Veerayatan’s library - Another wonderful golden treasure in Rajgir
by Anil Kumar, editor Patna
Veerayatan Rajgir has a famous eye hospital, a beautiful museum based on the history associated with Bhagwan Mahavir, but there is also another special thing - the library, Gyananjali.
Gyananjali contains more than ten thousand books and has priceless books, which will not be found anywhere else in Bihar. There are books available on the diverse philosophies of India, on languages, culture, literature, history and politics. There are hundreds of well researched books on Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism. Books written by Rahul Sankrityayan, a well-known scholar, and the complete series of Osho are all available. All the Vedas and Upanishads are available too. Many of the shelves contains rare handwritten books mainly on philosophy.
It was here that a series of books on language surprised me. Initially when I saw the thick book ‘Hindi Vishwas’, I thought it was a common dictionary. However, I came to know that there are 13 volumes, and so I was intrigued to know more and explore further. And what a pleasant surprise on opening one of these dictionaries - each and every word has been explained in depth over three to four pages. This series of dictionaries were published by Nagari Pracharini Sabha about a hundred years ago.
Whenever you come to Rajgir, do take time to immerse yourself in this priceless repository of Veerayatan and it will surely change your life!