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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.

Nilāsukta

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Significance of Nilāsukta[edit]

Nilāsukta is short sukta which appears in the Taittiriya Samhitā.[1] It is on Nīlādevī, the third consort of Viṣṇu. She is identified with Aditi, the mother of all gods. She is the personification of karuṇā[2] of God. She is also the power that manifests through Surya,[3] Candra[4] and Agni.[5]

Contents of Nilāsukta[edit]

A brief summary of the sukta may now be given:

I take refuge in Nīlādevī. 0 goddess! Please speak! O God, who is the supreme creator! That goddess who is the firm refuge of the devotees, who is the consort of Viṣṇu, who is compassionate, who is the mistress of the universe, the repository of all types of strength and power, who is worshiped by the living beings in their minds, who grants all the objects of enjoyment, may that deity give us lordship and bless us with bliss. May Bṛhaspati,[6] Vāyu,[7] the prāṇas[8] in the body and Nīlādevī who is the supporter of the quarters and the earth, who is the mistress of the world and a consort of Viṣṇu, preach to us what is good for us!

Nīlādevī Iconographically[edit]

Iconographical works, following the Pāñcarātra tradition, describe Nīlā or Nīlādevī as dark-blue in complexion, like the blue-lotus. She is clothed in blue garments and richly bedecked with ornaments. In her four hands she holds two lotuses in two, the other two exhibiting the abhaya and varada mudrās, mudrās assuring freedom from fear and giving boons.


References[edit]

  1. ↑ Taittiriya Samhitā 4.4.12
  2. ↑ Karuṇā means the compassion and grace.
  3. ↑ Surya means the Sun.
  4. ↑ Candra means the Moon.
  5. ↑ Agni means the Fire.
  6. ↑ Bṛhaspati is the guru of the gods.
  7. ↑ Vāyu is the god of wind.
  8. ↑ Prāṇas means the life forces.
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

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Deval Sancheti

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