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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.


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Digbandhana

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Digbandhana literally means ‘shutting out the evil spirits’.

Digbandhana Procedure[edit]

During the performance of ritualistic worship and acts, especially aimed to fulfill the desires, there is a possibility of obstacles to be created by inimical spirits. These spirits have to be ‘locked out’ of dik[1] during the ritual. It can be done by chanting certain powerful mantras like the vyāhṛtis of the Gāyatrī or syllables like phaṭ. This is called ‘digbandhana’ or ‘digbandha’.

Digvimoka Procedure[edit]

After the ritual is over, the quarters (or dik) have to be reopened. This is called ‘digvimoka’.

Exceptional Usage of Digbandhana[edit]

The process may also be used to arrest the movements of those who are likely to harm, like criminals. Such use of extraordinary powers has been recorded in the lives of great saints like Tailaṅga Svāmin (19th century) and Vijayadāsa (CE 1682-1755).

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Dik means quarters.
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

Contributors to this article

Krishna Maheshwari, Apurva Mahendra Bhangdia, Deval Sancheti

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