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.

Gomukha

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Gomukha literally means ‘mouth of the cow’.

Origin of River Gaṅgā[edit]

Gomukha is the place of origin of the river Gaṅgā. It is considered a highly sacred place. Sixteen kilometers (ten miles) from Gaṅgotri in Uttaranchal, a rivulet Devagāḍ joins the Gaṅgā. At a further distance of 6.5 kms. (4 miles) there is pine-grove. Gomukha is further up from here.

The river Gaṅgā emerges below a glacier. Water of the river is extremely cold. Pilgrims are advised to visit before the sun rises up, as the heat of the sun’s rays will start melting the rocks of ice. Then it becomes very difficult for them to walk back.

A Yogāsana[edit]

Gomukha is also the name of one of the yogāsanas described in Haṭhayoga.

A Cloth Bag[edit]

Vaiṣṇava sādhakas, generally use an L-shaped cloth bag to conceal their japamālā (rosary) while doing japa. This is called ‘gomukha’.


References[edit]

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