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.

Sarva mangala ashtakam

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

Vadhi Raja Theertha’s Sri Sarva Mangalashtakam

By
Sri Vadhiraja Theetha

Translated by
P.R.Ramachander

(Sri Vadhi Raja Theertha is a great saint from the Dwaitha system. Here is a remarkable prayer for auspiciousness written by him. Every stanza requests a group of gods/people/ sages, planets etc to bless us with auspiciousness. I have earlier translated a similar stotra called “Vara Mangalashtakam” By Kalidasa- http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/o20.htm )

1.Lakshmeer yasya parigraha Kamalabhoor soonu, Karuthman Radha,
Pouthra Chandra Vibhooshana , Suraguru seshassayana,
Brahmandam vara mandiram , Sura ganaa yasya prabho ssevaka,
Sa trilokya kutumba palana para , Kuryath sada Mangalam.

Lakshmi married him , his son is lotus born , Garuda is his vehicle,
His grandson is lord Shiva who wears the moon who is the teacher of Devas,
Adhisesha is his bed , the universe is his divine home, All devas are his servants,
And let that God who looks after all the families of three worlds, bless me always with auspiciousness.

2.Brahma , Vayu , Giresa , Seshha , Garudaa Devendra, kamou , Guru,
Chandar arkou varunaa analou anupamou Vidhyes vigneswarou,
Nasathyou niruthir maruth gana yuthaa , parjanya mithradhaya ,
Sasthreega sura pungava , prathi dinam kurvanthu vo mangalam.

Let Brahma, wind god .Lord shiva , Adhisesha , Indra , Kama, Brahaspathi(Guru) ,
Chandra, Sun god , Varuna , fire God, Manu, Yama , Kubhera and Ganesa,
Lord of death , Niryathi , wind God , Lord of rain and Sun God,
And all these devas with their ladies, May bless me daily with auspiciousness.

3.Viswamithra , Parasarou Bragavo Agasthya , Pulasthya , Krathu,
Sriman Athri , Mareechi Kouthsa , pulahaa , Sakthi , Vasishto , angeera,
Mandavyo Jamadagni , Gowthama , Bharadwaja aadhya thapasa,
Srimad Vishnu padabja Bhakthi niradaa , Kurvanthu no mangalam.

Let sages like Viswamithra , Parasara , Bhargava , Agasthya, Pulasthya , Krathu,
Athri , Mareechi Kuthsa , Pulaha , Sakthi , Vasishta , Angeeras,
Mandavya , Jamadagni , Gowthama and Bhardwaja , who are,
Devotees of the lotus like feet of Vishnu, Bless me with auspiciousness.

4.Maandathaa, nahusho , Ambareesha , sagarou Raja prathur haihayasya ,
Sriman Dharma sutho , Nalo, Dasaratho, Ramo, Yayathi , yathu,
Ikshuvakuscha , Vibheeshana Bharatha cha Uthana pada , druva,
Vidhyadhyaa bhuvi buja , prathi dinam kurvanthu vo Magalam

Let kings Mandatha , Nahusha , Ambareesha , Sagara , Prathu, Haihaya ,
Dharma puthra , Nala , Dasaratha , Rama , Yayathi , Yathu,
Ikshuvaku , Vibhishana, Bharatha , Uthana pada , Druva ,
And others who looked after the earth bless me daily with auspiciousness.

5.Sri Merur, Himavanscha , Mandara giri Kailsa sailai thadhaa ,
Mahendro ,malayascha , vindhya nishadhou Simha sthadhaa Raivatha,
SAhyadrir vara Gandhamadhna girir , Mainaka , GHomanthaka,
Vidhyadhyaa bhuvi boo brutha , prathi dinam kurvanthu vo mangalam.

Let the mountains Meru, Himalaya , Mandra , Kailasa c,
Mahendra . Malaya , Vindhya, Nishadha , Simha , Raivatha ,
Western ghats , the divine Gandhamadhana , Mainaka , Gomanthaka,
And others who carry the earth , bless me daily with auspiciousness.

6.Ganga, Sindhu, Saraswathi cha Yamuna , Godavari, Narmadhaa,
Krishnaa , BHeemarathi cha palgu , sarayu , Sri Gandaki , Gomathi,
Kaveri, Kapilaa Prayaga , vinathaa , Vethravathi , ithyadhayo,
Nadhya Sri Hari pada Pankaja Bhava , Kurvanthu vo Mangalam.

Let rivers Ganga , Sindhu, Saraswathi , Yamuna , Narmadha,
Krishna, Bheemarathi , Palgu, Sarayu , Gandaki , Gomathi,
Cauvery , Kapila, Prayaga Vinatha , Vethravathi and others,
Which are from the feet of Lord Vishnu bless me with auspiciousness.

7.Vedascho Upanishad ganascha vividhaa saanka puraanaan vidha,
Vedanthaa api manthra thanthra sahithaa stharka smrutheenaam ganaa,
Kavya alankruthi, neethi nataka ganaa , sabdascha naanaa vidha,
Sri Vishnor guna rasi keerthana karaa , kurvathu vo mangalam.

Let Vedas, all Upanishads SAnkhya , epics,
Vedanthaa , Manthra, Thanthra , Tharka , all smruthees,
Books , figure of speech , law books , All dramas and different words,
All of which praise Lord Vishnu’s characters , bless me with auspiciousness.

8.Aadhithyadhi nava grahaa Shubhakaraa , Meshadhayo Rasayo,
Nakshtrani sayogascha thidhaya , thad devathaa , thad ganaa ,
Maasabdhaa ruthuva sthadaiva divasaa sandhyasthadhaa rathraya ,
Sarve sthavara jangamaa prathi dinam Kurvanthu vo mangalam.

The nine planets like sun God which do good , The rasis starting from Mesha,
Stars , yogas , thidhis and their gods , Ganas ,
Months weeks , days , dusk as well as night ,
And let all moving and non moving things daily bless me with auspiciousness.

9.Ithyethawaa Mangalashtakamidham Sri VadhiRajeswarai ,
Vyakyatham jagadham abeeshta phaladham sarva asubha dwamsanam,
Mangalyadhi Shubha kriyasu sathatham sandhyasu va padeth,
Darmarthaadhi samastha vanchitha phalam prannothyasou manava.


This octet of auspiciousness written by Sri Vadhi raja,
Fulfills the desires of the world , would destroy all bad things of life,
And should always be read before commencement of auspicious rituals and,
At dusk and dawn and would bless the devotee with,
Dharma, wealth and fulfill all his desires.