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.

Karaṇḍa-mukuṭa

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Karaṇḍa-mukuṭa literally means ‘crown resembling a basket’.

Images of Gods, Goddesses and lesser divinities generally have a mukuta or a crown on their heads. One of the several varieties of such crowns is the karaṇḍa-mukuṭa. ‘Karaṇḍa’ means a basket. It is usually made of bamboo strips. Hence karaṇḍa-mukuṭa is a crown resembling basket of bamboo strips.

Usually female deities, some minor gods, and yakṣas are provided with karaṇḍa-mukutas. It has three round basket shaped tiers in the odd numbers of three, five or seven. The lowest tier is studded with jewels and has a golden band. The topmost tier is surmounted by a śikhamaṇi or crest-jewel.


References[edit]

  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore