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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.

Paryañkaśauca

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Paryañkaśauca literally means ‘purification by being seated on a stool’.

For one who wants to enter into the fourth stage of life, i.e., saṅyāsa, there is a set procedure. The paryaṅkaśauca is one in that series of rituals. Renunciation of the world and entrance into the monastic life are effected through the utterance of the famous praiṣamantra. This is followed by mahāvākyopadeśa or the teaching of the ‘great sentence’ from an Upaniṣad as per the tradition of the guru or the teacher. Then comes the performance of paryaṅkaśauca. This is actually a ceremonial washing of the saiṅyāsin’s thighs, knees, legs and feet by a householder after making him sit on a stool. Lumps of clay and water are used in this ceremony.


References[edit]

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

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