhyaya || harih| om | subhamascu | krpasamudram sumukham trinetram jatadharam parvativamabhagam | sadasivam rudramanantarupam | cidambaresam hrdi bhavayami || 16101 of ORI & MSS Library Thiruvananthapuram. Total number of folios 64 with about 8 line per page and 67 letters perline. Grantha charaters. Size 42 cm x 3.5 cm. Totalnumber of Granthas : 1700. Inomplete. Procured from the famous Manalikkara Matham of Kanyakumari district from were the Late. T.Ganapati Sastri found out the Bhasa plays. Palm leaf manuscript without boards. Worm eatern, leaves are broken. The date of Mss. ME 947 (1772 A.D). This is the oldest, dated Mss. The scribe belongs to Sucindram itself and he refers to Sthanunatha the chief deity of the temple. Work begins with 202

Colophon revasyat satyam satyam na samsayah | (Ch. 1.38) iti skande purane sthanavaibhavade sucindrasthalamahatmya yajnavalkya suyujapradam caturviso'dhyayah || umasahita sthanunathaya namah | bijabindulipivisargavisrngacika pamntipadabheda hastavegamabuddhipurvakam samiksya sajjanah || This passage clearly shown that A, was copied from a Manuscript. This is important for calculating the date of the work. 3. A, 19498 of ORI & MSS Library, Thiruvananthapuram. This MSS is from Travancore Palace (Granthappura) Collection. Total number of folios 172 with about 10 to 11 lines per page and 22 letters per line. Size 9 cm x 2.8 cm. Malayalam characters palm leaf manuscript with wooden boards. Total number of Granthas 1750. The manuscript is almost damaged. The name of the Scribe is Krishna, as is revealed from the colophon. Colophon iti skande purane stanavaibhavakhande sucindrasthalahatmye yajnavalkyasayujyapraprikathanam nama caturviso'dhyayah | sucindramahatmyam samapram || 203

4. A 4 66090 of Adayar Library, Chennai, Total number of folios 36. With about 9 lines per page and 88 letters per line. Size 43 cm N 3.5 cm. Grantha characters. Palm leaf dated, M.E.982 (A.D. 1802). This manuscript is brittle. The scribe is Srikavi from Sucindram. It is written with very sharp stylus. Letters are too small in size. Colphon iti skande caturviso'dhyayah | purane sucindrasthalamahatmye sthanavaibhavakhande 5. A 5 6799 of oriental Institute, M.S. University, Vadodara. Total number of folios 117. With about 8 lines per page size 25.5 cm x 3 cm. Grantha characters. Total number of Granthas 1400 Procured from : Anatharama Sastri, Nagercoil. Palm leaf manuscript with wooden Boards. Incomplete. Leaves 115, 116 are missing. Works ends in . pitrorajnaya . ...Chapter 24.Line. 40 6. A 6 17145 of ORI & MSSLibrary, Thiruvananthapuram. Total number of folios 57 with about 11 lines per page and 40 letters per line. Malayalam characters procured from Muchira, matham in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. Even though the parts of this palm leaf manuscript with wooden boards are worm-eaten, the unaffected parts are very clear and legible. Each side of each folio it 204

is written that the manuscript belongs to the Sri. Ramaswami of Munchira matham. Name of the scribe is Subbaraya. Colophon iti sriskande purane sthanavaibhavakhante sucindrasthalamahatmye yajnavalkyasayujyaprapti kathannama caturviso'dhyayah | sucindrasthalamahatmyam samaptah | C. 1900 of oriental Manuscripts Library, Thiruvananthapuram. Total number of folios. 86 with about 7 to 8 lines per page and 40 letters per line. Size 3.12 cm x 4 cmMalayalam characters. Total number of Grandhas 1800. Procured from Thanu Pillai, Sucindram. Palm leaf manuscript with wooden boards. Complete. Colophon iti sucindrasthalamahatmye caturviso'dhyaya | 8. A 8 C.2065 A of ORI & MSS Library, Thiruvananthapuram procured from Narayanan Narayanan Moothathu, Talayathu paveli Mangalam Illam. Palm leaf manuscript with wooden Boards. Total number of folios 71 with about 10 lines per page and 40 letters per line. Size 31 cm x 5 cm. Malayalam characters. Total number of Grandhas. 1775 complete. 205

