Columbia (South Carolina), Aug 27 (PTI):
 
A 25-year quest by nearly 1,000 scholars to document and present one of the world's oldest living traditions came to fruition when the 'Encyclopedia of Hinduism' was unveiled here today.

Hundreds of scholars, dignitaries, students, Hindu leaders and the public converged on the University of Southern California campus to witness the release of much anticipated and definitive 11-volume guide conceived, compiled and produced by the India Heritage Research Foundation.

Those present on the occasion included South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Indian Consul General in Atlanta Ajit Kumar and Gandhian Anna Hazare.

The two-day event coinciding with the release featured some of the top Indian scholars who discussed the significance of the encyclopedia and the richness and diversity of Indian culture that binds more than one billion people worldwide.

The event is the launch of the international edition of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama had launched the Indian edition in 2010 in Rishikesh.

Dr Harris Pastides, President of University of South Carolina, said that he was humbled to see the encyclopedia being launched in his campus.

"It is a deep honor to be participating in the American release of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism. This is a remarkable work of scholarship and research. I hope that many in academia and in everyday life will turn to it as a resource to better understand the characters, the tenets, and the impact that Hinduism has had, and is having in the world," he said.

Consul General Kumar said India and Hindus all over the world are grateful to the University of South Carolina for the launch of the monumental work.

The comprehensive encyclopedia has 11-volume work and it covers Hindu spiritual beliefs, practices and philosophy, and is the culmination of a 25-year academic effort.

The encyclopedia is written in English and includes about 7,000 articles on Hinduism and its practices.

The work also deals with Indian history, languages, art, music, dance, architecture, medicine, and women's issues. It contains more than 1,000 illustrations and photographs.

The encyclopedia's volumes run from 600 to more than 700 pages. Some 3,000 copies are being printed in first edition.

Hinduism is the world's third-largest religion, with 1 billion followers, according to a Pew Research Center study. Christians number 2.2 billion and Muslims 1.6 billion.

Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, president of Divine Shakti Foundation and managing editor of the encyclopedia, said the two-day conference aims to deepen a conversation among cultures as part of India's quest for spiritual unity.

"Indian cultural and spiritual traditions, encompassed within the religion known as Hinduism offer some of the deepest and most universally applicable insights, truths and teachings. Unfortunately, these tend to be misunderstood in the West.
"The Encyclopedia of Hinduism brings together, in a format comprehensible and accessible to people of all cultures, all religions and all walks of life, the depth and breadth of this ancient yet timeless heritage," she said.

The encyclopedia, also called the 'Project of the third Millennium', began in 1987 under the leadership of Chidanand Saraswati. The offices for the project were located at the University of South Carolina.

"The Encyclopedia of Hinduism, a comprehensive compilation of the spiritual and cultural heritage of India, provides a rich tapestry of Hinduism in the global context, a great gift to mankind," said Meera Narasimhan, Vice Dean of Innovative Healthcare Technologies of University of South Carolina School of Medicine.

Raoul Goff, founder of publisher of Insight Editions, Mandala Publishing, said the aim was to present the comprehensive structure of Hinduism as a total life experience covering not only textual material and oral traditions but the whole spectrum of Hinduism consisting of regional forms and variations of Hindu self-identity.

The University of South Carolina also announced CarolIndia a celebration of India through a series of Fall and Spring events.

Led by the College of Arts and Sciences Walker Institute, CarolIndia aims at elevating campus and community understanding of India’s growing importance as the world’s largest democracy and a rising global economy.

In addition to visiting scholars, the special "bharata ka utsava" (celebration of India) will feature film festivals, lectures, concerts and exhibits.