Colonial Discourse and the Suffering of Indian American Children Book Cover.webp

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.


This book is the result of four years of rigorous research and academic peer-review, reflecting our ongoing commitment at Hindupedia to challenge the representation of Hindu Dharma within academia.

Aponaptriyā

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Aponaptriyā is a minor ritual conducted during the Somayāga. Water is drawn from a river on the day prior to the extraction of the soma juice and preserved in a vessel called vasatīvarī. Then the water drawn on the morning of ritual extraction is kept in vessels named ekadhanā and ceremonially mixed with appropriate hymns.[1]

This hymn is also known by the same name as the rite itself. The hotṛ (priest, representing the Rgveda) is advised to recite the first stanza (pra devatrā brahmaṇe ...) continuously thrice. This will induce Parjanya, the rain-god, to give rains where and when necessary.

This rite will also help the yajamāna (performer of sacrifice) to complete the sacrifice without any obstacles or hitch.


References[edit]

  1. Rgveda 10.30
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore