ASI Begins Digitisation of 750 Ancient Tirumala Temple Inscriptions Under Bharat SHRI

ASI begins digitising around 750 ancient inscriptions at Tirumala under Bharat SHRI, preserving valuable records of temple history for future research.

By News National Editorial Team

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has begun the process of documenting and digitally preserving around 750 ancient inscriptions found within the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple complex at Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh. The initiative is being undertaken as part of the Central Government’s Bharat SHRI (Bharat Shared Repository of Inscriptions) project, which aims to preserve India's inscriptional heritage and make historical records more accessible.

According to reports published on October 27, the ASI's Epigraphy Branch has started work on collecting copies of nearly 600 inscriptions at the temple. Earlier, around 97 inscriptions had already been copied during previous documentation exercises. The complete collection of approximately 750 inscriptions is expected to provide valuable information about the temple's long and layered history.

Inscriptions Preserve Centuries of Temple History

The inscriptions engraved on the walls and structures of the Tirumala temple are important historical records. They contain references to rulers, royal contributions, donations made by devotees, temple administration, religious practices and the social and economic conditions of different periods.

These records can help historians understand how the temple developed over the centuries and how different dynasties contributed to its religious, cultural and economic activities.

Some inscriptions are believed to date back to the 10th century, including records associated with the Vaidumba rulers. Inscriptions from the Vijayanagara period, including lengthy Tamil records, are also among the historically significant materials found at the temple.

Earlier Documentation and New Collection Work

Historical documentation of Tirumala's inscriptions has been carried out in several stages. According to reports, 44 inscriptions from the temple's second enclosure were copied during earlier surveys conducted in 1889, 1904, 1912 and 1916.

Another 53 inscriptions from the walls of the sanctum area were copied during 2008–09. The current exercise focuses on documenting the remaining inscriptions so that the wider collection can be preserved in digital form.

The copying process uses a traditional impression-making technique. Special paper is placed over an inscription-bearing surface and carefully pressed against the engraved letters. Ink is then applied to produce an impression that captures the inscription's details. The resulting copies can be preserved and scanned for digital documentation.

What Is the Bharat SHRI Project?

Bharat SHRI stands for Bharat Shared Repository of Inscriptions. It is an ASI initiative designed to digitise inscription records from different parts of India and make them available through a central digital repository.

The official Bharat SHRI portal explains that digitised estampages, transcripts and metadata will help scholars and members of the public study India's historical and cultural heritage.

The project is intended to support academic research, historical interpretation and public awareness by making important primary records easier to access.

A Valuable Resource for Future Research

The digital preservation of Tirumala's inscriptions is expected to benefit historians, epigraphists, researchers and students studying South Indian history. Digitised records can also help protect historical information against the loss or deterioration of physical copies.

For Tirumala, the inscriptions are more than engraved records. They provide evidence of the rulers, donors, communities and religious traditions that shaped the temple across generations.

The ASI's initiative marks an important step towards safeguarding this heritage and ensuring that the historical records associated with Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple remain available for future generations.

Sources: Archaeological Survey of India – Bharat SHRI official portal; Deccan Chronicle report dated October 27, 2026; TV9 Telugu report dated October 29, 2026.