Brahmavidya: The Adyar Library Bulletin (Diamond Jubilee Volume)

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In 1937, a new initiative was taken in the Adyar Library when Professor C. Kunhan Raja Started the Adyar Library Bulletin, Brahmavidya, as a research journal to serve as an outlet for the research work being done in the Library. Professor Kunhan Raja was himself the Chief Editor from 1937 until his retirement from the University of Madras in 1951.

During the sixty years of Brahmavidya's existence, many rare and important Sanskrit texts have been serially published in it, as well as research papers, manuscript notes and book reviews. The aim of the Adyar Library Bulleting was the same as that which inspired the President-Founder of the Theosophical Society, Col. H. S. Olcott, to establish the Library: to revive oriental literature, to rehabilitate the Pandit in public esteem, to promote a higher moral sense and spiritual aspiration among Asiatic youth, and to inculcate mutual regard between the learned of the East and the West.

We rejoice that the Library Bulletin has pursued this aim steadily and with distinction during six decades and has established for itself a reputation for excellence in the academic world. A number of special issues have been brought out from time to time with contributions from eminent indologists in different parts of the world. The Bulleting has benefited greatly by having as its Editors distinguished scholars, including the present Director of the Adyar Library, Dr K. Kunjunni Raja.

The Adyar Library and Research Centre is recognized not only for its valuable indological collections and for being one of the best maintained and service-motivated Oriental Libraries in India, but also for the high academic quality of its scholarly publications. Supported entirely by the generosity of the Theosophical Society's worldwide membership, the Library has striven continuously to modernize and improve its various services: effective conservation, reprographical facilities, a detailed indexing system which has made its card-catalogue very useful to serious students and scholars are among appreciated features of the Library. Recently a project has been started to transfer on computers all the necessary data and information about the Library's precious possessions to facilitate access. Soon the Library's publications will also be typeset in-house.

We regret that the transition to more modern techniques has caused delay in the publication of this Diamond Jubilee volume of Brahmavidya, but we are confident that the quality of its contents will earn continued good will both for the journal and the Library from users, donors and friends.

Radha Burnier
President, Theosophical Society