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.

Shivaramashtakam

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swamy Ramananda

Translated By P.R.Ramachander

Here is a general prayer addressed to Lord Vishnu as well as Lord Shiva.

Hare shiva rama sakhe prabho,
Trividha thapa nivarana hey Vibho,
Aaja janeswara yadava pahi maam,
Shiva hare vijayam kuru may varam., 1

Hey Shiva, Hey Hare, Hey Rama, Hey friend, Hey Lord,
Hey Lord who cures the three types of sufferings,
Hey Lord without birth, Hey Lord of the people, Hey Yadava, protect me,
Hey Shiva, Hey Hare, grant me the victory of success.

Kamala lochana Rama Dayanidhe,
Hara Guro gaja rakshaka go pathe,
Shiva thano bhava Shankara Pahi maam,
Shiva hare vijayam kuru may varam., 2

Hey lotus eyed treasure of mercy, Lord Rama,
Hey Hara, Hey teacher, Hey elephant protector, Hey Lord of cows,
Hey God who is Shiva, Hey Shankara, protect me,
Hey Shiva, Hey Hare, grant me the victory of success.

Suja ranjana mangala mandiram,
Bhajathi they purusha param padam,
Bhavathi thasya Sukham paramadhbutham,
Shiva hare vijayam kuru may varam., 3

Hey entertainer of the good, with a form causing good,
That man who prays the divine being,
Reaches your most wonderful place,
Hey Shiva, Hey Hare, grant me the victory of success.

Jaya Yudhishtra vallabha bhoopathe,
Jaya jayarjitha punya payo nidhe,
Jaya krupa maya Krishna namosthu they,
Shiva hare vijayam kuru may varam., 4

Victory to the friend of Yudhishtra, Hey king
Victory to him who is the blessed ocean of victory,
Victory to all pervading mercy, Salutations to Krishna,
Hey Shiva, Hey Hare, grant me the victory of success.

Bhva vimochana Madhava maapathe,
Sukha vimana sahamsa Shivaarathe,
Janaka jaaratha Raghava raksha maam,
Shiva hare vijayam kuru may varam., 5

Hey Madhava who removes the fear of birth, Hey Lord of Lakshmi,
Hey swan of the mind of poets, Hey darling of Parvathi,
Hey Rama, darling of Sita, please protect me,
Hey Shiva, Hey Hare, grant me the victory of success.

Avani mandala mangala maapathe,
Jaladha Sundara Rama rama pathe,
Nigama keerthi gunarnava gopathe,
Shiva hare vijayam kuru may varam., 6

Hey consort of mother who does good to the world,
Hey Rama who is pretty with colour of cloud, Hey consort of Lakshmi,
Hey sea of goodness described in Vedas, Hey Lord of the cows,
Hey Shiva, Hey Hare, grant me the victory of success.

Pathitha pavana nama mayee latha,
Thava yaso vimalam parigeeyathe,
Thadapi Madhava Mam Kim upekshase,
Shiva hare vijayam kuru may varam., 7

Hey heavenly climber who likes the downtrodden,
I sing about your fame which is pure,
But why do you in spite of it,neglect me,
Hey Shiva, Hey Hare, grant me the victory of success.

Amaratha para deva rama pathe,
Vijayathasthava nama dhanopama,
Mayi kadham karunarnava jayathe,
Shiva hare vijayam kuru may varam., 8

Hey greatest God of devas, Hey consort of Lakshmi,
How can I ever get wealth, Oh giver of mercy,
Which can measure up to the victories of yours,
Hey Shiva, Hey Hare, grant me the victory of success.

Hanumatha Priya chaapakara Prabho,
Sura saridhrutha shekhara hey Guro,
Mama Vibho Kimu vismaranam krutham,
Shiva hare vijayam kuru may varam., 9

Hey Lord with a bow, who is very dear to Hanuman,
Hey teacher who wears the holy river on your head,
Oh Lord, why have you forgotten me, please,
Hey Shiva, Hey Hare, grant me the victory of success.

Aharahar jana ranchana sundaram patathi,
Ya shiva rama krutham sthavam,
Visathi rama ramana padambhuje,
Shiva hare vijayam kuru may varam., 10

That man who reads this pretty, people friendly,
Prayer written by Shiva Rama,
Would become fit to enter the lotus feet of Rama and Lakshmi,
Hey Shiva, Hey Hare, grant me the victory of success.

Pratar uthaya yo bhakthya patedh ekagara manasa,
Vijayo jayathe thasya Vishnumaradhyamapnuyath., 11

He who reads this with concentrated devotion in the morning,
Would attain all ound victory and would attain Vishnu whom he worships.

Ithi Sri Ramanand Swamina Virachitham Sri Shiva Ramashtakam Sampoornam.

Thus ends the octet of Shiva Rama written by Ramanand Swami.