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.

Guruvayupuresa sthavam

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

The prayer to Lord of Guruvayur
Translated by P.R.Ramachander

Kashtam yennude mujjanma papangal,
Dushtangalaya vyadhi swaroopangal,
Kettiyittu valaykkunnu dehavum,
Geeshpathimaru mandhira Govinda., 1

Alas, the sins of my previous births,
Taking the form of the shape of diseases,
Is tying and troubling my body,
Oh Govinda, the Lord of the town of air and Guru.

Kalu kondu nadappan vasamilla,
Kosa pole melinju sareeramavum,
Tholu thanne sareerathullu may,
Geeshpathimaru mandhira Govinda., 2

I am not able to walk with my feet,
The body has become thin like hair,
As only skin is left in my body,
Oh Govinda, the Lord of the town of air and Guru.

Keezhil cheydoru dosham kondallo,
Kezhumarayi vannathu jnan ippol,
Dosham koodathe Palicharulenam,
Geeshpathimaru mandhira Govinda., 3

Is it not because of the sins committed in the past,
That I am forced to weep and cry,
And so please protect me without any problems,
Oh Govinda, the Lord of the town of air and Guru.

Kuththa karanaam yennude dehathil,
Muthi vannithu vyadhigal okkeyum,
Mari thannau yenne kathu arulenamey,
Geeshpathimaru mandhira Govinda., 4

All the diseases have become very great,
In the body of mine who has done wrongs,
And so please cure them and protect me,
Oh Govinda, the Lord of the town of air and Guru.

Koopathil chadi chakayo vendathu,
Papam yethanum thinnu markkayo,
Yevam ingine thonunnu daivame,
Geeshpathimaru mandhira Govinda., 5

Should I die jumping in the well,
Or should this sinner eat something and die,
Oh God such thoughts come in to my mind,
Oh Govinda, the Lord of the town of air and Guru.

Kenu thane kazhiyunnu rathriyil,
Ooninilla ruchi oru thellume,
Kani nearm sukham yenikkilla,
Geeshpathimaru mandhira Govinda., 6

The entire night I spend breathing heavily,
There is no iota of taste for food,
And there is not a second of pleasure, for me,
Oh Govinda, the Lord of the town of air and Guru.

Kai thozhunnu jnan ende Bhagwane,
Cheydha papam nasipippathinnayittu,
Kaithavamalle chollunnathu onnume,
Geeshpathimaru mandhira Govinda., 7

My God, I salute you with folded hands,
So that the sins already done by me are destroyed,
After realizing that all things I tell are not anything great,
Oh Govinda, the Lord of the town of air and Guru.

Kollumarilla mathakkal makkale,
Vallathum cheydhal palippathe yullu,
Thellu samsayam koodathe palikka,
Geeshpathimaru mandhira Govinda., 8

The mothers never kill their children,
For any bad things done by them, they will only protect,
And so please protect me without any doubt,
Oh Govinda, the Lord of the town of air and Guru.

Kopamingena thonnathe yen pothi,
Papa santhi varuthi tharename,
Thapam ullathokke kalayename,
Geeshpathimaru mandhira Govinda., 9

Oh Protector, let not anger come to you,
Please help me to get over my sins,
And destroy all the pains that I have,
Oh Govinda, the Lord of the town of air and Guru.

Kounapandhaka, karunya varidhe,
Kanna, kar varna damodhara, achyutha,
Mannil ini janikkathirikkenam,
Geeshpathimaru mandhira Govinda., 10

Oh the one with loin cloth, sea of mercy,
Darling, the black coloured Damodara, Achyutha,
Let me be never be born in this world again,
Oh Govinda, the Lord of the town of air and Guru.

Kambamode marikkan anayumbol,
Thamburanam bhagwane kakkenam,
Kambam theerthu yenne katharulename,
Geeshpathimaru mandhira Govinda., 11

Along with sins, I am preparing to die,
Oh God who is my Lord, please protect me,
Remove my sins and please protect me,
Oh Govinda, the Lord of the town of air and Guru.

Govindanada Madhva Pahi maam,
Gopimaar nayanamrutha pahi maam,
Govindanada Madhva Pahi maam,
Govindanada Kesava pahi maam., 12

Please protect me Oh Govinda, and Oh Madhava,
Please protect me, Oh nectar of the eyes of Gopis,
Please protect me Oh Govinda, and Oh Madhava
Please protect me Oh Govinda, Oh Kesava.

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