Finding Aid to the Swift Family Collection of Palm Leaf Manuscripts, 1782-1898, undated

Abhidhamma ff 4MS PL4251 no. 1

Physical Description: 7 bundles; 22 ¼ x 2 1/8 inch.

Marks and Inscriptions: Label: The Abhidhamma Pitaka: Dhamma Sangani; Puggala Paññatti; Vibhanga; Dhatu Katha; Katha Vatthu; Yamaka; Patthana. Palmleaf m.s. in Laos Pali character. Farther India.

Physical Description: Cloth wrapper. Black wooden covers. 7 bundles. Gilt edges with black stripe in the middle. Pali mixed with Northern Thai.

Language of Material: Tai (Other), Pali

Scope and Content Note

Contains: Puggalapannati, Vibhanga, Kathavatthu, Mahapatthana, DhatukathaM

Support

Palm leaves

Additional Note

Tham script. Very tidy

Indexing Terms

Manuscripts, Northern Thai

Namasap Culavagga ff 4MS PL4251 no. 2

view online item

Physical Description: 18 bundles; 17 x 1 ¾ inch.

Marks and Inscriptions: Handwritten label on inside cover in English.

Language of Material: Tai (Other)

Support

Palm leaves

Additional Note

Northern Thai language, Tham script.

Indexing Terms

Manuscripts, Northern Thai

Milindapanha ff 4MS PL4251 no. 3

view online item

Physical Description: 6 bundles; 21 ¼ x 2 ½ inch.

Marks and Inscriptions: Text on handwritten card: “Questions of King Milinda – The Great King Meander who lived in the second century B.C. and ruled over a part of Hindustan India. Six volumes m.s. Laos-Indo-China.

Marks and Inscriptions: Label on the bamboo mat: “Questions of King Milinda 2nd Century B.C.”

Marks and Inscriptions: Label on the wooden board: The six volume M.S. Laos-Indo-China. The questions of king Melinda, the Greek King Meander, who lived in the second century B.C. and ruled over a part of Hindustan, India.”

Physical Description: 2 roughly hewn plain wooden covers. 6 bundles. Decorative designs at some places such as around string holes of front and last pages. Handwritten card in English, laminated.

Language of Material: Tai (Other)

Support

Palm leaves

Additional Note

Tham script, Northern Thai language.

Indexing Terms

Manuscripts, Northern Thai

Kammavācā ff 4MS PL4251 no. 4

view online item

Physical Description: 1 bundle; 21 ¼ x 2 inch.

Marks and Inscriptions: Handwritten ink label on inner back cover: "Kammavacam The formulas used in the ordination of a Buddhist monk or Bikkku (sic); Palm leaf MS. in Laos Pali characters. Farther India"

Physical Description: Silk wrapper with bamboo ribbing. 2 fine wooden covers - gilt lacquer rondels with vegetal motifs on red background. Leaves have gilt edges. Folio ki missing. Kammavaca formulas in Pali with some Lanna Thai at end.

Language of Material: Tai (Other)

Arrangement

Pagination ka-kah, kha-khah, ga-gau.

Support

Palm leaves

Additional Note

Lanna script - 5 lines per leaf. Good hand.

Indexing Terms

Manuscripts, Northern Thai

Dhammasangani-Tika-Vohara ff 4MS PL4251 no. 5

view online item

Physical Description: 4 bundles; 17 ½ x 2 inch.

Marks and Inscriptions: Handwritten label in English on inside of wooden cover: “Vohan Petaka tang sam commentary on Tripitaka.”

Physical Description: Cloth wrapper. 4 bundles.

Language of Material: Tai (Other)

Scope and Content Note

Contains: Vibhanga Sut, Vibhanga Sut Patimok, Vohar Anisong Pitok, Abhidham

Support

Palm leaves

Additional Note

Northern Thai language. Tham script.

Indexing Terms

Manuscripts, Northern Thai

Katha Siphauna ff 4MS PL4251 no. 6

view online item

Physical Description: 2 fascicles; folded papers.1st fascicle: 13 ¼ x 74 ¾ inch, folded into 13 ¼ x 4 3/8 inch. 2nd fascicle: 13 ¼ x 65 ½ inch folded into 13 ¼ x 4 3/8 inch.

Marks and Inscriptions: Label in English: “Verses of ten precepts. Written in Laos Pali characters. Indochinese.”

