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.

Bhadrāsana

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Bhadrāsana literally means ‘the auspicious posture,’ or ‘the auspicious seat’.

Āsanas or yogāsanas are the various postures of the body aimed to free the body from diseases and improve its health, energy and stamina. Bhadrāsana is one of the 32 āsanas practiced most commonly.

In this posture, one has to sit on one’s knees, allowing the calf-muscles touch the thighs. Hands should be taken to the back and catch hold of the toes with the fingers. This should be followed by Jālandhara-bandha, wherein the gaze is fixed on the tip on the nose.

In another variety, the hands have to cross each other. The right hand should hold the left toe and the left in the right toe. This āsana is said to cure the stiffness of bones and rigidity of ligaments.

In iconographical works, it represents a golden throne with cushions.


References[edit]

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