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.

Durga Chalisa

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

Translated by P. R. Ramachander

Namo Namo Durge Sukh karani,
Namo Namo ambe Dukh harani., 1

Salutations and Salutations to Durga, the giver of pleasure,
Salutations and salutations to the remover of Sorrow.

Nirakar hai jyoti tumhari,
Tihun lok pheli ujayari., 2 

Your radiance is unparalleled,
And you shed light on the three worlds.

Shashi lalat mukh mahavishala,
Netra lal bhrikutee vikarala., 3

Your face is like a moon and mouth very broad,
Your eyes are red and your frown frightening.

Roop Matu ko adhika suhave,
Daras karat jan ati sukh pave., 4

Oh mother, you are extremely pretty,
And a sight of you brings pleasure to all.

Tum sansar shakti laya kina,
Palan hetu anna dhan dina., 5

In you is merged the strength of this world,
And you provide it with food and wealth.

Annapurna hui jag pala,
Tumhi adi sundari Bala., 6

As Annapurni you nurture the world,
And you are the primeval beauty called Bala.

Pralaya kala sab nashan hari,
Tum gauri Shiv-Shankar pyari., 7

During deluge you destroy everything,
And you are Gauri the darling of Shiva shankara

Shiv yogi tumhre guna gaven,
Brahma Vishnu tumhen nit dhyaven., 8

The saints of Shiva sing your praises,
And Brahma and Vishnu daily meditate on you.

Roop Saraswati ko tum dhara,
De subuddhi rishi munina ubara., 9

You also take the form of Saraswathi,
And grant them wisdom and look after them.

Dharyo roop Narsimha ko amba,
Pragat bhayin phar kar khamba., 10

Oh mother you take the form of Man-lion,
And broke the pillar and became visible.

Raksha kari Prahlaad bachayo,
Hiranakush ko swarga pathayo., 11

You saved the Prahlada and,
Sent Hiranyakashipu to heaven.

Lakshmi roop dharo jag mahin,
Shree Narayan anga samihahin., 12

You take the form of Goddess Lakshmi,
And found reposing with Lord Narayan.

Ksheer sindhu men karat vilasa,
Daya Sindhu, deeje man asa., 13

You came out of the ocean of milk,
Oh sea of mercy, please fulfill my desires.

Hingalaja men tumhin Bhavani,
Mahima amit na jet bakhani., 14

Oh Bhavani, You are the one in Hingalaja,
And your great power is beyond description.

Matangi Dhoomavati Mata,
Bhuvneshwari bagala sukhdata., 15

You yourself are Mathangi and mother Dhoomavathi,
You yourself are Bhuveneswari and Bhagalamukhi.

Shree Bhairav lara jog tarani, 
Chhinna Bhala bhav dukh nivarani., 16

As Bhairavi and Tara you redeem the world,
And you are also Chinnamastha, the panacea of sorrows.

Kehari Vahan soh Bhavani,
Langur Veer Chalat agavani., 17

You repose gracefully on your steed,
And are welcomed by the hero of Monkeys.

Kar men khappar khadag viraje,
Jako dekh kal dan bhaje., 18

When with a sword and a head you appear,
It is seen that even time runs in panic.

Sohe astra aur trishoola,
Jase uthata shatru hiya shoola., 19

Seeing with weapons and the trident,
The heart of the enemy trembles with fear.

Nagarkot men tumhi virajat,
Tihun lok men danka bajat., 20

You only shine in Nagarkot,
And all the three worlds shudder.

Shumbhu Nishumbhu Danuja tum mare,
Rakta-beeja shankhan samhare., 21

You killed the brothers Shumbha and Nishumba,
And also killed the crowds of Raktha Bheeja.

Mahishasur nripa ati abhimani,
Jehi agha bhar mahi akulani., 22

Mahishasura was king who was proud,
Who filled the earth with his sins,

Roop karal Kalika dhara,
Sen Sahita tum tin samhara., 23

And you took the ferocious form of Kali,
And killed him along with his army.

Pan garha Santon par jab jab,
Bhayi sahaya Matu tum tab tab., 24

Whenever the saints are in trouble,
You mother came to their rescue.

Amarpuni aru basava loka,
Tava Mahirna sab rahen asoka., 25

All the words including that of devas,
Remain sorrow less, only by your grace.

Jwala men hai jyoti tumhari,
Tumhen sada poojen nar nari., 26

In the goddess jwalamukhi is your light,
And all men and women pray you always.

Prem bhakti se Jo yash gave,
Dukh-daridra nikat nahin ave., 27

They who sing about you with loving devotion,
Will never be neared by sorrow or poverty.

Dhyave tumhen jo nar man laee,
Janam-maran tako chuti jaee., 28

He who meditates you in his mind,
Will get rid of the cycle of birth and death.

Jogi sur-muni kahat pukari,
Jog na ho bin shakti tumhari., 29

Yogis, devas and sages openly say,
They cannot get salvation without you.

Shankar Aacharaj tap keenhon,
Kam, krodha jeet sab leenhon., 30

Adhi Shankara did penance on you,
And won over desire and anger.

Nisidin dhyan dharo Shankar ko,
Kahu kal nahini sumiro tum ko., 31

He always meditated on Lord Shiva,
And never spent any time on you.

Shakti roop ko maran na payo,
Shakti gayi tab man pachitayo., 32

Since he did not realize your powers,
He became sorry because his powers waned.

Sharnagat hui keerti bakhani,
Jai jai jai Jagdamb Bhavani., 33

Then he sought your protection and sung your praise,
Victory, victory, victory to Bhavani mother of the world.

Bhayi prasanna Aadi Jagdamba,
Dayi shakti nahin keen vilamba., 34

Then the primeval mother of the world was pleased,
And gave him back his powers immediately.

Mokon Matu kashta ati ghero,
Tum bin kaun hare dukh mero., 35

Severe distress afflicts me,
And who else can kill my sorrow, except you.

Aasha trishna nipat sataven,
Moh madadik sab binsaven., 36

Desire and longing always torture me,
And passions and lust torment my heart.

Shatru nash keeje Maharani,
Sumiron ekachita tumhen Bhavani., 37

Oh great queen kill all my enemies,
For I meditate with one mind on you.

Karo kripa Hey Matu dayala,
Riddhi-Siddhi de karahu nihala., 38

Please show me mercy, my kind mother,
And show me the paths to riches and powers.

Jab lagi jiyoon daya phal paoon,
Tumhro yash men sada sunaoon., 39

AS long as I live may I get your mercy,
And I would make others hear your fame.

Durga Chalisa jo gave,
Sab sukh bhog parampad pave., 40

He who sings this forty verses on Durga,
Will get all pleasures and attain salvation.

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