Colophon iti srimada skande purane sthanavaibhakhande sucindrasthalamahatmye yajnavalkya sayujyapraptikathanam nama caturviso'dhyayah | sthanunathayanamah sucindrasthalamahatmyama samaptah| gurubhyo namah | 9. A 9 16004 B. of oriental Manuscripts Library, Thiruvananthapuram. Total number of Folioswith about 11 lines per page. Size 23.5 cm X 4.5 cm Malayalam characters. Procured from Manalikkara Matham. Incomplete 16 chapter only. A 10. VB 298 of Adayar Library Chennai. Total number of Folios 100. With about 14 lines per page 33 ft. size 22 cm x 3.5 cm Grantha characters. Total number of Granthas 1920 worm eaten. II. B GROUP 1. B 1 C. 2342 of curators office collection of ORI & MSS Library Thiruvananthapuram. Total number of folios 130 with about 10 lines per page and 22 letters per line. Malayalam characters. Total number of Granthas 1800 complete procured from Kesavasastrigal Nilakantha Sastigal, Thiruvattar. Name of scribe is Perumal from Sucindrum. 206

Colophon iti skandepurane iparibhage sucindrasthalamahatmye yajnavalkyasayujyakathanam nama caturviso'dhyayah samaptah subhamastu sucindrasthalamahatmyam samaptam | idam grantham sucindrapuram perumal svahastalikhitam || Sucindram Manuscript of Vattappalli Matham A copy of the same manuscript and a transcript with foot notes are available with Dr.N.P. Sarma of the Vattappalli Matham a renowned Ayurvedic physician and the present Vattappalli Stanikkar of Sucindram temple. The same manuscript is transcribes in to book by Vattappalli Paramesware Sarma², who was the Vattappalli Stanikar and poet, who wrote another work in Sanskrit Viz., Sucindrastalamahatmya and Sucindrastalamahatmyam kilippattu in Malayalam in c.1916. He has given foot notes to the text. The manuscript is now in a poor condition. Vattappalli Madham has a lofty tradition of being a centre of excellence for Sanskrit studies, and the Matham has transcribed many an important manuscript. The scribe of the manuscript is one perumal from Sucindram. The manuscript under study (c. 2342) might have, in all possibility, transcribed at Vattappalli Matham, and taken to Kesavasasrikal Nilkanta Sastrikal at Thiruvattar, most probably given to him as a gift. The two manuscripts (c. 2342, and sucindram manuscript) being essentially 207

the same, because of their common origin at Vattappalli madham, have not been treated separately. B 2 16066 of Oriental manuscripts Library Thiruvananthapuram, palm leaf manuscript with wooden Boards. Procured from the famous Manalikkara Matham; Kanyakumari district of Tamilnadu. Late Dr. T. Ganapathi Sastri, found out the Manuscripts of Bhasa plays from here. Total number of folios of 16066 is 78. Size 17.5 cm x 2.5 cm. Folios 1 to 5, 63-67, 71, 72, 74-77 are missing 37 is repeated. Malayalam Characters. This manuscript codex contains a collection of 4 works, as follows. A. mahisamangala bhanah B.Dhruvacharitam Thullal (Malayalam) C. Sucindrasthalamahatmya. D. Vastuvidya Bhasa (Malayalam) Each work of these manuscript has a different handwriting. This shows that they are written by different scribes. Work begins with angri yaziliq q: (Ch:1.14 a) and Ends with vyavarayattada vyombi 208

