Manuscripts of Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra

Why in the News?

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added the Manuscript Collection of Bhagavad-Gita and Natyashastra in its Memory of the World Register.

About UNESCO Memory of the World (MoW) Programme

• Genesis: Launched in 1992.
• Objectives: Facilitate preservation (particularly in areas affected by conflict and/or natural disaster), catalyse universal access, enhance public awareness worldwide of the significance of documentary heritage.
  • Documentary heritage is a legacy of humankind, through which we can look back into past, enrich our present lives, and look into future with boldness forged by enduring memories.
• International Advisory Committee (IAC) is the main body responsible for advising UNESCO on the planning and implementation of Programme as a whole.
  • IAC comprises 14 members serving in a personal capacity, appointed by the Director-General of UNESCO.
• Current Status: 570 Memory of the World inscriptions on the International Register since 1995.
  •  Recently, MoW listed 74 new items of documentary heritage inscribed on the Memory of the World International Register in 2025.
• In addition to International Register, UNESCO has supported creation of 4 regional registers and National "Memory of the World" Committees in more than 100 countries.

About Bhagavad-Gita

• About: Attributed to Sage Vyas, it contains 700 verses in 18 chapters, is embedded within the Bhīṣmaparva (adhyāya 23-40) of the epic Mahabharata.
• It is a central text in continuous, cumulative ancient intellectual Indian tradition, synthesizing various thought movements such as Vedic, Buddhist, Jain and Cārvāka.
• It takes the form of a dialogue between Krisna and Arjuna with armies lined up for the great war intended to free Arjuna of dejection (viṣāda).
  • In the battle of kurusetra Lord Krishna urges Arjuna to do his duty, good or evil without any attachment for the fruit of actions (niskama karma).
• Three margas (paths) in Gita: Karma (Action), jnana (Knowledge), bhakti (Devotion) are three paths proposed as spiritual disciplines by Gita for the betterment of one's wealth.
• Other key facts about Bhagavad-Gita:
  • Contains the idea of Bhakti.
  • Teachings of Shankaradeva, founder of the Vaishnavite sect in Assam, was inspired by Bhagavad Gita.

About Natyashastra (Science of Dramaturgy)

• It was written by Bharatamuni and was codified around the 2nd century B.C.
• It is an epitome of Nāṭyaveda (an oral body of knowledge of performing art containing 36,000 verses known as the Gāndharvaveda).
• Natyotpatti, meaning "birth of performing art," refers to the origin story of the Natyashastra.
  • It gives the mythical account of the origin of the art and its descent on the earth.
  • In the story Natyashastra was formed by extracting knowledge from all 4 Vedas- Paathya or recitative 
  • text (from Rig veda), Sangeeta or music (from Saama veda), Abhinaya or performance (from Yajur veda) and Rasa or emotions (from Atharva veda).
  • Hence, Natyashastra is often referred to as the 'Fifth Veda'.
• It comprises comprehensive set of rules that define nāṭya (drama), abhinaya (performance), rasa (aesthetic experience), bhāva (emotion), saṅgīta (music), etc.
  • Aim: To create Rasa and this is achieved by giving detailed instructions to various categories of personnel concerned and connected with the stage and the stage production.
• It is the first text available on the classification of India instruments.