Shriji launching the online ticketing system of The City Palace Museum, Udaipur

Unveiling of book 'Hasthyayurveda'

Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar, Chairman and Managing Trustee, Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, Udaipurunveiled the book titled 'Hasthyayurveda,' originally composed by Palkapya Muni, with transcripts from Sanskrit to Hindi language by Dr. (Smt.) Madhubala Jain, the profound scholar and Sanskrit Panditya from Udaipur on 17th march 2021.

The books by Palkapya Muni are the oldest texts in HastiVigyaan. Hasthyayurveda is written in both prose and verse form; in the form of a conversation. This book describes the detailed guidelines of the origin of elephants, the disorders; their causes, symptoms, nature and method of treatment, the process of making medicines, age of elephants, medicinal uses based on nature and climate etc. Hasthyayurveda, in short, is the physiology of elephants. There are a total of four sections, 160 chapters and 315 diseases in the body of elephants that are enlisted, in about 12 thousand verses (Shlokas) of this book. It is also replete with detailed drawings of the medical conditions and others.

The original composition of the manuscript of Palkapya Rishi titled 'Hasthyayurveda' was commissioned by Maharaj Sahib Shri Bagh Singh Ji Karjali in the Vikram Samwat 1811 (1754 CE). The new publication, with transcripts, is published by Maharana Mewar Historical Publications Trust, The City Palace, Udaipur.

Shriji unveiling the book 'Hasthyayurveda' with Dr. (Smt.) Madhubala

Bottled Goodness: Attar and Attar Daans

Mewar has a rich tradition of Attar or perfume making. The City Palace Museum, Udaipur too boasts of an exquisite collection of silver perfume boxes or Attar Daans.

Silver Attar, perfume box. Silver, glass, iron. Late 19th, early 20th century. CPMU 2014.29.0113

In this blog by Mr. Neeraj Soni, Visitor Liaison Executive, one can explore the humble, age-old traditional 'Attar', and several practices and beliefs associated with the olfactory sense, or the sense of smell. The article also looks at its ability to lure or ward off good or bad, to entice and appease, as also the immense potential it has in terms of aiding health.

Read the blog here

Participated in the Bihar Museum Biennale

The Biennale was the 1st of its kind to have been organized. It was an initiative of Bihar Museum, Patna, and the Department of Arts, Culture and Youth Affairs, Government of Bihar, and was led by the Biennale's Project Director, Dr. Alka Pande.