The 18 – volume Encyclopedia of Hinduism is being prepared as an authentic source of ready reference for one of the oldest, richest, and most influential traditions on earth. For the first time, a single resource will present the entire panorama of Hindu traditions and culture in the English language for the benefit of English-speaking people around the globe. The project is of great significance not only to Hindus but also to the whole Humanity. Although the Encyclopedia of Hinduism is intended to be an academically sound and useful publication, it will nonetheless be within the comprehension of the average educated person. The treatment will be in-depth but not abstruse; sensitive to the Hindu tradition but not parochial; informative regarding the rich and ancient heritage of India but also relevant to the modern world; education but not devoid of the spiritual substance which is the greatness of India's legacy.

Objectives

	To present the comprehensive structure of Hinduism as a total life experience, covering not only textual material and oral tradition, but also the whole spectrum of Hinduism consisting of regional forms and variations of Hindu self-identity.
	To bring out the spiritual and cultural significance of rites, ceremonies, festivals, sacraments and customs.
	To explain each sect, school and movement of Hinduism in its own perspective, together with scholarly interpretations of them.
	To bring out the unifying principles underlying the seeming diversity of various spiritual disciplines, schools of thought and religious sects.
	To explicate the resilience and significant features of Hinduism and their continuities and changes through vicissitudes of history.
	To present the holistic Hindu world-view which finds expression as a way of life.
	To communicate the Hindu attitude of acceptance and accommodation of many spiritual disciplines to the realization of Truth or God.
	To study the contributions of persons of all sections of Hindu society to spirituality and culture.
	To cover village, tribal, regional and other non-Sanskritic expressions of Hinduism as well as to capture women' s perspectives on significant issues and themes.

Hinduism encompasses an entire civilization and way of life that has evolved since the dawn of human civilization. Originating in India, the Hindu tradition has spread beyond the borders of the Indian subcontinent to Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands on the one hand, and to Africa, Europe and Americas on the other.

India has bestowed many practical gifts upon the world, including rice, cotton, sugarcane, mango, many spices, the game of chess and the concept of zero and the decimal system. Hindu contributions in the field of mathematics, metallurgy, and rice and agricultural cultivation are well known. Philosophically and spiritually, the historically significant teachings of Pythagoras and Plotinus are in the teaching of the Essence Brotherhood of ancient Judea. However, India has exercised its greatest influence on the West since the famous speech by Swami Vivekanand at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893. Since his appearance, many other stalwart spiritual leaders have endeavored to share the wisdom of India with their brothers and sisters in the Occident. These include Paramhansa Yoganand, Swami Rama Tirtha, Swami Muktananda, Sri Aurobindo and Mahatma Gandhi, as well as through the myriad available translations of Hindu scriptures, India's ancient wisdom continues to be a catalytic force in the transformation of the world.