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We examine the impact of the current colonial-racist discourse around Hindu Dharma on Indians across the world and prove that this discourse causes psychological effects similar to those caused by racism: shame, inferiority, embarrassment, identity confusion, assimilation, and a detachment from our cultural heritage.

Manonmani

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Manonmani literally means ‘one who makes our mind eager to attain her’.

Significance of Goddess Manonmani[edit]

She is one of the aspects of the Divine Mother Pārvatī dear to Sadāśiva, more common in South India. She is worshiped for bhuti[1] and also for striking fear in the minds of enemies.

Representation of Manonmani[edit]

Iconographical works describe her in various ways. The most common description is that she is of the color of the moon with a benevolent appearance. She has four arms, holding a red and a blue lotus in two hands, the other two in varada and abhaya mudrās. Sometimes a rosary is shown instead of the blue lotus. Other works show her with five faces and ten arms carrying:

  1. Śula - spear
  2. Taṅka - hammer
  3. Pāśa - noose
  4. Ankuśa - goad
  5. Ghaṇṭā - bell
  6. Fire
  7. Lotuses

She may also be shown as surrounded by 46 Śaktis and an equal number of Kanyās.[2]


References[edit]

  1. Bhuti means prosperity.
  2. Kanyās means virgin-deities.
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

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