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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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Rāga

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Rāga literally means attachment, ‘that which colors’.

Rāga is one of the most commonly used words which comes from the root-verb ‘rañj’. Rañj means to color. Anything that ‘colors’ the mind, makes it strongly attached is called rāga.

Rāga as per Bhagavadgītā[edit]

The Bhagavadgītā[1][2][3] uses this word in the general sense of attachment to anything and that it is caused by the quality called rajas, the second of the three guṇas.

Rāga as per Yogasutras[edit]

The Yogasutras[4] of Patañjali[5] describes it as the extreme desire that arises in the mind after a pleasurable experience. The residual desire to get that pleasure once again and the consequent attachment towards the means of getting it is also Rāga. Along with dveṣa or hatred, it is considered as a great obstacle in the path of spiritual progress.

Rāga as per Music Science[edit]

In the science of music, rāga is a tune generated by the proper combination of the saptasvaras or the seven fundamental notes. Here, they are called rāgas because they give pleasure to the mind.

Classification of Rāga[edit]

These rāgas are classed as six by the authorities of music, though the names differ in the lists given by them. For instance, one list gives them as:

  1. Mālava
  2. Indra
  3. Mallāra
  4. Śrīrāga
  5. Vasanta
  6. Hindola

Rāga, Gender Classification[edit]

Sometimes, depending upon the sentiments produced, the rāgas are also classified as:

  1. Pumrāga - male : The pumrāgas produce the sentiments of heroism and wonder.
  2. Strīrāga - female : The strirāgas produce the sentiments of amour and humor
  3. Napumsakarāga - neuter : The napumsakarāgas produce the sentiments of peace and fear.

Types of Rāgiṇīs[edit]

Each of these rāgas has six feminine associates called as rāgiṇīs. They take the total to thirty six.


References[edit]

  1. ↑ Bhagavadgītā 2.64
  2. ↑ Bhagavadgītā 3.34
  3. ↑ Bhagavadgītā 14.7
  4. ↑ Yogasutras 3.7
  5. ↑ He lived in 200 B. C.
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

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