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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.

Pavitra

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Pavitra literally means ‘the pure,’ ‘what makes one ceremonially pure’.

Wearing of Pavitra[edit]

While performing any religious rite, a devotee is expected to wear a ‘pavitra’. It is a ring-like loop made of darbha[1] grass. It may be prepared either with either three, two or even one darbha leaf. It should be worn on the anāmika or the ring-finger, either of the right hand or on the ring-fingers of both the hands.

Occasions to Wear Pavitra[edit]

The following are the occasions on which the pavitra is to be worn, to attain ceremonial fitness:

  • Japa - repetition of the divine name or mantras
  • Homa - pouring oblations into a duly consecrated fire
  • Dāna - giving gifts
  • Svādhyāya - study of the scriptures, especially the Vedas
  • Tarpaṇa - giving oblations of water to the pitṛs or manes

Other Inferences of Pavitra[edit]

The word is also used to indicate the two pieces of darbha kept over ājya[2] to purify it before homa, to the piece of cloth used by a sanyāsin to filter water while filling it into kamaṇḍalu[3] and even to the yajñopavīta.[4]


References[edit]

  1. ↑ Scientific name of darbha is Poa cynosuroides.
  2. ↑ Ājya means ghee.
  3. ↑ Kamaṇḍalu means water-pot.
  4. ↑ Yajñopavīta means the sacred thread.
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

Contributors to this article

Deval Sancheti

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