बृहदीश्रवरमाहात्म्यम: Brhadisvara Mahatmyam (An Old and Rare Book)

In the opinion of the scholars, Myths are the records of hearsay folk stories handed down from generation to generation, a few of which are written in the form of books. Some- time, apart from their imaginary tellings, the traces of Historical events are seen in the yths. One such work is Brhadisvara Mahatmyam. This 400 years old work is now edited and published by the Library from the lone manuscript available here. The verses on Brhadisvara Mahatrnyam tell us the history of 16 Cola Kings and their services rendered to Siva in constructing new temples and renovation done to old temples. It records the availability of edicts in the temple premises of the king who caused the building of the big temple of Thanjavur. Many historians quote profusely from this work for their study on big temple of Thanjavur. This important work at the first instant is coming to the light.

The Tamil and English translation versions have been edited along with a critical introduction by our Library staff Thiru T. R. Damodaran, Lecturer in Sanskrit, Mrs. S. Rajalakshmi and Thiru N. Srinivasan, Sanskrit Pandits. They have shown their scholarly interest in editing and translating the work. My hearty congratulations to them for their services to bring out this useful work.

My thanks are due to the Government of India for extending their grants to publish the rare and the useful manuscripts of the Library. All the Staff of the Library who if involved themselves in the publication work deserve appreciation.