India Unboxed: The Perfection of Wisdom

Over the course of six centuries Cambridge University Library’s collection has grown from a few dozen volumes on a handful of subjects into an extraordinary accumulation of several million books, maps, manuscripts and journals. The library is also home to an extraordinary collection of Buddhist works, among which is one very important Sanskrit palm leaf manuscript.

Buddhism was born in the ancient kingdom of Magadha, now in Bihar, India during the 5th century BCE, making it one of the world’s oldest continuously practiced religions. This manuscript is about a thousand years old and has one of the most famous titles in world literature — the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā or The Perfection of Wisdom in 8,000 Lines. The Perfection of Wisdom offers a path to enlightenment.


The 'India Unboxed' film series is part of a year-long celebration across the University and city of Cambridge to mark the UK–India Year of Culture 2017. The full programme of events includes exhibitions, events, discussions, installations and digital interventions.

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