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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.


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Puruṣottama

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Puruṣottama literally means ‘the best of human beings’.

Puruṣottama, General Epithet[edit]

The literal meaning of the word is ‘the best of men.’ However, it is often used to indicate God, especially in his aspect as Lord Viṣṇu.

Puruṣottama as per Bhagavadgītā[edit]

After dividing this world into two classes of puruṣas, the kṣarapuruṣas[1] and the akṣarapuruṣas[2] the Bhagavadgītā[3] declares that God is Puruṣottama, the best of beings, who has transcended the other two.

Puruṣottama as per Viṣṇusahasranāma[edit]

The well-known Viṣṇusahasranāma[4] uses this word also to indicate the Lord Viṣṇu. Out of the several interpretations a few may be given here:

  1. He is the best of men.
  2. It is Brāhman who is called Puruṣottama.
  3. He is complete and perfect.
  4. He is superior even to the creator Brahmā.
  5. He makes human beings superior to animals and the subhuman species.


References[edit]

  1. ↑ Kṣarapuruṣas means the bound souls.
  2. ↑ Akṣarapuruṣas means the liberated ones.
  3. ↑ Bhagavadgītā 16.16-18
  4. ↑ Viṣṇusahasranāma 24
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math,

Bangalore

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