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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.


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.

Naisṭhika-brahmacārin

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Naisṭhika-brahmacārin literally means ‘the brahmacārin Vedic student who remains steadfast to his guru throughout his life’.

Students residing in the house of the guru or gurukula for pursuing Vedic studies, were of two types:

  1. The upakurvāṇa - They stayed for a limited period like twelve years or even less and would offer gurudakṣiṇā[1] before leaving.
  2. The naiṣṭhika - The latter stayed on till their death. They were to remain celibate, serve their guru and also pursue their Vedic studies. If the teacher died, they were to serve the teacher’s son or the wife. They were the perpetual students.

Keeping the Vedic fire of the guru burning without being put out was one of their sacred duties, apart from Vedic studies and begging for food. They had to abjure all the luxuries that violate their vows. Some dharmaśāstra writers opine that physically handicapped persons like the blind, the crippled were to remain as naiṣṭhika brahmacārins[2] though the able bodied persons too could opt for this life.


References[edit]

  1. ↑ Gurudakṣiṇā means fee or presents.
  2. ↑ Naiṣṭhika brahmacārins means the perpetual students.
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

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