On the occasion of World Heritage day, Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra have been inscribed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.
Key Points:
- Manuscripts of the Bhagavad Gita and Bharat Muni’s Natyashastra are among the 74 new documentary heritage collections added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, providing a significant recognition to India’s cultural heritage.
- These additions, announced on April 17, 2025 come from 72 countries and 4 international organisations, and include entries on the scientific revolution, women’s contributions to history and major milestones in multilateralism.
- With these, the total number of inscribed collections now stands at 570.
Indian Inscriptions in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register:
» This is a global honour as India now lists 14 inscriptions on this internationally acknowledged list.
- The IAS Tamil Medical Manuscript Collection (1997)
- Saiva manuscripts (2005)
- Rigveda (2007)
- Tarikh-e-Khandan-e-Timuriyah (2011)
- Laghukalachakratantrarajatika Vimalaprabha (2011)
- Shantinatha Charitra (2013)
- Gilgit manuscript (2017)
- Maitreyayvarakarana (2017)
- Abhinavagupta (2023)
- Ramcharitmanas (2024)
- Panchatantra (2024)
- Sahrdayaloka-Locana (2024)
- Shrimad Bhagavad Gita (2025)
- Bharat Muni’s Natyashastra (2025)
About Shrimad Bhagavad Gita:
- The Bhagavad Gita, containing 700 verses in 18 chapters, is embedded within the Bhīṣmaparva (adhyāya 23-40) of the epic Mahabharata.
- The Bhagavad Gita is a sacred conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna set on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, forming a part of the epic Mahabharata.
- Bhagavad Gita is a central text in the continuous, cumulative ancient intellectual Indian tradition, synthesising various thought movements such as, Vedic, Buddhist, Jain and Cārvāka.
About Bharat Muni’s Natyashastra:
- Preserved at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute and believed to have been codified around the 2nd century B.C., Bharatamuni’s Natyashastra is considered the essence of Nāṭyaveda — an oral tradition of performing arts comprising 36,000 verses, also known as the Gāndharvaveda.
- This ancient text lays down an elaborate framework for various art forms, covering nāṭya (drama), abhinaya (performance), rasa (aesthetic essence), bhāva (emotion), and saṅgīta (music).
- Its influence spans centuries, shaping classical artistic traditions and continuing to serve as an essential guide for performers and scholars today.
About UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register:
- UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register is a global initiative that preserves documentary heritage of outstanding value.
- UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register recognises important historical texts, manuscripts, and documents that have influenced societies across generations.
» The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was founded on 16 November 1945 and is headquartered in Paris, France.