Language of Material: Tai (Other), Pali

Additional Note

Northern Thai language mixed with Pali. Tham script mixed with Burmese for Pali.

Additional Note

End leaf: "Phra chao bhavana nai…; Buddha bodheyyam mutto mocaiyam ti tinno taleyyam"

Indexing Terms

Manuscripts, Northern Thai

Anguttara Nikaya Culla Sakka 638; Lanna 1239 = 1877 (?) ff 4MS PL4251 no. 7

view online item

Physical Description: 7 bundles (phuk); 21 5/8 x 2 ¼ inch.

Physical Description: 2 plain red gilt wooden covers. Palm leaf with gilt edges. Text is in Lanna Thai. Two bundles are in Pali. These may be other texts. One bundle bears Cula Sakkaraja (or Culla Sakka which is around 638) date. Contains several bundles with title "Anguttara Nikaya" in left margin. Gilt lacquer title marker with Lanna Thai inscription and same date. 1239 = 1877 (?)

Language of Material: Tai (Other), Pali

Support

Palm leaves

Additional Note

Lanna script; Pali and Lanna languages. 5 lines per page.

Indexing Terms

Manuscripts, Northern Thai

Manuscripts, Pali

Sip Chat = Ten Jatakas ff 4MS PL4251 no. 8

view online item

Physical Description: 2 bundles; 18 x 2 ¼ inch.

Marks and Inscriptions: Label: "Sutta Pitaka; Dasa-Jataka; Palm-leaf M.S. in Laos Pali characters."

Marks and Inscriptions: Label on the bamboo mat: "Dasa Jataka; Sutta Pitaka."

Physical Description: Cloth wrapper. Gilt edges of leaves. 2 bundles: 1) na tap klao sip jat… 2) na tap pay phuk ton. Handwritten label on inside cover in English.

Language of Material: Tai (Other)

Support

Palm leaves

Additional Note

Tham script, Northern Thai language

Indexing Terms

Manuscripts, Northern Thai

Kammavācā 1791 CE (1153 CS) ff 4MS PL4251 no. 9

view online item

Physical Description: 1 bundle; first leaf: 16 x 2 ¼ inch ; other leaves: 24 7/8 x 2 ¼ inch.

Marks and Inscriptions: An oval label is attached to one of the boards, marked with “no name” and “1 vol.”

Physical Description: This manuscript is written on palm leaves. Except for the first leaf, which measures 16 by 2 ¼ inches, the rest are 24 7/8 by 2 ¼ inches. Two lacquered wooden boards cover these leaves. Except for the first leaf, the leaves and the boards each have two holes. A brownish cord, which goes through those two holes, binds all of the leaves and the boards together.

Language of Material: Tai (Other), Pahlavi

Arrangement

There are 27 leaves in this manuscript. Only leaf number 5 up to leaf number 25 are inscribed. The written leaves are marked sequentially, starting with the letter 'ka' and ending with the letter 'khau'. Each leaf usually has five full lines of text. Exceptions are leaves number 5, 20, and 25, which have only 5 lines in the middle in front; 1 line in front; and 4 lines in front and 1 line in the back respectively

Support

Palm leaves

Additional Note

Leaves 5 up to 20 are written in Pali with Tham script. The rest are written with Northern Thai script. The script is clear and beautifully written

Indexing Terms

Manuscripts, Northern Thai

Narada Jataka ff 4MS PL4251 no. 10

view online item

Physical Description: 3 bundles; 20 3/8 x 2 inch.

Marks and Inscriptions: Handwritten label on inside cover reads "The three volume MS Laos Indo-China Name: Nadara (sic) Jataka Birth Story of Buddha."

Physical Description: Cloth wrapper with bamboo slit ribs. 2 fine gilt lacquer wooden covers - ornate motifs on red background. 3 bundles - leaves have gilt and red lacquer edge.

Language of Material: Tai (Other)

Support

Palm leaves

Additional Note

Lanna script and language. 5 lines per page. Good hand.

Additional Note

Bundle 1 opens "narada phuk ton lae sakkara dai 1190 tua."

Indexing Terms

Manuscripts, Northern Thai

Vessantara Jataka ff 4MS PL4251 no. 11

view online item

Physical Description: 15 bundles; 22 ¾ x 1 7/8 inch.

