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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.

Indrajit

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda


Indrajit literally means ‘One who had conquered Indra’.

Indrajit was the most formidable enemy in Rāvaṇa’s army, encountered by Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. He was the son of Rāvaṇa from his chief queen Maṇḍodarī. As soon as he was born, he thundered like the rain-clouds. Hence he was given the name ‘Meghanāda’ which means ‘one who roared like the rain clouds’.

Many adventures were accounted to him. He once fought with Indra, the king of gods, and defeated him. Thus he got the appellation ‘Indrajit’. When Hanumān was causing a havoc in the Aśoka grove after meeting Sitā, Indrajit captured him using the ultimate weapon, the Brahmāstra.

In the war with Rāma, he once made Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa swoon with his Nāgapāśa.[1] They were later rescued by Garuḍa.[2] Another magical device that he used to cheat the enemy was creating a false Sītā and beheading her before the enemy’s army. He was finally killed by Lakṣmaṇa who first destroyed the Nikumbhilā sacrifice performed by him with the help of the army of the monkeys and then used the Aindrāstra.

According to the Adhyātma Rāmāyana,[3] Indrajit had obtained a boon from Brahmā that only he who had observed strict celibacy for twelve years could kill him. Lakṣmaṇa fulfilled this condition, hence could kill him.


References[edit]

  1. ↑ Nāgapāśa means serpent-weapon.
  2. ↑ Garuda means the eagle-mount of Viṣṇu.
  3. ↑ Yuddhakānda, 9
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

Contributors to this article

Deval Sancheti, Apurva Mahendra Bhangdia

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