In a collaborative effort to safeguard Nepal’s cultural heritage, the Nagarjuna Institute of Buddhist Studies (NIBS) in Kathmandu, Nepal, has teamed up with the Asian Legacy Library (ALL) based in Sedona, Arizona, to orchestrate the creation of a five-meter diameter Pancha Buddha and Ashta Mangala mandala by 10 artists. The event is organised by Prachanda Shakya, the director of Nepal Traditional Handicraft Training Center and president of the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal, and will take place outside the banquet hall at the Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu.

The mandala commemorates a six-year partnership to preserve Nepal’s invaluable Sanskrit Buddhist manuscripts for future generations.

ALL, a global non-profit organisation, has been providing vital support to NIBS since 2018. Their collaboration includes technology, funding, and expertise, enabling the preservation and digital archiving of significant manuscripts found in Nepal. This effort grants scholars, translators, and authors in Nepal and around the world access to these manuscripts freely through the Asian Legacy Library website.

NIBS, founded in 1980 by the late Min Bahadur Shakya, a renowned scholar and preservationist of Newar Buddhism, has passed on his legacy to his sons, Miroj Shakya, an associate professor at the University of the West, California, and Milan Shakya, the managing director of NIBS. Together, they continue the rich preservationist tradition, ensuring the wisdom contained within these manuscripts thrives for future generations.

To date, NIBS and ALL have trained seven dedicated professionals and experts in ancient Nepali scripts. These experts meticulously scan and input manuscripts primarily sourced from Kathmandu’s libraries and private collections. Over 140 manuscripts, written in scripts like Ranjana, Prachalit, and Bhujimol, have been preserved, a testament to their dedication.