BANGALORE, INDIA, August 11, 2008: It has been described as one of the world’s biggest lexicography work, begun in 1948 and expected to be completed in another 50 years from now. The Sanskrit dictionary project undertaken by the Deccan College of Pune has already seen three generations of lexicographers at work and many more to go.
The only other comparison in the field of lexicography is the work undertaken by the Oxford English dictionary and its 20-volume dictionary of English. But the Sanskrit dictionary project is different, with ten million words from the Rig Veda to texts written until 1800 CE studied and their etymological meanings provided.
While it was originally contemplated to bring out the dictionary in 20 volumes, so far it is expected to result in the publication of 50 volumes.
Unlike conventional dictionaries which deal with word meanings as static, one-item entries, this dictionary adopts a historical approach, a special feature in the field of lexicography. The larger purpose of the project, apart from conveying to the people on how the meanings of some Sanskrit words changed with history, is to highlight the ancient Indian knowledge encompassing nearly 65 fields like science, music, geography, history, religion, astronomy and architecture.
Karan Singh: Proud To Be a Hindu
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lifestyle/Spirituality/Mind_over_Matter/I_AM_Karan_Singh/articleshow/3348041.cms
NEW DELHI, INDIA, August 10, 2008: [HPI Note: These are excerpts from an interview with Karan Singh, one of India’s rare openly Hindu political leaders]
“For us in India, we conceptualize God as an all-pervasive divine and see His myriad manifestations in everything around us. I see universe as an emanation of that divine. For me, the miracle of being a human being is the possibility to access that divine in our own conscience.
“I believe that man, still in an intermediate stage between the animal and the divine, can raise himself to a higher plane of being if he makes a conscious and dedicated effort to do so and that there is no nobler endeavor than this aspiration towards divinity. I feel that each human being carries within himself a spark of divinity. Our true destiny revolves around the fanning of this spark into the flame of spiritual realization. To attain this end, rituals may play an important role. They are actually meant to make our mind concentrate on the divine and give us some concepts and ideas to mull upon. I find rituals very beautiful and interesting. I chant mantras every morning and perform aarti in a very traditional manner.
“I am not superstitious and would not wear all kinds of charms just like that. But yes, if something makes me feel more connected to God, I would surely have it with me all the time like an om namah shivaya bracelet that I have been wearing since time immemorial.