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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.

Araṇyaṣaṣṭhi

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Festivals and sacred days break the monotony and add zest and color to the life of the common people. Out of the several festivals, Araṇyaṣaṣṭhī (also called Āraṇyaṣaṣṭhi, Araṇya-gaurī-vrata or Skandaṣaṣṭhī) is perhaps a minor one.

It is celebrated on the sixth day of the bright half of the month of Jyeṣṭha (around June). It is mainly centered round the worship of Saṣṭhī, the mother of Skanda (also known as Subrahmaṇya and Kārttikeya). Since she is the protector of children, mothers propitiate her for the well-being of their children.

Fasting or subsisting on lotus stalks, bulbous roots and fruits is prescribed as a discipline. It is usually performed in a wood or forest outside the village. Hence it is named Araṇyaṣaṣṭhī (araṇya = forest). In some parts of India, sons-in-law are invited and entertained with a feast and clothes, thus giving the festival another name, viz., jāmātṛṣaṣṭhī (jāmātṛ = son-in-law).


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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