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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.

Goloka

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Goloka literally means ‘the world of light’.

Discourse of Existence[edit]

Fate of a person after the death of his physical body, is a topic of debate. This is the subject of discussion and conjecture in many religions of the world. In religion, especially in its mythological literature, some special lokas or worlds[1] are mentioned, where extremely fortunate souls which are deeply pious and spiritual persons, go after their exit from this mundane existence.

Viewpoint of Kṛṣṇa Sect[edit]

In the Vaiṣṇavite works, Vaikuṇṭha and Goloka are prominently mentioned. The concept of Vaikuṇṭha is more ancient. As the Kṛṣṇa sect developed, superseding the sect of Viṣṇu wherein Kṛṣṇa was considered as only one of the incarnations of Viṣṇu, Kṛṣṇa was projected as the main sect-deity, Supreme Brahman in his personal aspect. Even Viṣṇu in Vaikuṇṭha and Śiva in his Kailāsa were pictured as inferior to Kṛṣṇa and as his lower manifestations.

As per the Kṛṣṇa sect, the Supreme Brahman or the Absolute, lives in Goloka[2] which is his eternal abode. ‘Goloka’ means ‘the world of light’ and not the world of cows. It is often mistaken. This light is all-pervading and extremely beautiful.

Worlds below Goloka[edit]

It is the highest world below which other worlds are situated are:

  1. Vaikuṇṭha
  2. Kailāsa
  3. Svarga - heaven
  4. Martya - world of mortals
  5. Pātāla - nether-world

Extent of Goloka[edit]

Goloka expanses to 900 million square yojanas.[3] It is full of brilliant light, precious stones and other riches. Even the great yogis cannot perceive it in their dreams. However, the devotees of Kṛṣṇa have access to it. Those who go there and live eternally, will never suffer from any disease or disability.

References[edit]

  1. ↑ These worlds refer to special regions of existence.
  2. ↑ Goloka is also called Mahāvaikuṇṭha and Vṛndāvana.
  3. ↑ 1 yojana = 15 kms. or 9 miles.
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

Contributors to this article

Deval Sancheti

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