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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.

Yājyā

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Yājyā literally means ‘that which is to be sacrificed’.

It is the technical name of a formula of consecration. It is a verse from the Ṛgveda chanted by the hotṛ priest while the libation of ājya[1] is offered by the adhvaryu priest. Before the recital begins, the adhvaryu gives directions to the hotṛ with such statements as ‘samiddho yaja’.[2] Then the hotṛ begins to chant the appropriate yājyā formula loudly, preceded by the invocation ‘ye yajāmahe’ and followed by ‘vauṣaṭ’. The yājyās occur in prayājas and anuyājas.


References[edit]

  1. Ājya means clarified butter.
  2. It means ‘Recite the yājyā verse for the deity Samidhah’.
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

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