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.

Dakṣiṇāmurti Upaniṣad

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Dakṣiṇāmurti Upaniṣad is a minor, 33 verse Upaniṣad that is found in the Krṣna Yajurveda. It deals mainly with the meditation on Dakṣiṇāmurti, an aspect of Śiva representing a teacher of divine wisdom.

Gist of Dakṣiṇāmurti Upaniṣad[edit]

Once, a group of sages under the leadership of Śaunaka, approached the deathless sage Mārkaṇḍeya with due respect and asked him how he had attained the cirajīvatva or the deathless state(eternal bliss). He replied, ‘By the esoteric knowledge of the principle of Śiva.’ Then they put forth nine questions to him to understand it in detail. This is the whole content of Dakṣiṇāmurti Upaniṣad.

The Upaniṣad ends with the eulogy that one who learns this esoteric wisdom is freed from all sins and attains liberation from transmigration.

Nine Questions and their Answers[edit]

Then the sages put forth nine questions before him. He answered all the questions to the detail. They are:

What is that esoteric knowledge of the principle of Śiva?

The esoteric knowledge of Śiva is the realization of him in his aspect as Dakṣiṇāmurti. Śiva is called Dakṣiṇāmurti since he can silently give the gift (= dakṣiṇā) of Self-knowledge to anyone that is seen by him.

Who is the deity in it?

He himself is the deity (= deva) residing in it, since he shines (deva = one who shines) in his own glory and joy at the time of dissolution of the world.

Which are the mantras?
  1. Om namo bhagavate dakṣināmurtaye mahyam medhām prajñām prayaccha svāhā II
  2. Om dakṣināmurtir-atarom II
  3. Om blum namo hrīm aim dakṣiṇāmurtaye jñānam dehi svāhā II
  4. Om hrim śrim sāmbaśivāya tubhyam svāhā II
  5. Om namo bhagavate tubhyam vatamulanivāsine I vāgiśāya mahājñāna- dāyine māyine namah II
What is the steadfast devotion needed?

The steadfast devotion needed is the conviction that one is Brahman ; which should last till the death of the body.

What is the means of attaining that knowledge?

The means of attaining that knowledge is the repetition of the mantra (one of the five already given) with the conscious thinking that one is identical with the deity denoted by the mantra.

What is it's instrument?

The instrument is singular devotion to the mantra.

What is the offering?

Offering is the oblation of the movement of one’s limbs as worship to the deity of the mantra.

What is it's final state?

The final state is the attainment of the perfect equanimity of the three guṇas.

What is the final abode?

The final abode is the heart or the sahasrāra (thousand-petalled lotus in the crown of the head) which are the places for the realization of the Self.

References[edit]

  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore