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.

Ātharvaṇa-jyotiṣa

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Ātharvaṇa-jyotiṣa literally means ‘Science of heavenly bodies, belonging to the Atharvaveda’.

History of Jyotiṣa[edit]

Jyotiṣa or astronomy is one of the six Vedāṅgas or subsidiary sciences that help us to understand the Vedas. Performance of sacrifices was the most important aspect of the Vedic religion. It was related to different periods of the year, time and the position of the stars. Because of these details a separate science called ‘Jyotiṣa’ evolved in course of time. Each of the four Vedas developed its own Jyotiṣa.

Gist of Ātharvana Jyotiṣa[edit]

The work Ātharvana-jyotisa as extant today comprises of 162 verses and may be a recast of an earlier work. It is generally assigned to the 2nd cent. B. C. Its contents primarily detail:

  1. Muhurta - A particular division of time
  2. Karaṇa - An astrological division of day
  3. Yoga - Leading star of a lunar asterism; a variable division of time
  4. Tithi - Lunar day
  5. Vāra - Day of the week

Technique of Ātharvana Jyotiṣa[edit]

It is said to fall outside the Vedic period but before the period of the Siddhānta calendar which divides the zodiac into twelve rāśis or signs. It adopts a scheme of nakṣatra astrology. It forms nine groups of three nakṣatras (asterisms) each, the total being 27. Information is provided at length as to what should be done or not to be done on the presence of the nine groups and their constituents.


References[edit]

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