[Ch: 13.38 a] B 3 75346 of Adyar library, Chennai Total number of folios 75 with about 8 lines per page and 47 letters per line. Size 36 cm x 3 cm. Clear Grantha characters. No. of Grandhas 1770. Complete. Colophon iti skandepurane sthanavaibhavakhande sucindrasthalamahatmye yajnavalkkyasayujyam nama cartuvimso'dhyayah || B 4 C. 2398 of Curators office collection of ORI & MSS Library, Thiruvananthapuram. Total number of folios 105 with about 6 lines per page and 40 letters per line. Size 38 c.m x 2.7 c.m. Grantha characters. Total number of Grandhas. Text is complete. Name of the scribe is Umamaheswaram Subramanium. Colophon B 5 iti skande purane sthanavaibhavakhande sucindrasthalamahatmye yajnavalkkyasayujyam nama cartuviso'dhyayah || 1, C. 2512 of Curators Office Collection of ORI & MSS Library, Thiruvananthapuram. Procured from Kasi Vadhyar Avl., Mahadanapuram, near Sucindram. Total number of Granthas : Text is complete 209

Calophon B 6 iti skande purane sthanavaibhavakhande sucindrasthalamahatmye yajnavalkkyasayujyam nama cartuviso'dhyayah || 22754 of ORILMSS Library, Thiruvananthapuram procured from O.M.C Narayan Nampoothiri, Ollattumana, Ottappalam, Palghat. Total number of folios. With about 10 lines per page 28 letters per line. Size 19 cm x 4.5 cm. Total number of Granthas : boards. Clear Malayalam characters. Palm leaf manuscript. With wooden Colophon B 7 iti skande purane sthanavaibhavakhande sucindrasthalamahatmye yajnavalkkyasayujyam nama cartuviso'dhyayah || 77569 of Adayar Library, Chennai, Total number of folios 68 with about 9 lines per page 48 letters per line. Size 36.5 cm x 3.5 cm. Grandha Characters. Total number of Gradhas ; 1840 Colophon iti skandepurane sthanavaibhavakhande sucindrasthalamahatmye yajnavalkkyasayujyam nama cartuviso'dhyayah || 210

B 8 6963 of Oriental Institute, Vadodara, 6963, Total number of folios 58 with about 9 lines per page. Grandha characters total number of Grandhas 2000. The text is complete. Name of scribe is written in Kannada as the post Colophon matter. Name of the scribe: Namana Vadhyan son of ThanuVaidyan. rana The letters of this manuscriptare confusing 1,7, are written by the scribe almost similarly Colophon iti skandepurane sthanavaibhavakhande sucindrasthalamahatmye cartuviso'dhyayah || B 9 a. 1.45 of Kern Institude, Leiden, Netherlance. Total number of folios-53 with about 9 lines pr page and 60 lettersperline. Size 20 cmx 1.25 cm. (Procured through Dr. N. P. Unni, while on his visit to the Institute in 1995. Granddtha characters. Total number of Granthas : 1500. Colophon iti skandepurane sthanavaibhavakhande sucindrasthalamahatmye cartuviso'dhyayah || hari am sthanunathaya namah | abde panca sahasre vikramanama samvatsare amavasyam asadhamase trayovimsati dine guruvare amavasyam puvarvasunaksatre 211

satyasadhasutre srivalsagotre sucindrasthalavasale narayanar putran bhupati likhitam || B 10 No. 277 of 277 of P.A. collection (Patanga Avadhuta) of Sarswati Mahlal Library, Tanjore. Total number of folios 36 with about 9 to 10 lines per page and 40 letters per line. Size 20 cm x 10 cm. Artistic Devanagari characters. Total number of Granthas: 800 According to the Saraswati Mahal catalogue the work has only 4 chapters. Actually it end with (13.42.a). stharekagramanaso viksitum vajrisojanam | B 11 2726 Government Oriental Manuscript library, Chennai. This is a trabscript transcribed on 1928-29 from a manuscript of Nilkantan Namboothiripad, Kanjoor mana, Ottappalam, Kerala. SELECTION OF A AS THE WORKING BASE U There exists a practice of taking the oldest available a manuscript as the working base for the coll tion and critical edition of any text, which must be nearer to the original. Manuscripts of a recession have been utilized here. Among them A 2, A 3 and A 4 are older than A 1. But these manuscripts are not in good enough condition to be taken as a working base. Al is of good condition and a true representative of A group. So it is used as the working base. 212

10 mss Manuscripts of Sucindrasthalamahatmya. 11 mss Symbol O denotes Original or Parent Manuscript. The Manuscripts of M recession are more nearer than B to O showing their inheritance of direct h relation to O. 213