Physical Description: Fine and well-preserved cloth wrapper with bamboo ribbing. Geometric motif. Gilt lacquer wooden title marker with inscription in Lanna script and language on one side (reverse side blank red lacquer). Gives title "Mahavesantara; (sic) and Sakkaraja date. Includes "anisong" (with grey string). Handwritten label on inside cover: "The sixteen volume MS Laos, Indo-China Name: - Vessantara Jataka. The birth story of Gotama Buddha describing his incarnation as King Vessantara." 2 plain red covers. Leaves have gilt and dark lacquer edges. Phuk in discorder - seem to be 13? Chapter titles in left margins - Sakkapan, Vannepavet, Kumarapan, etc.

Language of Material: Tai (Other)

Support

Palm leaves

Additional Note

Lanna language and script. 5 lines per page. Good hand.

Indexing Terms

Manuscripts, Northern Thai

Namasap Mahavagga Date in Culasakraj 1228 tua = 1866 (?) ff 4MS PL4251 no. 12

Physical Description: 23 bundles; 22 3/8 x 2 inch.

Marks and Inscriptions: Label on inside cover - handwritten in ink "The Vinaya Pitaka Mahavagga Palm leaf M.S. in Laos Pali characters. Farther India."

Physical Description: Gilt lacquer wooden title marker with one inscribed side (reverse plain wood). 2 wooden covers with gilt floral motifs on red background.

Language of Material: Tai (Other)

Support

Palm leaves

Additional Note

Lanna script and language. 5 lines per page. Fine hand.

Indexing Terms

Manuscripts, Northern Thai

Vohara Mahosatha Jataka, Candakumara Jataka ff 4MS PL4251 no. 13

view online item

Physical Description: 11 bundles

Marks and Inscriptions: Label on inside cover, written in ink in longhand: "Sutta Pitaka. Mahosatha Jataka and Candakumara Jataka. Palm leaf M.S. in Laos Pali characters. Farther India."

Physical Description: Wooden title marker - gilt lacquer with inscription in Lanna script and language on one side, plain black on reverse - carved "handle." Gives titles "Mahosatha" and "Candakumara." 2 plain red wooden covers. Leaves have gilt edges with central red stripe flanked by pair of red stripes.

Language of Material: Tai (Other)

Arrangement

8 phuk - vohan Mahosatha. 3 phuk - vohan Candakumara.

Support

Palm leaves

Additional Note

Lanna script and language. 5 lines per page.

Indexing Terms

Manuscripts, Northern Thai

Phra Dhammapada-atthakatha kambujjakaksara-nibat (?), phuk 8 ff 4MS PL4251 no. 14

view online item

Physical Description: 1 bundle; 1 leaf with drawings both sides: 20 3/8 x 2 inch; 1 bundle with 33 leaves: 21 ¾ x 1 ¾ inch; 8 loose leaves: 22 5/8 x 2 inch.

Marks and Inscriptions: Thai writing on cover page: Origin Thailand.

Physical Description: Good writing, tiny interlinear notes in Thai. Some loose leaves. Note: 1 stray leaf of illustrated MS of Ramayana from Orissa or South India. Very fine.

Language of Material: Tai (Other), Pali

Support

Palm leaves

Additional Note

Khom script, Pali language, 5 lines per leaf.

Indexing Terms

Manuscripts, Pali

Kammavācā ff 4MS PL4251 no. 15

view online item

Physical Description: 1 bundle; 22 1/8 x 2 ¼ inch.

Physical Description: Wooden title marker. Red lacquer inscribed in Lanna script and language on one side, verso plain red. 2 gilt wooden covers with floral motifs, inlaid with mirrors. Leaves have gilt edges.

Language of Material: Tai (Other), Pali

Support

Palm leaves

Additional Note

Lanna script in Pali language, 5 lines per page.

Additional Note

Title leaf reads "Kammavaca." Final leaf has colophon of 2 lines in Lanna language with names of persons involved (?) and date, ending "nibbana paccayo hontu (sic) no.

Indexing Terms

Manuscripts, Northern Thai

Majjhima Nikaya ff 4MS PL4251 no. 16

view online item

Physical Description: 10 bundles; 23 x 1 7/8 inch.

Marks and Inscriptions: Label on inside cover, written in long hand in ink: "The Sutta Pitaka Majjhima Nikaya Palm leaf M.S. in Laos Pali characters. Farther India."

