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.

Sri Lakshmi Venkatesa Charanaravinda Stotram

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

Prayer to the lotus feet of Lakshmi Venkatesa

Translated by P.R.Ramachander

The prayer is addressed to the Lord Venkatesa accompanied by Goddess Lakshmi. The first stanza is a prayer to Goddess Lakshmi and others addressed to Lord Venkatesa.

Eesanaam jagathosya venkatapathe vishno paraam preyasim,
Thadwakshashala nithya vasa rasikaam thath kshanthi samvardhaneem,
Padmalangrutha pani pallava yugam padmasanastham sriyam,
Vathsalyadhi gunojwalam, bhagawatheem vande jagan matharam., 1

I salute that mother goddess of the entire world,
Who is the darling of Vishnu, the god of the entire world,
And the lord of Venkata mountain,
Who lives close to his heart and grants peace to him,
Who holds lotus flowers in her hands,
Who sits in the yogic pose of lotus,
And who shines because of her endearing qualities,

Srimath krupa guna nidhe, hrutha sarva loka,
Sarvagna, saktha, natha vathsala, sarva roopin,
Swamin sushaila sulabhou, sritha parijathou,
Sri Venkatesa charanou saranam prapadhye., 2

I surrender myself at the feet of Lord Venkatesa,
Who is the storehouse of merciful qualities,
Who takes care of the entire world,
Who is all knowing and lover of his devotees,
Who takes all forms, easy for approach of the good,
And is like the lotus flower for them who depend on him.

Rekha maya dwaja sudha kalasathapathra,
Vruja, kusambhruha kalpaka sankha chak
Bhavyai alankruthavadhou, para thatwa chihnai,
Sri Venkatesa charanou saranam prapadhye., 3

I surrender myself at the feet of Lord Venkatesa,
Who is decorated by the symbols of decorated flag,
Pot of nectar, lotus flower, conch and holy wheel,
Which are the signs of his eternal grace.

Thamradhara dhyuthi parajitha padma raghou,
Bahyair mahobhir abhibhootha mahendra neelou,
Udhyannakhamsu birudastha sasankhabasou,
Sri Venkatesa charanou saranam prapadhye., 4

I surrender myself at the feet of Lord Venkatesa,
Who has the copper colour of pink sapphire on the feet,
And outside the bluish colour of the blue sapphire,
And has shining nails which lead the shine of the moon.

Samprema bheethi kamalakara pallavabhyam,
Samvahane vibhava viklabha madha dhanou,
Kanthava vagmanasa gochara soukumaryow,
Sri Venkatesa charanou saranam prapadhye., 5

I surrender myself at the feet of Lord Venkatesa,
Which are fondled with fear mixed with love,
By the soft blossom like hands of Lakshmi,
And which are pretty beyond the words and mind.

Nithyanamadwidhi sivadhi kireeta koti,
Pradhyuptha deeptha navarathna ruchi prarahai,
Neerajanam vidhi mudhara mupadha dhanou,
Sri Venkatesa charanou saranam prapadhye., 6

I surrender myself at the feet of Lord Venkatesa,
Which are daily saluted by crores of crowns,
Of Shiva and other gods, which greatly shine because,
Of several embedded nine precious gems.
And appear as if they are offering worship of light.

Lakshmi maheethadhanu roopanijanubhava,
Neeladhi divya mahishi kara pallavabhyam,
Aarunya samkramanatha kila Sandra raghou,
Sri Venkatesa charanou saranam prapadhye., 7

I surrender myself at the feet of Lord Venkatesa,
Which reflect the dense tawny red colour of the,
Blossom like hands of his divine consorts,
Lakshmi,Goddess earth and Nila Devi.

Parthaya thath sadrusa saradhina thwayaiva,
Yow darshithou swacharanou saranam vrajethi,
Bhooyopi mahyamihathou kara darshithou they,
Sri Venkatesa charanou saranam prapadhye., 8

I surrender myself at the feet of Lord Venkatesa,
Which was shown to Arjuna, who was commanded,
To surrender to it and elect you as his charioteer,
And which was shown to me as the place of ultimate surrender.

Man moordhani kaliya phane vikatataveeshu,
Sri venkatadri shikare sirasi srutheenam,
Chithepyananyamanasam susamahithou they,
Sri Venkatesa charanou saranam prapadhye., 9

I surrender myself at the feet of Lord Venkatesa,
Which has been placed deeply in my mind,
On the head of Kaliya, In the deep forests of Dandaka,
On the peaks of Venkata mountain,in the Upanshads,
And in the mind of great sages.

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