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

Bhutayajña

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Bhutayajña literally means ‘sacrifice unto the animals’.

The scriptures emphasize that man is essentially a social being. He is born in this world with ṛṇatraya or three debts on his head, to discharge which, he has to perform pañcayajñas or the five daily sacrifices. These pañcayajñas are a compulsory part of a householder’s life.

The last of these five daily sacrifices is bhutayajña. Bhutas are living beings, especially the animals. Feeding the animals, both the domestic and the stray, according to one’s capacity comprises this yajña. Since the Lord is the indwelling spirit of all the living beings, feeding the hungry souls whether the human beings or the animals will please him. This is one of the best ways to discharge one’s debts. It will also contribute to the awareness that ultimately the whole universe is one and that we are part of that oneness.


References[edit]

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

Contributors to this article

Krishna Maheshwari, Deval Sancheti

Explore Other Articles

Retrieved from "https://hindupedia.com/index.php?title=Bhutayajña&oldid=114009"