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.

Brahmaśilā

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Brahmaśilā literally means ‘the stone of Brahmā’.

Temples are built as per the instructions given in the āgamas. The garbhagṛha or the sanctum sanctorum is the heart of the temple structure. The icon of the deity is placed in the center of this. Below the icon, several objects are placed one above the other, starting with the ādhāraśilā (base stone).

Over this are placed a pot, tortoise and lotus made of stone. Two more tortoises and lotuses made of silver and gold and a funnel shaped tube called ‘yoganālā’ is placed on it. Above yoganālā the slab brahmaśilā is placed. The brahmaśilā will be at the floor level. The icon is placed over this brahmaśilā.

References[edit]

  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

Contributors to this article

Explore Other Articles