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In this book, we analyze the psycho-social consequences faced by Indian American children after exposure to the school textbook discourse on Hinduism and ancient India. We demonstrate that there is an intimate connection—an almost exact correspondence—between James Mill’s colonial-racist discourse (Mill was the head of the British East India Company) and the current school textbook discourse. This racist discourse, camouflaged under the cover of political correctness, produces the same psychological impacts on Indian American children that racism typically causes: shame, inferiority, embarrassment, identity confusion, assimilation, and a phenomenon akin to racelessness, where children dissociate from the traditions and culture of their ancestors.


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Śunāsiriya

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Śunāsiriya literally means ‘guide of plough’.

Origin of Śunāsiriya[edit]

Śunāsiriya is the last of the four Vedic sacrifices grouped under the cāturmāsyas. It is referred to even in the Ṛgveda.[1] The word Sunā-sīra may refer to any of the following deities:

  1. Vāyu and Surya
  2. Surya and Indra
  3. Indra and two forms of Agni

Rituals of Śunāsiriya[edit]

Offering havis[2] in this sacrifice is considered as very important. It consists of puroḍāśa[3] cakes in twelve mud plates and also milk. This sacrifice can be performed at any time during the year. There is no uttaravedi.[4] The fire is not produced by araṇis. Attaining wealth and success in life are the twin purposes of performing this sacrifice.


References[edit]

  1. ↑ Ṛgveda 4.57.5 and 8
  2. ↑ Havis means special oblations.
  3. ↑ Puroḍāśa means rice.
  4. ↑ Uttarvedi means high alter erected in the east.
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

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Deval Sancheti

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