Colonial Discourse and the Suffering of Indian American Children is now freely available.
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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.

Akṣimocana

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Akṣimocana literally means ‘liberating the eyes’.

Temples are an integral part of the religion and culture. The building of a temple is considered a very sacred act. It is built according to a plan and pattern given in the Āgamas. The image of the Chief Deity installed in the main shrine (garbhagṛha) is the central focus of the whole temple complex. This image is prepared strictly according to the rules of the murtiśilpaśāstra.

Normally, even after completing the sculpturing of the image, its eyes will not be ‘opened.’ This has to be done ceremonially before installing it. This process is called ‘akśimocana’ or ‘netron-milana.’

The image is first placed on the sthaṇḍila (ground specially prepared for the purpose). The śilpi (sculptor) works on the eye with a golden needle opening the sight. After honoring him and bidding farewell the image is cleansed with five kinds of earth and five products of the cow (pañcagavya). It is then established on another sthaṇḍila with spread over grains. A brief worship is performed with gandha (sandal paste) and the image sprinkled with honey, milk and ghee. The sun, moon and fire are invoked into the (three) eyes. Finally it is bathed in scented water.

References[edit]

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

Contributors to this article

Krishna Maheshwari, Deval Sancheti

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