IHRF: Encyclopedia information

[Fireside_Hindu]

Some of you may be familiar with the 11 volume Encyclopedia of Hinduism released a few years ago by the India Heritage Research Foundation. I have scoured the internet trying to find a list of contributing authors but so far can only find the name of the chief editor. I know that thousands of scholars contributed to it, but even just a few of the more prominent names would be helpful. I have contacted the IHRF to ask them directly if they have a list but they have not responded.

Does anyone feel like investigating this with me?

Thanks!

 

[Vinayaka]

You have a link?

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

You have a link?

Here's the foundation:

India Heritage Research Foundation | Home

Here's info on the encyclopedia:

India Heritage Research Foundation | Encyclopedia

Here's the set on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-...8388&sr=8-1&keywords=Encyclopedia+of+Hinduism

 

[Vinayaka]

I think this is the one compiled by Dr. Seshagiru Rao, and blessed by Swami Chidananda Sarawsai of Parmarth Niketan. If so, it's been in the works for 20 years or so, and is the culmination of many years of concerted efforts. I remember it being announce way back when.

Most likely it;s really good, although from the reviews it seems Amazon is failing miserably at getting it to you.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

I think this is the one compiled by Dr. Seshagiru Rao, and blessed by Swami Chidananda Sarawsai of Parmarth Niketan. If so, it's been in the works for 20 years or so, and is the culmination of many years of concerted efforts. I remember it being announce way back when.

Most likely it;s really good, although from the reviews it seems Amazon is failing miserably at getting it to you.

The bad reviews are from people who bought from third party sellers - which is the risk you take when you don't want to pay full price for something I guess. I have read it is very good. I am hoping to obtain a copy as a donation gift for the Indian Temple in June, but I want to make sure it is something with a good reputation. For that I need to know at least some of the people who did the research for it.

 

[Vinayaka]

All I remember is that Hinduism Today started reporting on it and monitored the progress many years ago. Maybe there are more editorial style reviews there. I'll have another browse. I also have great respect for the swami and his organisation.

 

[lovemuffin]

Does anyone know whether it's possible to buy this by the volume rather than all at once?

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

Does anyone know whether it's possible to buy this by the volume rather than all at once?

As far as I know, no. But you can email third party sellers through Amazon to ask.

 

[Vinayaka]

It's understandable that it's only sold as a set. Can you imagine trying to buy the first 100 pages of a textbook? Encyclopedias try to sell an entire picture. The sad thing is that books themselves are going the way of the dinosaur. When they started writing it, they didn't know this, of course.

I looked around, and couldn't find any more information than before on it. Time will tell, I suppose.

 

[Kalibhakta]

Honestly, if this is ever sold as a legitimate download or CD/DVD I would honestly buy it. I do not have the money for that kind of an investment.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

The sad thing is that books themselves are going the way of the dinosaur. When they started writing it, they didn't know this, of course.

I looked around, and couldn't find any more information than before on it. Time will tell, I suppose.

I'm a paper book person myself too. Thanks for looking into it. I've emailed the organization again. If I don't hear from them I have one last option. I found the email of one of the chief editors (he's a member of a different temple community about an hour away)

 

[lovemuffin]

Oh I want to buy the whole thing, it would just be easier to justify the expense if I could spread it out, like 1 volume per month

I'm imagining at some point my lust for books will overwhelm me anyway

 

[Vinayaka]

I'm a paper book person myself too. Thanks for looking into it. I've emailed the organization again. If I don't hear from them I have one last option. I found the email of one of the chief editors (he's a member of a different temple community about an hour away)

Wise of you. Please let us know if you get a response.

 

[Vinayaka]

Oh I want to buy the whole thing, it would just be easier to justify the expense if I could spread it out, like 1 volume per month

I'm imagining at some point my lust for books will overwhelm me anyway

That's what low cost borrowing accounts are for. Banks do offer them, reluctantly.

 

[Poeticus]

The bad reviews are from people who bought from third party sellers - which is the risk you take when you don't want to pay full price for something I guess. I have read it is very good. I am hoping to obtain a copy as a donation gift for the Indian Temple in June, but I want to make sure it is something with a good reputation. For that I need to know at least some of the people who did the research for it.

Holy smokes, Batman! I just realized what you are trying to do. You are willing to spend hundreds of dollars and gift the copy to a Hindu temple. That's freakin' awesome! I think that is a very noble venture, and I wish you all the best and hope that this encyclopedia is everything you hope it to be.

I'm a paper book person myself too. Thanks for looking into it. I've emailed the organization again. If I don't hear from them I have one last option. I found the email of one of the chief editors (he's a member of a different temple community about an hour away)

Going by its Wiki page, it seems it was well received by both Hindus and non-Hindus (e.g., both the Dalai Lama and L.K. Advani were present at the preview and blessings ceremony). In other words, you can't really go wrong by hoping it will be, at least somewhat, pro-Hindu in its representation(s) of Dharma. Plus, I really want a copy for my personal library collection because it's not only about Hinduism but covers topics that have pretty much anything and everything to do with "India-derived" (from the Wiki page: "The encyclopaedia 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.").

 

[lovemuffin]

vinay: it's more of a "explaining why you want to spend $600 on a Hindu encyclopedia set to your wife" problem than a cash-flow problem, if you follow me

 

[Vinayaka]

Don't then. You can get as much information or more on-line for free. HDF (Hindu Dharma Forums) for example has one extremely massive digital library. Himalayan Academy publishers of Hinduism Today and more has all their stuff free on line. So do many individual sampradayas. You can read every issue of Hinduism Today from the past 30 years for free. Or you can ask here. The digital age is upon is, and you won't see me buying it either.

 

[Vinayaka]

That is a very generous offer. My temple doesn't even have a library.

Himalayan Academy (off topic) is auctioning off a Bhagavad Gita collection ... over 70 versions and translations. The last bid was only 250 or so. So a serious scholar who likes to do serious comparisons could get a deal there.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

Holy smokes, Batman! I just realized what you are trying to do. You are willing to spend hundreds of dollars and gift the copy to a Hindu temple. That's freakin' awesome! I think that is a very noble venture, and I wish you all the best and hope that this encyclopedia is everything you hope it to be.

.

I only mentioned it because I felt like I needed to explain the need for the information. I have contacted the temple to ask if they already have a copy or if they think it wouldn't be appropriate for the library (You never know- I'm not a scholar or an expert on scholars so I have no idea if it's legit or not) They contacted me saying, yes, they would be interested but needed to know who contributed to it - which is totally fare.

Well, if I can't get the info, I can always use that money in another capacity to support the temple.

 

[Vinayaka]

I see we discussed this before too. Encyclopedia of Hinduism | ReligiousForums.com I have such a poor memory for whats been discussed.