Physical Description: Wooden title marker. One side gilt lacquer inscribed in Lanna script. Verso plain black. 2 very fine wooden covers, gilt with floral motifs drawn in black. 4 or 5 bundles. Leaves have gilt edges.

Language of Material: Tai (Other)

Support

Palm leaves

Additional Note

Lanna script and language. 5 lines per page.

Indexing Terms

Manuscripts, Northern Thai

Tamil ff 4MS PL4251 no. 17

view online item

Physical Description: 1 bundle; 13 x 1 1/8 inch.

Physical Description: 7 lines per leaf. 2 string holes. Very fine and tidy hand.

Language of Material: Tamil

Support

Palm leaves

Indexing Terms

Manuscripts, Tamil

Abhidhammavatara patha (Pali language) ff 4MS PL4251 no. 18

Physical Description: 1 bundle; 19 x 2 ¼ inch.

Physical Description: Red lacquer cover and edges.

Language of Material: Pali

Support

Palm leaves

Additional Note

Burmese script. 9 lines per leaf. Good writing but faint.

Indexing Terms

Manuscripts, Burmese

Phra Abhidhammatthasangaha Paricch BE 2416 = CE 1873 ff 4MS PL4251 no. 19

view online item

Physical Description: 9 bundles; 22 ¾ x 2 inch.

Physical Description: Sponsored by Khun Mae On. 9 bundles – complete.

Language of Material: Tai (Other)

Support

Palm leaves

Additional Note

Thai language, Khom script.

Indexing Terms

Manuscripts, Northern Thai

Phra Mangaladipani-atthakatha mangala sutra ff 4MS PL4251 no. 20

view online item

Physical Description: 2 bundles; 1 loose half-leaf: 11 5/8 x 1 7/8 inch, the rest: 22 ¾ x 1 7/8 inch.

Marks and Inscriptions: Thai note on title page: “tan laew.”

Physical Description: 2 new boards. 2 bundles: phuk 39 and 40 from “ban plai.”

Language of Material: Pali

Support

Palm leaves

Additional Note

Khom Pali script. 5 lines per leaf. Good writing.

Indexing Terms

Manuscripts, Pali

Rajavidhanasaraha ff 4MS PL4251 no. 21

view online item

Physical Description: 1 bundle; paper: 14 ¼ x 4 ¾ inch.

Physical Description: Wooden cover, inside, has 3 paintings of green Buddha in vitarka mudra flanked by 2 images of eyes, eyebrows, urna and ‘om’ symbol. Text – black letters on yellow paper with red pigment between dandas.

Language of Material: Sanskrit - sao Samoan

Additional Note

Opens: "Sriganesaya namah"

Indexing Terms

Liturgies

Manuscripts, Sanskrit

Srimavisnupurana Saka 1824 ff 4MS PL4251 no. 22

view online item

Physical Description: 1 bundle; folded paper: 1st chapter: 14 ½ x 7 inch; 2nd to 6th chapter: 14 7/8 x 7 ½ inch.

Physical Description: Printed paper folding book in Nagari type and Sanskrit language. Verso of title page has black and white picture of Visnu on the serpent Sesa. Title of Tika is "Vaisnavakutacandrikatika. Colophon gives printing details (Ainapura in Mumbai) and date Saka 1824. Paper fragile.

Language of Material: Sanskrit - sao Samoan

Additional Note

Opens: "Atha satikam srimad-visnupuranam prarabhyate."

Indexing Terms

Manuscripts, Sanskrit

Visnudharmottara ff 4MS PL4251 no. 23

view online item

Physical Description: 1 bundle; folded paper: 14 1/8 x 7 inch.

Physical Description: Printed paper book in Nagari type, Sanskrit language. Title page; red and green ink: "Atha Visnudharmottara-mahapurana-prarambha" has table of contents (visayanukramanika). Paper in better condition than No. 22.

Language of Material: Sanskrit - sao Samoan

Additional Note

Printed in Mumbai by Khemaraja Srikrsnadasa at Sri Venkatesvara Steam Press. Samvat 1969, Saka 1834.

Additional Note

This is an edition from the famous Sri Venkatesvara Steam Press in Bombay.

Indexing Terms

Manuscripts, Sanskrit

Container Listing