Locally called Maharaja Serfoji’s Library, the institution bears the name of a Maratha king, even though it was originally founded by the Nayaks. The reason lies in history: in 1675, the Marathas captured Thanjavur from the Nayaks. While the Nayak rule ended, the tradition of preserving literature continued — and it was Serfoji II, a Maratha ruler, who played the most significant role in expanding and enriching the library’s collection.

A visionary leader, philosopher, humanist, and Sanskrit scholar, Serfoji II immersed himself in the library’s manuscripts, reading them all in a short span. Eager to expand the collection, he invited Sanskrit scholars from northern and northeastern India, acquiring rare works and commissioning copies of ancient texts. The library’s holdings grew to include not only Sanskrit, but also Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, and English works. Serfoji also created one of India’s earliest cultural and literary maps. Remarkably, the library housed the world’s oldest printed atlas and the earliest Tamil Bible, printed in the late 17th century. The Bible was stolen in 2005 but was later recovered from the London Museum.

While other Indian libraries built before the Nayak era have vanished with time, this remarkable institution has survived for over 500 years. Today, it preserves around 49,000 manuscripts, including 39,000 in Sanskrit, 3,500 in Tamil, and 3,000 in Marathi — among them priceless works like the oldest known manuscripts of Saint Ramdas and Dattatreya, the 1807 Madras Almanac, currency issued by Serfoji II, his globes, maps, correspondence, and original plans of Thanjavur city.

The library temporarily closed during the late 18th century under British rule but reopened to the public in 1918. After India’s independence, the Government of India assumed responsibility for maintaining not only the library but the entire Maratha Palace complex.

Today, the Sarasvati Mahal Library stands as a living archive — not just a jewel of Tamil Nadu, but a proud cultural treasure for the entire nation.

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Locally, this library is also referred to as the Maharaja Serfoji’s Library. Although Serfoji was not a Nayak ruler, he belonged to the Maratha dynasty. In 1675, the Maratha emperors took control of Thanjavur, but the efforts to preserve literature did not stop. In fact, under Maharaja Serfoji II, the library was further enriched. Serfoji was a philosopher, humanist, and Sanskrit scholar. He collected rare Sanskrit manuscripts and expanded the library with books in Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, and English.

The library once housed one of the world’s oldest atlases and a printed Tamil Bible. The Bible was stolen in 2005 but was later recovered from a museum in London.

Although libraries were built in various parts of India long before the Nayak rule, most of them have been lost to time. However, the Saraswathi Mahal Library has survived for nearly 500 years. Today, it houses approximately 49,000 manuscripts, including 39,000 in Sanskrit, 3,500 in Tamil, and 3,000 in Marathi. Among its treasures are ancient manuscripts by Sri Ramdas and Dattatreya.

During the British era, the library was temporarily closed in the late 18th century, but it was reopened to the public in 1918. After India gained independence, the Government of India took over the maintenance of the library and the Maratha Palace. This ancient archive is not only a treasure of Tamil Nadu but a source of national pride for the entire country.

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