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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.

Aṣtapaśas

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Aṣtapaśas literally means ‘eight fetters’.

The tantras, the secondary scriptures advocating the worship of the Divine Mother, give a list of the ‘aṣṭapāśas’ or the eight ‘bonds’ or ‘fetters’ which obstruct our spiritual progress. They are :

  1. Ghṛiṇā - Animosity
  2. Lajjā - Bashfulness
  3. Bhaya - Fear
  4. Śaṅkā - Doubt
  5. Jugupsā - Aversion
  6. Kula - Family
  7. Śīla - Conduct, Uprightness
  8. Jāti - Birth or caste
  9. Māna - Honor
  10. Tṛiṣā - Desire
  11. Kāma - Lust
  12. Lobha - Greed

While approaching God, all these though being virtues under certain conditions, should be given up. For instance, lajjā or bashfulness, is necessary in civilized society. But while dancing, taking the name of God, there should be no lajjā.

References[edit]

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

Contributors to this article

Krishna Maheshwari

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