# The Digital Archive System
*Five layers designed for permanence*
---
The archive is built on five technologies, each chosen for longevity. Together they form a system designed to preserve these teachings for generations.
> **In this article:** Files in Folders · Markdown · Git · Obsidian · Obsidian Publish
```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 5. PUBLISH Online reading │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ 4. OBSIDIAN Offline editing │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ 3. GIT Version control │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ 2. MARKDOWN Text formatting │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ 1. FILES + FOLDERS Basic storage │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
```
Each layer builds on the one below. Remove any layer, and the ones beneath still work. We never want to be trapped by a technology that becomes obsolete.
---
### 1. Files in Folders
Everything in the archive is a file stored in a folder. There's no database running somewhere. No proprietary format. Just folders containing text files.
If you downloaded the entire archive today, you could read every page using nothing more than Notepad or TextEdit. Twenty years from now, when today's software is obsolete, these files will still be readable.
**Why this matters:** Databases crash. Companies go out of business. Proprietary formats become unreadable. But plain text files in folders? They've worked since the 1970s and will work for decades to come.
---
### 2. Markdown
When you see a beautifully formatted verse with headings, bold text, and links, that all comes from a simple text file. Markdown is the bridge between plain text and formatted display.
The `#` marks headings. The `>` marks blockquotes. The `*` marks italics. The `**` marks bold. Even without any special software, you can read these files.
**Why this matters:** If every website disappeared tomorrow and all you had were these text files, you could still read them perfectly. The formatting is obvious from the characters.
---
### 3. Git
Every change to the archive is recorded. When we fix a typo, that fix is logged. When we add a new transcript, that addition is tracked. When we update an index entry, we know exactly what changed.
- **Nothing is ever lost.** Deleted something by accident? It's recoverable.
- **Changes are transparent.** You can see the project's complete history.
- **Quality improves over time.** Errors get fixed, and those fixes persist.
**Why this matters:** Git's distributed nature means every copy is a complete backup. If any single server disappeared, we'd lose convenience but not data.
---
### 4. Obsidian
Obsidian is free software that lets you work with the archive on your own computer, with no internet required.
- **Read offline.** Download the archive once, read anywhere.
- **Search everything.** Find any word across all 34,000 pages instantly.
- **See connections.** A graph view shows how pages link visually.
- **Make personal notes.** Add your own thoughts without affecting the main archive.
**Why this matters:** Internet access isn't universal. Connections fail. Websites go down. Having the complete archive on your own device means access is never dependent on external factors.
---
### 5. Obsidian Publish
Obsidian Publish takes the same files and makes them available as a website. What you're reading right now comes directly from those Markdown files.
- **Instant access.** No download required—just open your browser.
- **Always current.** Updates appear as soon as they're published.
- **Mobile friendly.** Works on phones and tablets.
- **Shareable links.** Send someone directly to any page.
**Why this matters:** Same content, different presentation. A verse you read on the website is the exact same file someone might study in Obsidian offline.
---
### One Archive, Many Uses
The same source files serve multiple purposes:
| Use Case | Technology |
|----------|------------|
| Read online | Publish (website) |
| Study offline | Obsidian (app) |
| Backup/archive | Git (version control) |
| Print/PDF | Markdown → any format |
| Contribute/edit | Any text editor |
**No lock-in at any level.** Don't like Obsidian? Use any Markdown editor. Publish goes away? Host files elsewhere. The content is always accessible because it's stored in the simplest possible format.
---
> [!question] Frequently Asked Questions
>
> **Q: Can I download the entire archive?**
> Yes. Clone the Git repository or download directly. Open it in Obsidian or any text editor.
>
> **Q: What if Obsidian Publish disappears?**
> The files remain. They can be hosted anywhere that renders Markdown—which is almost everywhere.
>
> **Q: How big is the archive?**
> About 255 MB of text across 34,400+ files. Average file is ~7 KB.
>
> **Q: Can I contribute corrections?**
> Yes. Use the feedback link at the bottom of any page, or submit directly via GitHub if you're technical.
---
> [!abstract]- Technical Implementation Details
>
> **Repository Structure:**
> ```
> VANIWIKI/
> ├── content/ ← All publishable content (the vault)
> │ ├── bg/ ← Bhagavad-gita (18 chapters, ~700 verses)
> │ ├── sb/ ← Srimad-Bhagavatam (12 cantos, ~18,000 verses)
> │ ├── cc/ ← Caitanya-caritamrta (3 divisions)
> │ ├── books/ ← Other books (kb, nod, noi, iso, tlc, etc.)
> │ ├── spoken/ ← Lectures, conversations, morning walks
> │ ├── letters/ ← Correspondence (organized by year)
> │ ├── index/ ← Topic index (11,000+ entries)
> │ ├── publish.js ← Custom JavaScript (~14,000 lines)
> │ └── publish.css ← Custom styles (~5,000 lines)
> ├── scripts/ ← Processing tools (Node.js, Python)
> └── data/ ← Source data, mappings, JSON
> ```
>
> **Frontmatter Format:**
> ```yaml
> ---
> title: Bg. 4.34
> description: Approaching a spiritual master
> tags:
> - scripture
> cssclasses:
> - scripture-page
> aliases:
> - tad viddhi
> ---
> ```
>
> **Markdown Conventions:**
> ```markdown
> # Heading (verse reference)
> > Blockquote (Devanagari script)
> ## Text (transliteration section)
> ## Synonyms (word-by-word)
> ## Translation (bold text)
> ## Purport (commentary)
> [[bg/4/34|Bg. 4.34]] ← Internal link with display text
> ![[bg/4/34#translation]] ← Embed specific section
> ```
>
> **Git Practices:**
> ```bash
> # Descriptive commits
> git commit -m "Fix diacritics in SB 3.12.45 transliteration"
> git commit -m "Add 47 new index entries for 'devotional service'"
>
> # Search history
> git log --oneline --grep="index"
> git log --oneline -- content/sb/3/
>
> # Recover anything
> git checkout HEAD~10 -- content/deleted-file.md
> ```
>
> **Publish.js Modules:**
> ```
> ImageLightbox ← Fullscreen images with navigation
> PageNavigation ← Prev/next buttons with prefetching
> ScriptureSettings ← Themes, fonts, section toggles
> StickyAudioPlayer ← Custom audio controls
> TimecodeJumper ← Clickable [MM:SS] timecodes
> PresentationMode ← Reveal.js slides for verses
> ScriptTeacher ← Devanagari learning tool
> EmbedHighlighter ← Highlight text in embeds
> Breadcrumbs ← Responsive navigation path
> BacklinksOrganizer ← Categorized backlinks
> FolderTitles ← 70+ path-to-title mappings
> AlphabeticalNav ← A-Z navigation for large indexes
> ... and 20+ more
> ```
>
> **Architecture:**
> ```
> ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
> │ BROWSER │
> ├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
> │ publish.js Custom features (vanilla JS) │
> │ publish.css Custom styles (CSS variables) │
> ├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
> │ Obsidian Publish Base rendering, navigation, CDN │
> ├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
> │ Markdown files Source content (34,400+ files) │
> └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
> ```
>
> **Backup Strategy:**
> - Primary: GitHub (cloud, distributed)
> - Secondary: Local machines (multiple contributors)
> - Tertiary: Cloud storage (encrypted archives)
>
> **Statistics:**
> - 34,400+ files
> - ~255 MB text content
> - Average file: ~7 KB
> - Largest: Index pages with many references
---
*Built with files, formatted with Markdown, tracked with Git, edited in Obsidian, shared through Publish. Five layers, one purpose: preservation.*