Long before paper was introduced in India, birch bark was used for writing scriptures and texts in Sanskrit and other languages in North India. Now, Chennai can take a closer look at this piece of history as a rare birch bark, used during the 17th century by successive Kashmiri rulers, has been put on display at the government museum at Egmore from Tuesday.
This is the first time it has been put on display ever since it was donated by a Kashmiri pandit, Subedar Ramachandran in 1996. It will be on display for visitors between 8am and 5pm till November 13 at the weekly exhibit in the main building. "Unlike paper where letters disappear after a certain period, scriptures written on birch bark remain fresh in their original form due to the presence of a chemical agent called betula. That is the uniqueness of the bark," said museum commissioner S S Jawahar, who inaugurated the exhibit.
Commonly found in the Himalayas nearly 14,000 feet above the sea level, the Indian birch tree (Betula bhojapattra) was widely used by all sections of the society in North India since early Christian era. The practice began to lose its shine after Mughal emperor Abkar introduced paper for writing. "Even today, in Kashmir, many pandits and priests use birch bark for writing sacred mantras, which are placed in an amulet and worn around the neck for protection or blessing signifying their religious beliefs. Legend says that birch bark was used as clothing by attendants of Lord Shiva," said M N Pushpa, curator , botany section of the museum.
Use of the birch bark for literary purposes is attested by earliest classical Sanskrit writers like Kalidasa, Susruta and Varahamihira between third and sixth century AD. Prior to use of paper, all books in Kashmir kingdom are written on birch bark. The use of birch bark was also mentioned in Lakshimi tantra in pancaratra text during eight century AD.
The birch bark peels off in broad, horizontal belts, allowing the creation of large pages. The bark is valuable for its aromatic and antiseptic properties. Unlike modern paper, birch bark is water-proof and can be used directly after it is peeled off from the tree. CHENNAI: Long before paper was introduced in India, birch bark was used for writing scriptures and texts in Sanskrit and other languages in North India . Now, Chennai can take a closer look at this piece of history as a rare birch bark, used during the 17th century by successive Kashmiri rulers, has been put on display at the government museum at Egmore from Tuesday.
This is the first time it has been put on display ever since it was donated by a Kashmiri pandit, Subedar Ramachandran in 1996. It will be on display for visitors between 8am and 5pm till November 13 at the weekly exhibit in the main building. "Unlike paper where letters disappear after a certain period, scriptures written on birch bark remain fresh in their original form due to the presence of a chemical agent called betula. That is the uniqueness of the bark," said museum commissioner S S Jawahar, who inaugurated the exhibit.
Commonly found in the Himalayas nearly 14,000 feet above the sea level, the Indian birch tree (Betula bhojapattra) was widely used by all sections of the society in North India since early Christian era. The practice began to lose its shine after Mughal emperor Abkar introduced paper for writing. "Even today, in Kashmir, many pandits and priests use birch bark for writing sacred mantras, which are placed in an amulet and worn around the neck for protection or blessing signifying their religious beliefs. Legend says that birch bark was used as clothing by attendants of Lord Shiva," said M N Pushpa, curator , botany section of the museum.
Use of the birch bark for literary purposes is attested by earliest classical Sanskrit writers like Kalidasa, Susruta and Varahamihira between third and sixth century AD. Prior to use of paper, all books in Kashmir kingdom are written on birch bark. The use of birch bark was also mentioned in Lakshimi tantra in pancaratra text during eight century AD.
The birch bark peels off in broad, horizontal belts, allowing the creation of large pages. The bark is valuable for its aromatic and antiseptic properties. Unlike modern paper, birch bark is water-proof and can be used directly after it is peeled off from the tree.
