History

The Encyclopedia of Hinduism Project was started in 1987 with a discussion between Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Dr. K.L. Seshagiri Rao. The India Heritage Research Foundation was established in 1989. Pujya Swami Chidanandji, founder of the IHRF, agreed to be the chairman of the Foundation, which sponsors the Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Dr. Rao was chosen as the editor in chief of the Encyclopedia project. A board of editors was formed and associate editors appointed. This was followed, in the next several years, with a series of international conferences which set the foundation for a projected eighteen volume Encyclopedia of Hinduism. By 1992 five hundred noted scholars were on board. These distinguished writers and editors are engaged in creating over 10,000 articles for the Encyclopedia.

 The international office of the Encyclopedia is located on the Columbia campus of the University of South Carolina. It is supported by the Religious Studies Department of the University.