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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.


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Abhiśravaṇa

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Abhiśravaṇa literally means ‘to face and to cause to listen’.

Performance of religious and semi-religious rites to propitiate one’s ancestors is a part and parcel of many cultures. The Hindus do it through

Śrāddha is performed on the death anniversary rites of departed ancestors and concists of rites to propitiate one’s ancestors. Inviting and feeding the learned brāhmaṇas is obligatory and also considered highly meritorious since the spirits of the departed souls are satisfied by it. When these brāhmaṇas are having their food, the performer of the śrāddha or his representative is expected to stand respectfully in front of them (abhi) and chant certain Vedic and paurāṇic hymns prescribed as suitable for such occasions, in their hearing (śravaṇa). The idea is that this helps in creating a spiritual atmosphere soaked in which the brāhmaṇas eat the food and consequently the forefathers will be satisfied and happy.

Some of the hymns recommended by the dharmaśāstras to be chanted during abhiśravaṇa are: Gāyatri[1], Rakṣoghna Mantras[2], Pitrya Mantras[3], Apratiratha Mantras[4], Purusasukta[5], Srīsukta[6], Pavamānasukta[7], Trisuparṇa Mantras[8]

While chanting the hymns, the sacred thread should be worn in the upavīta fashion (hanging from the left shoulder to below the right arm-pit). The chanting should be neither too loud nor too fast.

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Rgveda Samhitā 3.62.10
  2. ↑ Rgveda Samhitā 4.4.1-5
  3. ↑ Taittiriya Brāhmana 2.6.12.3
  4. ↑ Taittiriya Samhitā 4.6.4.1
  5. ↑ Rgveda Samhitā 10.90.1
  6. ↑ Rgveda-khila
  7. ↑ Rgveda Samhitā 9.1.1
  8. ↑ Mahānārāyanopanisad 38 to 40
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

Contributors to this article

Krishna Maheshwari, Deval Sancheti

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