S.V. University, Oriental Research Institute

Brief History

Sri Venkateswara Oriental Research Institute was started in July, 1939 by the Management of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams with a view that it should be a first-rate Research and Training Centre with appropriate divisions for the study of Sanskrit and other languages of the Hindu religion and Philosophy and of Hindu culture generally. Under the Management of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, the Oriental Research Institute published sixteen volumes of the Oriental Journal and about sixty-four books in Sanskrit (20), English (8), Telugu (19) Tamil (17) under three series named Sri Venkateswara Oriental Series, Sri Venkateswara Oriental Institute Studies and Sri Visistadvaita Sampradaya Granthamala, covering the areas of Kosa, Dharma sastra, Vyakarana, Scientific literature like Mathematics, Saiva, Vaikhamala and Pancaratra Agamas, Vedanta, Kavya, Stotra and Psychology. The Bharatakosa by M.R. Kavi and the History of Sanskrit Literature by M. Krishnamachariar Published from this Institute have become indispensable basic tools of research in Sanskrit Literate and literacy criticism.

The Tenth All India Oriental Conference in 1940 and the Fourth Session of Sanskrit Vishva Parishad at in 1955 were held in Tirupati under the auspices of the Institute. When the Sri Venkateswara University was established, for the encouragement of higher education and research in all branches of learning particularly on Oriental learning, Sanskrit, Ancient Indian Arts and Culture, Architecture and Fine Arts, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams handed over the Institute on the 1st November 1956, with a view to promote its activities in a broader perspective with well qualified research staff. With limited resources and meager staff the Institute continued to function with the same zeal and aspirations with which it was started and could publish 43 volumes of Oriental Journal and 30 books in English (3), Sanskrit (15), Telugu (10) and two volumes of the Descriptive catalogue. A Seminar on Andhra’s contribution to Indian Culture was held in March 1972 and a National Seminar on the eve of Centenary Celebration of Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi was conducted on 20-08-1997.

In 1979, the Institute moved to its own new building. It was named “Tiruppan Alvar Bhavan” in sacred memory of Saint Tiruppan alvar who sang in praise of Sri Vishnu in the ninth century A.D. The Library of the Institute contains 16,948 manuscripts and 42,000 printed books. Each book in the library is purchased selectively on consideration of its utility in the research activities of the Institute covering all the fields of Indian tradition. There is a binding section to repair damaged books. But many of the books in the old collection are irreparable, as the paper became very brittle and got damaged. So the Library is run on closed access system. All possible facilities are provided for the bona fide research scholars and taught public to consult the books in the Reading Room.

Brief History

Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati was established in 1954, in the world famous temple town of Tirupati on the sprawling campus of 1000 acres with a panoramic and pleasant hill view. This University stands as a testimony to the wisdom and foresight of great visionaries Late Sri Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu, the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and Late Sri Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, to cater to the educational needs and aspirations of the people of Rayalaseema area. With a great wisdom, the founder of this University have rightly coined the motto “Wisdom lies in proper perspective” for it. The University has grown excellently from strength to strength over the past fifty-two years, as a premier institute of higher learning under the able and committed leaderships of successive Vice-Chancellors starting from Prof. S. Govindarajulu to the present Vice-Chancellor Prof. N. Prabhakar Rao. It has gone through greater strides in the transformation of the University with acquiring necessary and modern sophisticated instrumentation to catch up with the world competition in academic and research programmes.

Right from its inception, the University has been laying more emphasis on teaching, research and extension activities in different subjects. The range of subject departments, courses and research programmes undertaken and promoted during the last fifty-two years reflect the Sri Venkateswara University’s commitment in promoting socially relevant and inter-disciplinary programmes. The University was started with six departments of Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Botany, Zoology, Economics and Philosophy. The University has eight constituent colleges concerning various conventional and advanced subjects, in order to provide good academic and smooth administrative service to one and all. Besides these colleges, it has a PG centre at Kavali. The University has 58 departments, wherein 71 different PG courses and several Diploma and Certificate courses are being run with total academic faculty strength of 400 and 1500 non-teaching and student strength of 5000, including research scholars. Several novel and newly emerging PG courses have also been introduced during this academic year. The University has been moving forwards in achieving academic excellence with a strong commitment and dedicated approach, by clearly setting up of a vision of its own. The initiatives taken by the Vice-Chancellor have already started yielding excellent results, in terms of research funding, extension activities and thus keeping the University on the path of excellence.

Courses Offered

M.Phil.: The admission requirement for the degree of Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) is normally a good honors degree of a recognized university or comparable institution or qualifications regarded by the University as the equivalent.

Criteria for the award of M.Phil.

• The degree is awarded on the examination of a thesis embodying the results of the candidate’s research. An oral examination may also be required. The work for the degree consists mainly of research and directed study; the candidate may in addition be required to undertake coursework, and the award of the degree may be conditional on satisfactory performance in this coursework.
• A successful candidate for the degree of M.Phil. Must display a convincing grasp of the techniques of research appropriate to the field of study on a scale which can be completed during two years, or at most three years, of full-time study or equivalent.
• The thesis embodying the results of the research must demonstrate evidence of originality, at least in the exercise of an independent critical faculty, and shall achieve a high standard of competence in argument and presentation.
• The thesis must comply with the requirements for the form, submission and deposit of theses (below).

Ph.D.: Doctor of Philosophy degree is the highest academic degree that permits to hold most respectable positions in scientific world. Universities and colleges value each member of the faculty with PhD. This title allows scientist to realize active participation in research work. Significant experience in the chosen field opens the way to successful teaching and sharing knowledge owing to advanced pedagogic activity. As a matter of fact, PhD is not simply an academic title; its actual meaning extends far beyond several terms describing what is a PhD degree. PhD degree is a reward to a genuine and experienced scientist who was able to prove his or her scientific worth and value. However, on closer examination, many experts recognize that PhD may bear numerous meanings because there are many educational systems and approaches to research.

Contact

Sri Venkateswara University,
Tirupati – 517 502,
Andhra Pradesh, India.

Phone

91-877-2289414
91-877-2289545

Website

www.svuniversity.in