Historical Background

Maharaja Gulab Singh founded an endowment in 1846 for the advancement of Hindu religious and charitable purposes, including temple renovation, construction, pathshalas, sadabrats, and related cultural activities.

In 1884, Maharaja Ranbir Singh placed the Trust on a more permanent administrative basis through Ain-i-Dharmarth. The later Dogra rulers continued the trust structure for temple management and public religious service.

Within this sacred setting, manuscript preservation and Sanskrit scholarship received a permanent home. The Institute's digital e-library continues this older responsibility in a modern form: preserving knowledge, making rare texts discoverable, and serving scholars across India and abroad.