Abstract

Abstract

Manuscripts are handwritten documents of historical, literary, or aesthetic value that are at least 75 years old. India possesses nearly 10 million such manuscripts, many of which preserve original textual traditions of Ayurveda. Loss or damage of these manuscripts leads to irreversible loss of knowledge. The present study focuses on the manuscript “Ashtanghridaye Sharirsthanam Chandranandan Virachita Padarthchandrika Teeka”, obtained from the Archival Cell of Barr. Balasaheb Khardekar Library, Shivaji University, Kolhapur (Catalogue Reference No. JAP-20-28). This work contains the Sharirsthana portion of A????gah?daya along with the Padarthchandrik? commentary authored by Chandranandan. The manuscript was examined for its physical form, script, pagination, orthographic features, folio structure, marginalia, and textual content. It comprises 129 folios and includes three chapters: Garbhavakranti Shariram, Garbhavyapadham Shariram, and Angavibhagam Shariram. The study highlights variant readings, omissions, additions, and scribal features important for textual criticism. The manuscript provides valuable insights into Ayurvedic anatomical concepts and demonstrates the scholarly depth of Chandranandan’s commentary. Preservation and critical study of such unpublished manuscripts are essential to strengthen the foundations of Ayurvedic literature.