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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.

Devīgītā

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

The Bhagavadgitā of the Mahābhārata has become a very well-known and highly respected scripture, forming base scripture of several Gitās authored later on. Some of them are the parts of other bigger works like the Adhyātma Rāmāyana and the Bhāgavatagītā[1], while others like Astāvakragitā and the Avadhutagitā are independent works. The Devigītā belongs to the independent category and is considered to be a later work of the Devī sampradaya. It is a dialogue (split into 9 chapters) between the Devī Pārvatī (as the Guru) and her father Himavān (as the disciple).

Teachings of Devigītā[edit]

Devī Pārvatī teaches the advaita doctrine as expounded by Śaṅkara (A. D. 788-820). Advaitic experience can be obtained only by meditation on the Upaniṣadic texts like "tat tvam asi". Such meditation becomes possible only to those who have a strong and pure mind.This, again, can be obtained only by the proper performance of one’s duties as per one’s varṇa (caste) and āśrama (station in life) system.

Topics Dealt in Devigītā[edit]

Other subjects dealt with include:

  1. Viśvarupa - universal form of the Devī
  2. Aṣṭāṅga yoga - the eight steps of Yoga as taught by Patañjali (200 B. C)
  3. Other yogas viz., those of jñāna, karma and bhakti
  4. Temples of Devī and her worship (both Vedic and tāntrik)

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Rāmagītā, Kapilagītā and Bhikṣugītā
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

Contributors to this article

Apurva Mahendra Bhangdia, Krishna Maheshwari, Deval Sancheti

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