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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.

Ācāra

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

  1. mode of behaviour; conduct
  2. ritual; method; approach; practice
  3. in Tantrik tradition, the seven different types of prescribed methods of practice and approach meant for different (lower to higher) stages of psycho-spiritual capacity and development.

The smṛtis and dharmaśāstras, the law books that regulate the life of individuals, both at the personal and at the social level, deal with three important topics :

  • Ācāra - ceremonial duties
  • Vyavahāra - civil and criminal laws
  • Prāyaścitta - penances and expiatory rites

Of the three, ācāra usually gets the pride of place. Ācāra is often compared with sadācāra, the conduct of good and great men, so much so that dharma itself is said to be born out of ācāra, 'ācāraprabhavo dharmah’[1]

Whenever one is in doubt with regard to one’s duty or action in a particular situation in life, one is advised to seek the guidance of the wise elders of impeccable character. Their words should be implicitly obeyed.

At the personal level, the ṣaṭkarmas or seven duties associated with a daily routine, are the most important aspects of ācāra:

  1. Snāna - bath
  2. Sandhyā - sandhyā (evening) ritual
  3. Japa - repetition of mantra
  4. Devapujā - ritualistic worship of the family Deity
  5. Homa - sacrifice
  6. Vaiśvadeva - offering of cooked food to the Gods
  7. Ātithya - honoring guests

Undergoing the various sanskāras and performing the prescribed duties as per one’s varṇa and āśrama are the other important aspects of ācāra.

The word ācāra is also used in the sense of ‘customs and tradition’.

One has to rely upon the smṛtis and sadācāra in matters relating to the regulation of society when they are not dealt with in sruti. However, in matters of dispute, falling within the jurisdiction of jurisprudence, ācāra is often the decisive factor, provided it is not against the spirit of the Vedas and smṛtis. Such ācāra can be

  • Deśācāra - pertaining to the particular region
  • Jātyācāra - pertaining to the particular caste
  • Kulācāra - pertaining to the particular family

Even judges or kings are expected to take cognizance of these ācāras before giving a verdict.

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Mahābhārata, Anuśāsanaparva 161.172
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore
  • Ācāra by Jit Majumdar

Contributors to this article

Krishna Maheshwari

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