Colonial Discourse and the Suffering of Indian American Children Book Cover.webp

Colonial Discourse and the Suffering of Indian American Children is now published after academic peer-review and available through open access.

In this book, we analyze the psycho-social consequences that Indian American children face after they are exposed to the school textbook discourse on Hinduism and ancient India. We show that there is an intimate connection―an almost exact correspondence―between James Mill’s ( a prominent politician in Britain and head of the British East India Company) colonial-racist discourse and the current school-textbook discourse. Consequently, this archaic and racist discourse, camouflaged under the cover of political correctness, produces in the Indian American children the same psychological impact as racism is known to produce: shame, inferiority, embarrassment, identity confusion, assimilation, and a phenomenon similar to racelessness where the children dissociate from the tradition and culture of their ancestors

This book is an outcome of 4 years of rigorous research as a part of our ongoing commitment at Hindupedia to challenge the representation of Hindu Dharma within Academia.

Anugraha-murti

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Anugrahamurti

Anugraha-murti literally means ‘icon showing favor’.

Temples and image worship has a long history in religion and culture. The three main cults of the religion are :

  1. Śaivism
  2. Śāktaism
  3. Vaiṣṇavism

These cults has given rise to a variety of icons during the course of its evolution. One set of such icons pertaining especially to Lord Śiva, showing benediction to his devotees is called ‘anugraha-murti.’

Iconographical works record six such anugrahamurtis, icons showing anugraha or benediction are :

  1. Caṇḍeśa - one of the attendants of Śiva
  2. Nandīśvara - Śiva’s mount
  3. Viṣṇu
  4. Vighneśvara or Gaṇeśa
  5. Arjuna - The Pāṇḍava hero
  6. Rāvaṇa - The demon king of Laṅkā

One hand of the image is usually kept on the head of the supplicant while one of the other hands exhibits abhayamudrā (protection-giving pose) or varadamudrā (boon- giving pose).

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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