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.

Ganashtakam

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

Ganashtakam
(Octet on Ganesa)

Translated by P.R.Ramachander

(This pretty prayer is addressed to Lord Ganesa, the remover of all obstacles.)

Eka dantham maha kayam thaptha kanchanna sannibham,
Lambodharam visalaksham Vandeham gana nayakam.                      1

Salutations to the God who is the leader of Ganas*,
Who has only one tusk,
Who has a very big body,
Who looks like molten gold,
Who has a very big paunch,
And has very broad eyes.
* Lord Shiva’s attendants

Moungee krishnajina dharam, naga yagnopaveethinam,
Balendu vilasa mouleem , vandeham gana nayakam.                             2

Salutations to the God who is the leader of Ganas,
Who has a girdle made of munja grass and with deer’s skin,
Who wears serpent as sacred thread,
And who wears infant moon on his head.

Ambika hrudayanandam mathrubhi paripalitham,
Bhakthapriyam, madonmatham , vandeham gana nayakam.                  3

Salutations to the God who is the leader of the ganas,
Who makes the heart of Parvathi happy,
Who is looked after by his mother,
And who likes devotees and is exuberant with zest.

Chithra rathna chithranga, chithra mala vibhooshitham,
Chithra roopa dharam devam vandeham gana nayakam.                          4

Salutations to the God who is the leader of ganas,
Who has bright features and wears many coloured gems,
Who wears multi coloured garlands,
And who has a bright and clear form.

Gaja vakthram , sura sreshtam , karna chamara bhooshitham,
Pasangusa dharam  devam vande Gana nayakam.                                      5

Salutations to the God who is the leader of ganas,
Who is the great deva with the neck of am elephant,
Who is ornamented by fan like ears,
And who holds the rope and goad in his hands

Mooshikothama maroohya  deva asura maha have,
Yodhukamam maha veeryam vandeham gana nayakam.                           6

Salutations to the God who is the leader of ganas,
Who rides on the great mouse,
Who is greatly worshipped by devas and asuras,
Who is a desirable warrior with great valor

Yaksha kinnara gandharva  sidha vidhyadharai sada,
Sthuyamaanam  mahathmaanam, vandeham gana nayakam.                       7

Salutations to the God who is the leader of ganas,
Who is great and to whom prayers are offered by,
Yakshas, Kinnara , Gandharwas, Sidhas and Vidhyadharas.

Sarva vigna haram  devam sarva vigna vivarjitham,
Sarva sidha pradatharam , Vandeham Gana Nayakam.                                 8

Salutations to the God who is the leader of ganas,
Who removes all types of obstacles,
Who excludes all types of obstacles,
And who blesses one with all achievements.

Ganashtakamidham punyam bhakthitho ya paden nara,
Vimuktha sarva papebhyo rudhra lokam sa gachathi.                                     9

The man who reads with devotion this holy octet on Ganesa,
Would be freed of all his sins and in the end go to the land of Lord Shiva.

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