Presentation of the International Edition of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism to the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee

(photo from indiaeducationdiary.in)

To celebrate decades of work done by thousands of scholars, historians, curators, professors, and various other experts, Mandala Publishing and The India Heritage Research Foundation presented the beautiful 11-volume international edition of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism to President Mukherjee today, June 23, 2014, with approximately 500 esteemed guests and dignitaries in attendance.

The guests included Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji; Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Pachauri; Raoul Goff, Mandala Publications CEO and Publisher; Vandana Shiva; Shri L.K. Advani, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha); Dr. Karan Singh, Chairman, Auroville Foundation; Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Director General, TERI; and Father Anil Jose Tomas Couto, Archbishop of Delhi, among many others. 

During his speech, the President focused on the search for truth prevalent in Hinduism. In the search for truth, the Encyclopedia of Hinduism, the most comprehensive collection to date on this most ancient of religions and cultures, is sure to take its place as the definitive resource for both scholars and the general population. Read more about the presentation at India Education Diary, linked here: India Education Diary: President of India receives a copy of Encyclopedia of Hinduism

Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, founder/chairman of the India Heritage Research Foundation and of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism project, explains:

"The wisdom, truths, teachings, and insights of Indian and Hindu culture are not limited to or applicable to only Hindus or Indians. Rather they belong to the world and can deeply benefit the world. It is, therefore, our aim that the richness of this ancient yet timeless culture and heritage should be made available to the entire world, in a way that is authentic, academic, comprehensive and illuminating. However, of course, the teachings, truths, tenets and insights of Sanatan Dharma took birth in India. Therefore, to have the religious leaders of India present the Encyclopedia to the Honourable President is a beautiful and most-fitting symbol of the 'Unity in Diversity' which is our Mother India."

To learn more about the Encyclopedia of Hinduism, please go to www.theencycloopediaofhinduism.com. 

2012 ForeWord Book of the Year Award Finalists Announced

ForeWord Reviews has announced the 2012 Book of the Year Awards list of finalists. Representing more than 700 publishers, the finalists were selected from 1,300 entries in 62 categories. These books are examples of independent publishing at its finest.

The following two titles from Earth Aware Editions and Mandala Publishing are finalists for the 2012 Book of the Year Awards:


By God's Grace (Mandala Publishing), Mind & Spirit category
By Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Preface: Rabbi David Rosen, 
Foreword: His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso The Dalai Lama
Hardcover, Price: $50.00

By God’s Grace is an absorbing portrait of the extraordinary life of a renowned Indian spiritual leader, Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati. Practical wisdom, a connection to the Divine, and global action have made him one of India's most renowned and beloved spiritual teachers. 

Elaborately illustrated, the book traces his journey from childhood in the jungles of India to the company of world leaders, from Himalayan villages to the podiums of the United Nations, the World Economic Forum, and other venues of global change. His projects are unprecedented, including a cleanup of the 1,560-mile-long Ganges River and a six-million-word encyclopedia of Hinduism. 

American-born author Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Ph.D., moved to India in 1996. She was officially ordained by Pujya Swamiji into the tradition of sanyas and lives at Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh, where she serves Pujya Swamiji's humanitarian projects, teaches meditation, gives discourses, and counsels individuals and families. She lives in Rishikesh, India.

A Day in the World (Earth Aware Editions), Photography category
By Jeppe Wikström, Foreword: Richard Branson, Introduction: Desmond Tutu
Hardcover, Price: $50.00

One day, millions of perspectives. On May 15, 2012, people from around the globe picked up their cameras to record their lives—A Day in the World is the result. 

Professionals and amateur shutterbugs alike are featured in this beautiful edition, the most comprehensive photographic documentation of daily life ever made.

Including tribal areas and urban sprawl, intimate portraits and riotous events, the book was the brainchild of the movement Aday.org (a branch of the foundation Expressions of Humankind), a unique project that celebrates
the power of photography to encourage cultural understanding. The foundation's council includes Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Sir Richard Branson, and a host of other luminaries and advocates. Author Jeppe Wikström
is one of Scandinavia's best-known and most-published photographers, with some 20 book titles to his credit.

