Colonial Discourse and the Suffering of Indian American Children Book Cover.webp

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.

Saraswathyashtakam III

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

Translated By P.R.Ramachander

The octet on Saraswathi.

Amala Viswa vandhya saa kamala kara malini,
Vimalabra nibha vovyath kamalaya saravathi.., 1

She who is pure, She who is saluted by the world,
She who is free from blemish and holding a lotus,
She who is of the colour of a clear crystal,
She who is the indestructible Saraswathi of the lotus.

Varna samasthnga roopaa, yaa swarna rathna vibhooshithaa,
Nirnaya, bharathi, svetha varna, vovyath Saraswathi.., 2

She who has form of coloured limbs,
She who decorates herself with gold and jewels,
She who determines, she who is Bharathi,
She who is white and she who is indestructible Saraswathi.

Varadhabhaya rudaraksha vara pusthaka dharini,
Sarasa saa sarojaththa, sara vovyath Saraswathi.., 3

She who has in her hands Rudraksha, book,
And shows symbols of blessing, protection and boons,
She who lives on a lotus in the pond,
She who is the essence and she who is indestructible Saraswathi.

Sundari sumukhi padma mandira madhraa cha
Saakunda bhasa, sada vovyath vandhithaa ya Saraswathi.., 4

She who is pretty, She who has a blessed face, She who lives in lotus,
She who is sweet, She who smiles with her jasmine like teeth.
She who is always saluted by indestructible God and Saraswathi.

Rudhraksha lipitha Kumbha mudhradrutha karambhuja,
Bhadrartha dhayinisavyath bhadrabjakshi Saraswathi.., 5

She who holds Rudraksha beads, pot, Written book and lotus,
She who gives blessed wealth, she who has a lotus like divine eye, Saraswathi.

Raktha, kouseya rathnadyaa, vyaktha bhashana bhooshana,
Bhaktha hrud padma samstha, saa shaktha vovyath Saraswathi.., 6

She who wears blood colour silk and gems,
She who wears clear talking as ornament,
She who lives in the lotus of the mind of her devotees,
She who is powerful and indestructible Saraswathi.

Chathurmukhasya Jayyaa yaa Chathur Veda swaroopini,
Chathur bhuja cha saa vyovyath chatur varga Saraswathi.., 7

She who is the consort of Brahma,
She who is the form of four Vedas,
She who is having four hands,
She who is the indestructible Saraswathi to the four castes.

Sarva loka prapoojya ya parva chandra nibhananaa,
Sarva jihwagra samstha saa sada vovyath Saraswathi.., 8

She who is worshipped by all the worlds,
She who resembles the full moon,
She who is on the toungues of all,
She who is the indestructible Saraswathi.

Saraswathyashtakam nithyam sukruthprathar bhajen nara,
Agnair vimuchyathe soyam pragnair ishtascha labhyathe.., 9

He who sings this octet of Saraswathi daily morning,
Would get rid of ignorance and would be liked by wise people.