Allahabad:

With government agencies and scientists concerned about the damage caused by earthquakes worldwide, there have been many attempts to identify the signals nature sends out before such occurrences.

In this backdrop, a manuscript, which is the conversation between Parasara and Gautama Rishi (sage) on laksana (symptoms) of Bhukampa (tremors) as mentioned in Matsya Puran (epic), is kept in the galleries of National Mission for Manuscript Delhi. The rare manuscript, if deciphered, could be of vital importance.

Titled ‘Bhukampalaksana’, this 8-page book was first found in the shelves of a library in Kashmir.

Talking about the manuscript, N C Kara, coordinator at the mission who was in the city for a 21-day workshop organised by Central Library of Allahabad University, said this manuscript was preserved in the department of municipal cooperation, Karnanagar, Kashmir.

He said the material of this rare manuscript is handmade paper and is written in Sharada script, the language of the manuscript being Sanskrit. Till today, however, the 8 pages of this book are waiting to be deciphered by a scholar well-versed in the Sharda script.

Beginning of the manuscript is missing as it could have got mixed with other manuscripts. “We would be initiating the process of search for the remaining parts of this rare manuscript and also for finding a scholar who could decipher this,” said Kar.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Allahabad / by Rajeev Mani / TNN / June 16th, 2016