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.

Abhirami Stotram

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

Translated by P. R. Ramachander

Goddess Abhirami along with her consort Amrutha Ghateswarar is the presiding deity of Thirukadyur in modern day Tamil Nadu. It is believed that the pot of nectar which arose at the churning of ocean of milk floated and reached Thirukadyur. Here the pot itself became God Shiva. It is also believed that, it is here that sage Markandeya prayed to God shiva and to save himself from the clutches of death, Lord Shiva killed Yama, the God of death and saved the great sage.

There was a great devotee called Abhirama Bhattar in this place who was so immersed in the goddess that when the king asked him what was the phase of moon that day, he replied that it was full moon. But actually it was new moon. To prove that his words are true the goddess threw her anklets in to the sky. Her ear studs shined like a full moon. The king then realized the greatness of Abhirama Bhatar.

Namasthe lalithe,, devi srimad simhasaneswari,
Bhakthanam ishtathe, mata sri Abhirami namosthuthe., 1

Salutations to mother Abhirami, Salutations to Lalitha,
Who sits on the throne of lions and who is dear to her devotees.

Chandrodayam kruthavathi, thadangena maheswari,
Ayur dehi jagan matha, Sri Abhirami namosthuthe., 2

Salutations to Abhirami, who is the great goddess,
Who made the moon to rise through her ear studs,
With a prayer to her to give long life and health.

Sudha kader Sri Kanthe, saranagatha vathsale,
Aarogyam dehi may nithyam, Sri Abhirami namosthuthe., 3

Salutations to Abhirami, who is the consort,
Of the god of the nectar pot with a prayer,
Please give me health daily to me and bless me.

Kalyani Mangalam dehi, jagan mangala kaarini,
Aiswaryam dehi may nithyam, Sri Abhirami namosthuthe., 4

Salutations to Abhirami, who is doer of good,
And doer of all that is good to the entire universe,
Please give me wealth daily to and bless me.

Chandra mandala madhyasthe, maha Tripura sundari,
Sri Chakra raja nilaye, Sri Abhirami Namosthuthe., 5

Salutations to Abhirami, who is in the middle of moon,
Who is the greatest beauty of the three worlds,
And who stays in the middle of Sri Chakra and rules.

Rajeeva lochane poorne, poorna Chandra vidhayini,
Soubhagyam dehi may nithyam, Sri Abhirami namosthuthe., 6

Salutations to Abhirami, who has lotus like eyes,
Who is complete and who shines like the full moon,
Please give me immense good luck daily and bless me.

Ganesa skanda janani, Veda roope dhaneswari,
Keerthim vrudhim cha may dehi, Sri Abhirami namosthuthe., 7

Salutations to Abhirami, who is mother of Ganesa and Subrahamanya,
Who is the form of Vedas and who is the goddess of wealth,
Please give me fame and improvement always and bless me.

Suvasini priye matha Soumangalya vivardhini,
Mangalyam dehi may nithyam, Sri Abhirami namosthuthe., 8

Salutations to Abhirami,who is the mother who likes married Women,
Please give me happy married life daily and bless me.

Markandeya maha bhaktha subrahmanya supoojithe,
Sri raja rajeswari thwam hi, Sri Abhirami namosthuthe., 9

Salutations to Abhirami, who was worshipped by Markandeya,
And the great devotee Subramanya, you are Raja Rajeswari.

Sannidhyam kuru may nithyam, mama pooja gruhe shubha,
Bimbe deepe, thada pushpe haridhra kunkume mama., 10

Please shower your innate power daily in my holy prayer room
Idols there, lamp there, flowers there and the saffron powder there.

Sri Abhiramya idam stotram yah padeth shakthi sannidhou,
Ayur balam yaso varcho Mangalam cha bhaveth sukham., 11

If one reads this prayer to Abhirami in front of the holy goddess,
He would be blessed with long life, strength, fame wealth and good luck.