The Adyar Libary and Research Centre was founded in 1886 by Henry Steel Olcott, first President of the Theosophical Society, for research in Eastern Civilization, philosophy and Religion. Its aim is to promote understanding among the proples of the world respective cultures.

The collections of the Library consist of about 18,000 manuscripts, containi9ng about 45,000 works, both palm-leaf and paper, and some 2,00,000 printed volumes. The manuscripts are mostly from India and in Sanskrit. The printed books include old and rare Indological works and also a fine and volumes of important Indological journals.

The Adyar Library Bulletin is being published since 1937, presenting studies or religion, philosphy and various aspects of Sanskrit and other Oriental literature as well as editions of ancient texts and translations.