MORE ABOUT VRINDAVAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Library
Manuscripts library is the soul of the Institute. It has the manuscripts, Farmans and other archival material in its collection acquired from various sources. At present the VRI has more than 30,000 manuscripts in Sanskrit, Hindi, Bangali, Oriya, Punjabi etc. scripts of various subjects viz. Vedic literature, Dharmashastra, Sanskrit Classical literature, Poetics, Vaishnava Philosophy, Tantra, Astronomy, Astrology, Ayurveda etc. together with historical documents, Farmans of annalistic importance. The Jain manuscripts and Palm leaf manuscripts of earlier dates are specific.
In addition to these manuscripts a rich collection of printed books is also available in VRI Library for research scholars and students of Braj Culture and Indology. Scholars from India and abroad frequently visit the library to consult their research work.

Research & Publication Section
The VRI provides research facilities to the scholars. The VRI is devoted for the research works on the rare manuscripts preserved in its library. Several research works by eminent scholars of India and abroad on the rare manuscripts of the Institute have been brought out by VRI. The VRI has published many research books, a number of bulletins and critical editions of important texts. Eleven catalogues of Sanskrit, Hindi, Bangla, Punjabi and Manuscripts Microfilmed have also been published and so the work of cataloguing is a continued process.
The Institute also publishes a literary and cultural quarterly magazine Braj Salila.

Conservation Section
A considerable number of manuscripts are found damaged, burnt or eaten by moth and insects. The VRI has developed a scientific laboratory for their preventive and curative conservation so that the manuscripts might be preserved. The specialists conserve the manuscripts with the process of fumigation, ink fixation, de-acidification, lamination, binding etc. through latest techniques. Workshops on conservation of paper and palm leaf manuscripts, images etc. are also organized by the section.

Reprography Section
This section makes still and video photography of temple and historical monuments together with festivals and functions of Braj. The colored slides of historical and religious places of Braj are also made to provide them to the researchers on their demand. The reprography department digitizes rare manuscripts from other repositories and save them in the Institute. This department provides digital prints to the scholars on their demand.

Braj Culture Museum
The Braj Culture Museum was inaugurated by HRD Minister, Government of India in the year 1993. Rare manuscripts on paper, palm leaf, bamboo leaf etc., miniature paintings, Farmans, Images, Coins and other artifacts related to Braj culture viz. musical instruments, apron of deities, the objects used by the vaishnavas etc. are displayed in respective galleries of the museum.
Several murals demonstrating festivals and other cultural aspects of Braj culture are also displayed with their introduction.

Academic Projects
The VRI has completed an ambitious project of Encyclopedia of Braj Culture in 4 volumes for the acquaintance of several aspects of Braj Culture viz. History, Geography and Archaeology;
Dharma Sampradaya; Braj and Folk Literature;
Braj Art and Culture.
The VRI has taken up a new research project on Yug Yugeen Shri Krishna: Vyapti aur Sandarbha to research on rare aspects of Lord Krishna’s character and global contribution.

Survey and Documentation
A project of Survey and Documentation of Braj Folk and Traditional Culture is running in the
VRI. In this project survey and photographic documentation is being done of different cultural traditions, festivals, folk belief and practices of the Braj area. Survey works on Sri Rang Mandir ka Brahmotsava, Phool Bangla Kala, Malla Vidya Parampara, Braj ki Tulsi Kanthi Mala, Braj Ki Sanjhi, Braj Ke Parvotsava and Braj Bhasha Gadya Ke Aprasarit Sandarbha have been brought out by the VRI. The survey work on other rare aspects of Braj culture is going on.

Centre of NMM
The VRI is working as a centre of National Mission for Manuscript, Government of India.
The team of centre surveys institutions and individual repositories of the manuscripts to collect the information of manuscripts preserved there. Required conservation is also done to the manuscripts free of cost.

Academic and Cultural Activities
The VRI is devoted to preservation and propagation of cultural activities of Braj.
Therefore lectures, academic seminars, exhibition, competition among the students, manuscript conservation workshops and music concerts are also organized by the Institute continually.

Research Hostel
A research hostel having 8 attached A.C. Rooms with canteen is also situated in VRI campus for the research scholars.