Colonial Discourse and the Suffering of Indian American Children is now freely available.
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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.

Rāhu

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Rāhu literally means ‘the siezer’.

Nine Grahas[edit]

Astrology lists nine grahas or celestial planets are called Navagrahas. It recognizes their effects on human life. The first seven are the presiding deities of the seven days of the week. They are:

  1. Ravi - Sun
  2. Candra or Soma - Moon
  3. Maṅgala - Mars
  4. Budha - Mercury
  5. Guru - Jupiter
  6. Śukra - Venus
  7. Śani - Saturn
  8. Rāhu
  9. Ketu
Rāhu

Origin of Rāhu[edit]

Rāhu and Ketu are the two nodal points where the celestial equator cuts the ecliptic. These two are also considered as grahas or planets. Rāhu was the eldest son of the demon Vipracitti and Sirihika. Ilvala, Vatapi and Naraka were his younger brothers.

Rāhu Iconographically[edit]

Iconographical works show Rāhu just as a head or as a snake-hood. Sometimes he is shown in a human form riding a lion with four arms, carrying a sword, a lance and a shield in three hands. The fourth hand shows the abhayamudrā.[1]

Other descriptions pictures him with two hands, riding a silver chariot drawn by eight horses. His left hand holds a book and the right is empty.

Eclipse due to Rāhu[edit]

It was believed that Rāhu now and then swallowed the sun and the moon, causing their eclipses, because they discovered his disguise and caused the severance of his body. Rāhu is a malefic planet. However, under certain circumstances, he may also produce beneficial results.


References[edit]

  1. ↑ Abhayamudrā means gesture of protection.
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

Contributors to this article

Deval Sancheti

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