View source for Lokesh Chandra

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| name             = Lokesh Chandra
| image            = Lokesh Chandra.jpg
| birth_date       = {{birth-date and age|11 April 1927}}
| birth_place      = [[Rawalpindi]], [[British Punjab]]
| nationality      = Indian
| title            = Ex-President, [[ICCR]]<ref>http://iccr.gov.in</ref>
| education        = M.A., 1947, Ph.D., 1950
| occupation       = Scholar
}}
'''Prof. Lokesh Chandra''' (born 11 April 1927 in [[Ambala]], [[India]]) is a prominent scholar of the [[Vedas|Vedic period]], [[Buddhism]] and the Indian arts. Between 1942 and 2004, he published 576 books and 286 articles. 

He has also held many official positions in the Indian government and was twice member orf Indian Parliament (1974-1980) and (1980-1986).
== Biography ==
Lokesh Chandra was born on 11 April 1927 in [[Ambala]], [[India]]. He is the son of the famous [[Sanskrit]] scholar, linguist and politician [[Raghu Vira]]. After obtaining a master's degree at the [[University of the Punjab]] in [[Lahore]] in 1947, he edited the Gavamayana portion of the Vedic work Jaiminiya Brahmana with the help of newly discovered manuscripts. Chandra went to the Netherlands to study Old Javanese with the Indologist [[Jan Gonda]] at [[Utrecht University]], where he obtained a Ph.D. with the dissertation ''Jaiminiya Brahmana of the Samaveda II.1-80'' in March 1950.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sanchiuniv.org.in/pdf/Lokesh%20Chandra%20CV.pdf |title=Bio Data of Prof. Lokesh Ckandra, p.3|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=Sanchi University if Buddhist—Indic Studies |access-date=26 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728205214/http://www.sanchiuniv.org.in/pdf/Lokesh%20Chandra%20CV.pdf |archive-date=28 July 2014 |url-status=dead}}  and 11 September 2021.</ref> Among them are classics like his ''Tibetan-Sanskrit Dictionary'', ''Materials for a History of Tibetan Literature'', ''Buddhist Iconography of Tibet'', and his ''Dictionary of Buddhist Art'' in 15 volumes.<ref name="archive1" />

He is not only an eminent scholar, but has also held many official positions in the Indian government as a member of several committees: Education, Official Language, but also Tourism, Heavy Industry and many others, as his expertise was not limited to Buddhism and Indian Art, his favourite fields. He was also a member of the Indian Parliament twice (1974-1980) and (1980-1986).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sanchiuniv.org.in/pdf/Lokesh%20Chandra%20CV.pdf |title=Bio Data of Prof. Lokesh Ckandra, p.2|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=Sanchi University if Buddhist—Indic Studies |access-date=26 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728205214/http://www.sanchiuniv.org.in/pdf/Lokesh%20Chandra%20CV.pdf |archive-date=28 July 2014 |url-status=dead }} and 11 September 2021.</ref>

In 2006 he was conferred with [[Padma Bhushan]] by the Indian Government.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.india.gov.in/myindia/padmabhushan_awards_list1.php?start=210 |title=Padma Bhushan Awardees |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=archive.india.gov.in |publisher=Government of India |access-date=26 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727232800/http://archive.india.gov.in/myindia/padmabhushan_awards_list1.php?start=210 |archive-date=27 July 2014 |df=dmy-all }} and 11 September 2021.</ref>

