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.

Sree Vishnu Shodasa Nama Stotram

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

Translated by P.R.Ramachander

The Vishnu Shodasa Nama Stotram is one of the prayers recited by devotees when they wake up. It is composed of sixteen names of Lord Vishnu.

Stotram[edit]

Oushade Chinthaye Vishnum,
Bhojane cha Janardhanam,
Sayane Padmanabham cha,
Vivahe cha Prajapathim.
Yuddhe Chakradharam devam,
Pravase cha Trivikramam,
Narayanam Thanu thyage,
Sreedharam  priya sangame,
Duswapne smara , Govindam,
Sankate Madhu sudhanam,
Kanane Narasimham cha,
Pavake Jalasayinam,
Jalamadhye Varaham cha,
Parvathe Raghu nandanam,
Gamane Vamanam Chaiva ,
Sarva Karyeshu Madhavam.

Think him as Vishnu while taking medicine,
As Janardhana while eating food,
As Padmanabha while in bed,
As Prajapathi at time of marriage,
As Chakra dhara while engaged in war,
As Trivikrama while on travel,
As Narayana on death bed,
As Sreedhara while meeting with the beloved,
As Govinda while tossing with bad dreams,
As Madhu Sudhana while in trouble,
As Narasimha while in the forest,
As Jala Sayina while fire is ravaging,
As Varaha while struggling in water,
As Raghu nandana while lost in a mountain,
As Vamana while on the move,
And as Madhava while doing everything.

Shodasaithani Naamani,
Prathar uthaaya ya padeth,
Sarva papa vinirmuktho,
Vishnu lokam samopnuyath.

As soon as one wakes up in the morn,
If these sixteen names are read,
He would be bereft of all sins,
And reach the world of Vishnu at the end.

Meanings of each of the Sixteen Names[edit]

Vishnu He who is spread everywhere
Janardhana He who punishes evil people
Padhmanabha He who has a lotus in his belly button
Prajapathi He who is the chief of people
Chakradhara He who is armed with the holy wheel
Trivikrama He who measured all the worlds in three steps
Narayana He who resides in all things he creates
Sreedhara He who carries Goddess of Wealth in his chest
Govinda He who can be attained by Vedas
Madhu Sudhana He who killed the rakhas called Madhu
Naarasimha He who took the shape of half lion, half human
Jalasayina He who sleeps on water
Varaha He who took the shape of the holy boar
Raghu Nandana The darling of the clan of Raghu
Vaamana He who took the shape of a dwarf
Madhava He who is Lord of everything