Encyclopedia of Hinduism

Encyclopedia of Hinduism, 1st ed., 2012, is a comprehensive, multi-volume, English language encyclopedia of Hinduism, comprising Sanātana Dharma, a Sanskrit phrase, meaning "the eternal law", or the "eternal way", that is used to refer to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.[1] It is a 7,184 page, 11-volume publication with full-color illustrations of temples, places, thinkers, rituals and festivals.[2] Encyclopedia of Hinduism is an inspiration and dream project of Chidanand Saraswati, President of Parmarth Niketan and India Heritage Research Foundation. Under preparation for 25 years, it has been edited by Kapil Kapoor with contribution from over 2000 scholars.[3]

The encyclopedia provides conceptual perspective and a general understanding of the different facets of Hinduism. It does not confine itself to religion alone, and has in it entries on art, history, language, literature, philosophy, polity, sciences, and women's studies. The editorial introduction records:

"This encyclopaedia has been prepared to give a fairly comprehensive idea of an ancient way of life, a culture that has roots going back thousands of years and has been called 'Hinduism' in the last two hundred years of English discourse. It is a book of knowledge about facts, theories, systems, practices, institutions, beliefs, texts, thinkers and values of, what in fact is, a continuity of one of the two living knowledge cultures of the world, the Vedic (Semitic being the other). Hindu society has been a 'knowledge society' in its proper sense for at least 5000 years: the word 'Veda' itself means 'knowledge'."

On 3–4 April 2010, a preview and blessings ceremony for the Encyclopedia of Hinduism was held at Parmarth Niketan, attended by the Dalai Lama, M.M. Swami Gurusharananand, Swami Avdheshanand Giri, Ramesh Oza, Ramdev, Morari Bapu and other religious leaders as well as top political leaders, including L. K. Advani and then-Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Ramesh Pokhriyal, and IHRF board members and trustees.[4]

The International Edition of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism was launched at the University of South Carolina on 26 September 2013.[5][6][7]

The Encyclopedia of Hinduism was presented to the President of India Pranab Mukherjee on 23 June 2014.[8]

  1. ^ "Hinduism is an intellectual system, not religion". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 23 April 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  2. ^ "Encyclopedia of Hinduism Ed. Dr. Kapil Kapoor". Rupa & Co. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  3. ^ "The Sunday Tribune – Books". The Tribune. Chandigarh. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  4. ^ April 2010 Special Newsletter Archived 17 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine Parmarth Niketan
  5. ^ "USC to launch Encyclopedia of Hinduism Aug. 26" University of South Carolina News
  6. ^ 25 बरसों में संजोया हिन्दू धर्म का विश्वकोश BBC
  7. ^ 25 Years in Making, Hindu Encyclopedia Complete Archived 11 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine Associated Press
  8. ^ President of India receives a copy of Encyclopedia of Hinduism Press Information Bureau, Government of India, President's Secretariat, Press Release 23-06-2014