He was the president of [[Indian Council for Cultural Relations]] during 2014–2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/24157/Prof+Lokesh+Chandra+appointed+as+the+17th+President+of+Indian+Council+for+Cultural+Relations|title = Prof. Lokesh Chandra appointed as the 17th President of Indian Council for Cultural Relations}}.</ref> He has also served as a member of the [[India]]n [[Rajya Sabha]], Vice-President of the [[Indian Council for Cultural Relations]], and Chairman of the [[Indian Council of Historical Research]].<ref name="archive1">{{cite web |url=http://14.141.36.212/hj/iccr_qc/content/bio-profile-prof-lokesh-chandra-president-iccr |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-02-08|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208213558/http://14.141.36.212/hj/iccr_qc/content/bio-profile-prof-lokesh-chandra-president-iccr |archive-date=8 February 2015 |df=dmy-all }} and  11 September 2021.</ref>
== Works ==
Between [[1942]] and [[2004]], Lokesh Chandra published numerous books (alone or as co-author) and articles, totalling 862 publications.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sanchiuniv.org.in/pdf/Lokesh%20Chandra%20CV.pdf |title=Bio Data of Prof. Lokesh Ckandra, p.8-27 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=Sanchi University if Buddhist—Indic Studies |access-date=26 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728205214/http://www.sanchiuniv.org.in/pdf/Lokesh%20Chandra%20CV.pdf |archive-date=26 July 2014|url-status=dead }} and 11 September 2021.</ref>  While it is not possible to reproduce an exhaustive list, here are some of the most frequently cited.
=== Books ===
*''Titbetan-Sanskrit Dictionary'' in 12+7 volumes, New Delhi, International Academy of Indian Culture and Aditya Prakashan, 1961, reprint in 1971, 1991, 1993 {{ISSN|0581-8532}}.
* ''Nīlakaṇṭha Lokeśvara as the Buddhist apotheosis of Hari-hara'', New Delhi, International Academy of Indian Culture, 1979, 18p.<ref>''Nīlakaṇṭha Lokeśvara as the Buddhist apotheosis of Hari-hara'', read online : [https://www.worldcat.org/title/nilakantha-lokesvara-as-the-buddhist-apotheosis-of-hari-hara/oclc/498593454?referer=di&ht=edition]. Retrieved 11 September 2021.</ref>
* ''The Thousand-armed Avalokiteśvara, Volume1'', New Delhi,  Abhinav Publications, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, 1988, 303 p., {{ISBN|9788170172475}}.<ref>''The Thousand-armed Avalokiteśvara, Volume1'', read online :[https://books.google.com.vn/books?id=0kBSFcX-K4wC&redir_esc=y]. Retrieved 9 September 2021. The book is also available on  [[Internet Archive]], read online:[https://archive.org/details/170338465-the-thousand-armed-avalokitesvara/mode/2up]. Retrieved 11 September 2021.</ref>
* ''Dictionary of Buddhist Iconography''. Śata-pitaka series: Indo-Asian literatures in 15 volumes, New Delhi, Published by International Academy of Indian Culture and Aditya Prakashan, 1999-2005, {{ISSN|0581-8532}}.
*''India's Contributions to World Thought and Culture'' (Collective work edited by Lokesh Chandra), Madras, Publishers: Vivekananda Rock Memorial Committee, 1971, 838 p.<ref>''India's Contributions to World Thought and Culture'', read online :[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.107624/page/n3/mode/2up]. Retrieved 11 September 2021.</ref>
*''Transcendental Art of Tibet'', New Delhi, Published by International Academy of Indian Culture and Aditya Prakashan, 1996, 234 p. {{ISBN|9788186471890}}.
* ''Cultural Horizons of India: Studies in Tantra and Buddhism, art and archaeology, language and literature (Śata-pitaka series :Indo-Asian literatures  in 7 volumes n° : 361, 366, 370, 381, 388, 390, 391), New Delhi, Published by International Academy of Indian Culture and Aditya Prakashan, 1990-1998, {{ISBN|8185179522}} (ISBN of the 1st volume).<ref>''Cultural Horizons of India: read online [https://www.worldcat.org/title/cultural-horizons-of-india-studies-in-tantra-and-buddhism-art-and-archaeology-language-and-literature/oclc/25080906]. Retrieved 11 September 2021.</ref>
* ''Kāranda-vyūha-sūtra or The supernal virtues of Avalokiteśvara'', New Delhi, International Academy of Indian Culture and Aditya Prakashan,   1999,  295 p, {{ISBN|9788186471890}}.
* With Raghu Vira, ''Gilgit Buddhist Manuscripts.'' Śata-pitaka series in 10 vol. Revised and Enlarged Compact Facsimile Edition. New Delhi: International Academy of Indian Culture, 1959–74, reprint in 1995 (3 volumes)  by Sri Satguru Publishers, {{ISBN|9788170304449}} and {{ISBN|9788170304456}}.<ref>''Gilgit Buddhist Manuscripts.''  Front Cover [https://books.google.com/books/about/Gilgit_Buddhist_Manuscripts.html?id=xpeDJwAACAAJ&redir_esc=y]. Retrieved  11 September 2021.</ref>
* With Sharada Rani, ''Mudras in Japan'',. Volume 243 of Śata-pitaka series :Indo-Asian literatures,  New Delhi, 1978 (Reprint :Vedams eBooks in  2001), 302 p. {{ISBN|9788179360002}}.<ref>''Mudras in Japan'', read online [https://books.google.com./books?id=YxamptX6L74C&hl=fr&source=gbs_navlinks_s]. Retrieved 11 September 2021.</ref>
=== Articles ===
* ''The Origin of Avalokitesvara'', Indologica Taurinenaia, publié par [[International Association of Sanskrit Studies]] , Volume XIII, p. 187-202,(1985-1986).<ref>{{cite journal |date=1985-1986|title=The Origin of Avalokitesvara|journal= Indologica Taurinenaia, publié par [[International Association of Sanskrit Studies]] (IASS), Volume XIII, p. 187-202|pages=|url=http://www.asiainstitutetorino.it/Indologica/volumes/vol13/vol13_art13_CHANDRA.pdf|access-date=9 September 2021}}.</ref>
* ''Origin of The Avalokiteśvara of Potala'', A journal of Himalayan Studies, 1979.<ref> {{cite journal |date=1979|title=Origin of The Avalokiteśvara of Potala|journal=A journal of Himalayan Studies. Ratna Pustak Bhandar|pages=21 pages|url= https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/1810/227204/kailash_07_01_01.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y |access-date=11 September 2021}}.</ref>
==See also==
*[[Nīlakaṇṭha Dhāraṇī]], article in which several texts of Lokesh Chandra are presented and quoted.
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
==External links==
* {{cite AV media |people=Lokesh Chandra,  Yashaswini Chandra |title=Buddhist iconography: Dr. Lokesh Chandra in conversation with Dr. Yashaswini Chandra |medium=Video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_t-gC73AtI}}

{{Buddhism topics}}
{{Modern Buddhist writers}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2000–09}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chandra, Lokesh}}
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian historians]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian linguists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in literature & education]]
[[Category:Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha]]
[[Category:Indian scholars of Buddhism]]
[[Category:Translators from Tibetan]]
[[Category:University of the Punjab alumni]]
[[Category:Utrecht University alumni]]
[[Category:People from Ambala]]
[[Category:Indian expatriates in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Scholars from Haryana]]
[[Category:Indian Buddhists]]


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