Wikström is one of the founders of the nonprofit Expressions of Humankind, which works to promote human understanding through photography, and created the A Day in the World project.

ForeWord’s Book of the Year Awards program was created to highlight the year’s most distinguished books from independent publishers. Award winners are chosen by librarians and booksellers who are on the front lines, working every day with patrons and customers.

By God's Grace

Practical wisdom, a connection to the divine, and global action - these are the traits of Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati that have made him one of India's most renowned and beloved spirutal teachers.

By God's Grace celebrates his lifetime of devotional service to humanity, the environment, and the Supreme.

The book traces Pujya Swami's journey from childhood in the jungles of India to the company of world leaders, from Himalayan villages to the podiums of the United Nations, the World Economic Forum, and other venues of global change.

His projects are unprecedented, including a cleanup of the 1,560-mile long Ganges River and a six-million-word encyclopedia of Hinduism. Swamiji's teachings are profoundly simple, frequently wrapped in humor, and applicable to all.

The prodigal variety of stories ranges from evocations at the mountainous summit of the world, from cacophonous urban battlefields to silent forest retreats - an impassioned life, a one-man civilization drawn in bold strokes and bright colors. Here is a journey of the enlightened life to be cherished again and again.

By God's Grace
Hardcover | $50.00

The New Long March

The stunning array of photographs in China: An Intimate Look at the Past andPresent gloriously captures the country today by revisiting the legendary military route the Long March. With a rich palette of vibrant and lush compositional photos, this touching and breathtaking 396-page tome documents the human endurance, tenacity, and fortitude that unified the Chinese people seventy-five years ago. This epic military journey remains an inspiration for modern China, and a testament to their enduring spirit.

The “Long March” refers to the path taken by the Red Army of the Chinese Communist Party, a precursor to the People's Liberation Army, to retreat from the domineering Kuomintang (KMT or Chinese Nationalist Party) army. This iconic troop withdrawal across the harsh wilds of China in 1934 was transformed into a galvanizing journey, setting the stage for the creation of the People’s Republic of China. The Long March marked the rise of Mao Zedong. Mao’s leadership during this military evacuation stirred the spirit of the Chinese Communist Party’s Red Army and gained him their support. In 2011, an international team of photographers was dispatched along that same iconic route, from Jiangxi in the southeast to Gansu and Shaanxi in the northwest. Their majestic work grants you an unprecedented glimpse into an event that shaped a nation. 

China features 320 electrifying and moving full-color photographs, revelatory illustrations, and maps for geographic contextualization. This grand coming-of-age saga brings to life the monumental transformations that China underwent, as villages became cities and dirt roads became superhighways, with the buzz of industry and commerce filling the air. Bearing witness to the changes have been the people of China, whose resilience, pride, determination, and perseverance are illuminated — the same spirit that turned the Long March from a disaster into a triumph.

An Augmented Reality feature transforms the book into an interactive experience with video footage, audio of traditional songs, and additional photographs. With contributions by a group of celebrated photographers, along with maps, timelines, and historical images and artwork, China provides an insightful and wholly original retelling of one of the most significant events in Chinese history. Informative and visually transcendent, this is a must-have for history and photo buffs.

China: An Intimate Look at the Past and Present

A Photographic Journey of the New Long March

Download The New Long March app for the iPad or iPhone to unlock more digital content when used with the book.   

American Adventures Month

Summer is nearly over but we're excited to hear and see what places you may have visited during these last few months or plan to visit during American Adventures Month. 

Did you recently take a trip to one of The National Parks here in the U.S.? If so, please head over to our Facebook Page to share some photographs you may have taken on your American Adventure. 

Olympic National Park, photograph by Ian Shive

And if you haven't already checked out Ian Shive's latest photography book, you might want to pick up a copy for your armchair travels. 

The gorgeous images on each page will have you yearning for a vacation getaway and will inspire you to seek out the quiet spots in America that are captured inside The National Parks: Our American Landscape.

Happy Travels!