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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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Sabhya

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Sabhya literally means ‘fit for a sabhā’.

Derived from the word sabhā,[1] it means one who is fit to be present at a congregation of elders and wise persons. Hence the word denotes a good and wise person.

Sabhya as Sabhāpati[edit]

If sabhā is taken to mean, in a more technical sense as gambling hall, then a sabhya is the officer in charge of it. He is also called as sabhāpati.

Sabhya, Vedic Fire[edit]

However, sabhya is also the name of the last of the five, duly established, Vedic fires. It has to be kindled to the east of āhavanīya fire, either by attrition or from the embers of the āhavanīya fire. The hearth should be square, each side being twelve aṅgulas in length. The origin of this sabhya fire is rather shrouded in mystery. Opinions differ as regards its establishment for Vedic rituals. Some feel it is optional while others[2] make it compulsory.

Sabhya, as Fire Used for Warmth[edit]

If sabhā means a gambling hall,[3] sabhya is the general fire lit up to keep the place warm in winter. The same argument holds good if sabhā means a big hall used as a rest-house, built by a rich person.

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Sabhā means assembly.
  2. ↑ Apastamba Śrautasutras 5.17.1
  3. ↑ Ṛgveda 10.34.6
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

[Category:Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism]]

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