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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.

Rantideva

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Sacrificing oneself for the betterment of others has always been considered as a great virtue in religion. One of the greatest examples found in the epics and the purāṇas is that of the king Rantideva. He was the son of Saṅskṛti and belonged to the Candravanśa.[1] He had performed many yāgas or Vedic sacrifices. He was once doing severe austerities in the forest along with his family. As a part of this, he fasted for 48 days. On the 49th day he received divine food, just enough for him and his family. As the family was getting ready to partake the food, a few hungry guests came one after another. Rantideva gave away all the food, including the meagre drinking water.

These guests who were actually the Trimurtis[2] appeared before him. Rantideva honored them with devoted obeisance but never asked for any boon. The gods then granted him and his family highest spiritual wisdom.[3] According to the Mahābhārata,[4] the king Rantideva was very fond of feeding guests sumptuously and offering them gifts liberally.


References[edit]

  1. ↑ Candravanśa means the lunar race.
  2. ↑ Trimurtis are Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva.
  3. ↑ Bhāgavata 9.21
  4. ↑ Dronaparva 67
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

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