GyanVapy Wiki™ Community Editorial & Moderation Guidelines

Module: GyanVapy Wiki™ (Community Knowledge Base)
Document Type: Guidelines
Trademark: GyanVapy Wiki™ is a trademark of MyMahotsav Futuretech Ltd (™ pending)
Effective Date: 24th February 2026
Version: 1.0

Part A: Plain English Summary #

Building a Reliable Knowledge Base Together #

GyanVapy Wiki™ thrives because of contributors like you. These guidelines help ensure that our content remains accurate, respectful, and useful for everyone seeking knowledge about culture, festivals, faith, and rituals.

The Simple Truth #

• Quality Matters: We aim for well-researched, neutral, and verifiable content. Your contributions should reflect these standards.

• Respect All Perspectives: Cultural and religious topics often have multiple interpretations. Present diverse viewpoints fairly without promoting one as “the truth.”

• Cite Your Sources: Information should be verifiable. Include references to reliable sources whenever possible.

• Collaborate, Don’t Fight: Editing is a conversation. If you disagree with another editor, discuss on talk pages—don’t engage in edit wars.

• Moderators Are Here to Help: Volunteer moderators help maintain quality and resolve disputes. Their decisions should be respected.

Part B: Editorial Standards #

1. Core Content Principles #

1.1 Neutral Point of View (NPOV) : All articles must be written from a neutral perspective, representing significant views fairly, proportionately, and without bias. This is especially important for religious and cultural topics where multiple interpretations exist.

1.2 Verifiability: Information must be attributable to reliable, published sources. Readers should be able to verify that:

• The information comes from a credible source

• The source is appropriate for the claim being made

• The information is not original research or personal opinion

1.3 No Original Research: GyanVapy Wiki™ is not a place to publish original theories, personal interpretations, or unpublished work. All content must be based on existing, published sources.

2. Article Structure and Quality #

2.1 Article Titles: Use recognizable, commonly used names. For religious figures or concepts, include Sanskrit or regional language equivalents where appropriate.

2.2 Lead Section: Every article should begin with a clear, concise summary defining the topic and its significance.

2.3 Sections and Organization: Use logical section headings to organize content. For cultural topics, consider including:

• Historical background

• Significance and meaning

• Regional variations

• Rituals or practices

• Related traditions

• References and further reading

2.4 Disambiguation: Where terms have multiple meanings (e.g., a festival name used in different traditions), create disambiguation pages or clear section distinctions.

3. Religious and Cultural Content Guidelines #

3.1 Multiple Traditions: Many concepts in Sanatan Dharma, Buddhism, Jainism, and other traditions have varied interpretations across regions, sects, and time periods. Articles should reflect this diversity rather than presenting any single view as authoritative.

3.2 Sacred Texts: When quoting from scriptures:

• Provide specific citations (chapter, verse)

• Note variations in different recensions or translations

• Include context for the quotation

• Do not cherry-pick verses to prove a point

3.3 Living Traditions: For practices that continue today:

• Distinguish between historical practices and contemporary observance

• Acknowledge that practices may vary by community, region, or family tradition

• Avoid prescriptive language (“should,” “must”) unless describing orthodox requirements

3.4 Sensitive Topics: Some subjects (caste, gender roles in religion, historical conflicts) require particular care:

• Present facts without editorializing

• Include multiple scholarly perspectives

• Avoid inflammatory language

• Focus on documentation rather than advocacy

4. Citation Requirements #

4.1 What Requires Citation:

• Historical dates and events

• Interpretations of scriptures or traditions

• Statistical claims

• Quotations

• Any claim likely to be challenged

4.2 What Does Not Require Citation:

• Widely accepted common knowledge about a tradition

• Descriptions of basic practices (with caveats for variations)

4.3 Citation Format: Use consistent citation formatting including:

• Author

• Title of work

• Publication date

• Publisher

• Page numbers (for print sources)

• URL (for online sources)

• Access date (for online sources)

4.4 Preference for Sources: Prioritize:

• Scholarly publications

• Recognized religious authorities (with attribution)

• Primary sources (scriptures, historical documents)

• Reputable secondary sources

5. Writing Style #

5.1 Clarity: Write in clear, accessible language. Explain technical terms, especially Sanskrit terminology.

5.2 Tone: Maintain a formal, encyclopedic tone. Avoid:

• Promotional language (“this magnificent festival”)

• Dismissive language (“merely a superstition”)

• First-person perspectives (“I believe”)

• Editorial commentary (“unfortunately”)

5.3 Consistency: Use consistent spelling for Sanskrit terms (with diacritical marks where appropriate). Provide common alternative spellings.

5.4 Inclusive Language: Use language that respects all communities and traditions. Avoid terms that could be perceived as derogatory.

Part C: Moderation Framework #

1. Moderator Roles and Responsibilities #

1.1 Community Moderators: Experienced, trusted volunteers who help enforce guidelines, resolve disputes, and maintain quality.

1.2 Moderator Authority: Moderators may:

• Revert edits that clearly violate guidelines

• Protect pages experiencing vandalism or edit wars

• Block users who repeatedly violate policies

• Refer complex disputes to platform administrators

1.3 Moderator Accountability: Moderators are expected to:

• Act impartially

• Explain their decisions when requested

• Follow the same guidelines as all contributors

• Step aside from disputes where they have conflicts of interest

2. Moderation Actions #

3. Dispute Resolution Process #

3.1 Step 1: Discussion: When disagreements arise, first discuss on the article’s talk page. Assume good faith and seek consensus.

3.2 Step 2: Third Opinion: If direct discussion fails, request input from an uninvolved editor.

3.3 Step 3: Moderator Intervention: If consensus remains elusive, bring the matter to community moderators.

3.4 Step 4: Platform Review: For complex disputes involving serious allegations or repeated problems, platform administrators may make final decisions.

4. Handling Sensitive Content #

4.1 Reporting Mechanism: Users can report content that may violate these guidelines using the “Report” function.

4.2 Religious Sensitivity Reviews: Content that potentially disrespects religious sentiments may be flagged for review by moderators with relevant cultural knowledge.

4.3 Legal Compliance: Content that may violate applicable laws (hate speech, defamation) will be removed promptly upon confirmation.

Part D: Consequences of Violations #

4.1 Violations of these guidelines may result in:

• Content removal or revision

• Warnings on user accounts

• Temporary editing restrictions

• Account suspension

• Permanent ban (for severe or repeated violations)

4.2 The severity of consequences depends on:

• Nature and seriousness of the violation

• Whether it was intentional

• Prior history of violations

• Willingness to correct the issue