Irvine Temple Donates The Monumental ‘Encyclopedia of Hinduism’ To Chapman Univ

India-West Staff Reporter

ORANGE, CA — The Irvine Hindu Mandir has presented Chapman University’s Leatherby Libraries with a landmark gift: the monumental ‘Encyclopedia of Hinduism,’ the first comprehensive work of its kind in the English language.

The 11-volume set, weighing 75 pounds and valued at $995, represents decades of scholarly dedication. The richly illustrated encyclopedia spans more than 7,000 pages, authored by 1,500 scholars, edited by 45 academic experts, and reviewed by an additional panel of specialists.

The donation was made possible through the efforts of Irvine Hindu Mandir volunteer Suresh Lohiya, who described the project as “an extraordinary achievement created over many years with deep dedication, scholarship, and passion.” Lohiya has previously facilitated donations of the encyclopedia to Soka University and California State University, Long Beach.

At Chapman, Pradeep Madaan and Deepak Sharma of Irvine Hindu Mandir joined the small group of faculty members and library leaders in recognizing the significance of the gift. Professor Pradip Shukla of Chapman University spoke on how the encyclopedia strengthens the university’s mission of preparing students to be global citizens.

Essraa Nawar, Chapman’s Director of Special Collections and Assistant Dean of the Leatherby Libraries, expressed gratitude, noting that the addition will provide valuable resources to students, researchers, and community members.

The program concluded with a guided visit to Chapman’s Fish Interfaith Center, highlighting the university’s ongoing commitment to spiritual inclusivity and interfaith understanding.