Lucknow, June 10 -- A statewide survey has brought to light more than 12.20 lakh manuscripts across Uttar Pradesh, uncovering one of the country's largest repositories of ancient knowledge. The manuscripts, documented and uploaded on the Gyan Bharatam Portal under the National Manuscript Mission, span 71 districts and cover a remarkable range of subjects including the Vedas, Ayurveda, philosophy, astrology, agriculture, ritual traditions, literature, history and Buddhist studies. The exercise has not only digitised centuries-old knowledge but has also revealed rare and historically significant texts hidden in institutions and private collections across the state. According to official data, Varanasi has emerged as the state's largest manuscript hub with more than 3.12 lakh manuscripts, followed by Ayodhya with 2.44 lakh and Rampur with 2.32 lakh manuscripts. Major collections have also been identified in Prayagraj, Siddharthnagar, Saharanpur, Mathura and Lucknow. Among the most significant discoveries are manuscripts of the Rigveda Samhita, Aitareya Brahmana, Aitareya Aranyaka and important Shukla Yajurveda texts, alongside rare Buddhist manuscripts written in Burmese script, pointing to centuries-old intellectual and cultural exchanges. The survey has also uncovered several unique historical treasures. These include a manuscript of the Harivansha Purana dating back to 1640 CE, making it one of the oldest documented works in the collection. Officials have also identified an exceptionally small illustrated Bhagavad Gita manuscript from 1867 that contains all 700 verses despite its miniature format. Another notable discovery is a nearly 250-year-old illustrated Bhagavad Gita featuring elaborate depictions associated with Lord Krishna. Scholars believe such manuscripts offer valuable insights into artistic traditions and devotional practices of their time. The collection also includes an 1840 manuscript of the Vishnu Purana and a nearly 200-year-old palm-leaf manuscript of Purushottama Mahatmya, both considered important sources for understanding India's religious, philosophical and literary heritage. Tourism and culture minister Jaiveer Singh said the initiative represents one of the most significant efforts undertaken to preserve India's civilisational memory. "These manuscripts are not merely old documents; they are repositories of knowledge accumulated over centuries. Through the Gyan Bharatam Mission, Uttar Pradesh is preserving this intellectual heritage and making it accessible to researchers, scholars and future generations," he said. Officials said that beyond preservation, the initiative also promotes research, translation, publication and public outreach to bring India's manuscript tradition into the mainstream academic and cultural landscape....