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Colonial Discourse and the Suffering of Indian American Children is now published after academic peer-review and available through open access.

In this book, we analyze the psycho-social consequences that Indian American children face after they are exposed to the school textbook discourse on Hinduism and ancient India. We show that there is an intimate connection―an almost exact correspondence―between James Mill’s ( a prominent politician in Britain and head of the British East India Company) colonial-racist discourse and the current school-textbook discourse. Consequently, this archaic and racist discourse, camouflaged under the cover of political correctness, produces in the Indian American children the same psychological impact as racism is known to produce: shame, inferiority, embarrassment, identity confusion, assimilation, and a phenomenon similar to racelessness where the children dissociate from the tradition and culture of their ancestors

This book is an outcome of 4 years of rigorous research as a part of our ongoing commitment at Hindupedia to challenge the representation of Hindu Dharma within Academia.

Sashti devi stotram

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

Sashti devi stotram
(Prayer addressed to Sashti devi)

by
Kshatriya Priya Vrutha(son of Swayambhuva Manu)

Translated by
P.R.Ramachander

(Here is yet another prayer to be chanted by the childless couple, It is addrssed to Sashti devi, who was the wife of Lord Subramanya called Devayani (Deva Sena) . She accoring to legend is the daughter of Lord Vishnu but brought up by Devendra as his foster daughter.Sashti devi is a Hindu folk goddess,(six headed) the benefactor and protector of children. She is also the deity of vegetation and reproduction and is believed to bestow children and assist during childbirth. She is often pictured as a motherly figure, riding a cat and nursing one or more infants. She is symbolically represented in a variety of forms, including an earthenware pitcher, a banyan tree or part of it or a red stone beneath such a tree. The worship of Sashti is prescribed to be done on the sixth day of each lunar month of the Hindu calendar as well as on the sixth day after a child's birth. Barren women desiring to conceive and mothers seeking to ensure the protection of their children will worship Sashti and request her blessings and aid. She is especially venerated in eastern India. More particulars about her can be got from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shashth
It is believed that this stotra should be chanted on the sixth phase of the moon(sashti) for great effect)

Dhyanam (Moola Manthra)
Suputhradam cha shubadam daya roopam Jagat prasu,
Shwetha champaka varnabham rathna bhooshana bhooshitham,
Pavithra roopam Paramam deva senaam param Bhaje.

I sing about the very holy form of the divine Devasena,
Who blesses us with sons , auspiciousness, has a form of mercy and spread all over the world,
Who has a white golden colour of Champaka flowers,
And who has decorated herself with gem studded gold jewelery.

(Thus meditating, the worshipper should place a flower on his own
head. Then again meditating and muttering the moola mantra the votary
offers pAdya, arghya and AchamanIya, and sandal-paste, flowers,
incense, lamp waving, naivedyam of food, delightful edible roots and
fruits with the panchopachara pooja should be done and chant the following stotra. )

Priyavrutha Uvacha:-
Priyavrutha said:-

1.Namo devyai maha devyai sidhyai santhyai namo nama,
Shubhayai deva senayai Sashti devyai namo nama.

Salutations to the Goddess, to the great Goddess,
To the giver of occult powers and peace, salutations and salutations,
To the pure one who is deva sena and to Sashti devi my salutations.

2.Varadayai, puthradayai , dhanadhayai namo nama,
Sukhdayai, mokshdayai , sashti devyai namo nama.

To the one who gives boons, sons and wealth my salutations,
To the one who gives pleasure and salvation , who is sashti devi , my salutations.

3.Srishtyayai , sashta swaroopayai sidhyayai cha namo nama,
Mayayai sidha yoginyai , sashti devyai namo nama.

To the one who creates , who has six fold forms and who is the occult power, my salutations,
To she who is illusion , to the the auspicious yogi, who is sashti devi , my salutations.

4.Saarayai saradayai cha para devyai namo nama,
Baladishtryai devyai cha sashti devyai namo nama.

To the one who is the essence, the goddess saraswathi and the divine goddess my salutations,
To the one who blesses with sons who is Sashti devi my salutations.

5.Kalyanadayai kalyanyai phaladayai cha karmanaam,
Prathyakshyai sva bhakthaanam , sashti devyai namo nama.

To one who is auspicious and does auspicious acts, to one who gives results,
to the devotees in front of them, who is sashti devi my salutations.

6.Poojyayai skanda kanthayai sarvesham sarva karmaasu,
Deva rakshana karinyai sashti devyai namo nama.

To her who is fit to be worshiped, who is the consort of Subrahmanya,
To her who helps all persons in all activities,
To her who protects the devas, who is Sashti devi, my salutations.

7.Shuddha sathwa swaroopayai vandhithyai, nrunaam sadaa,
Himsa krodha varjithyai , sashti devyai namo nama.

To her who the pure form of sathwic qualities,
Who is fit to be saluted and who always helps people,
To get rid of violence and anger, who is Sashti devi , my salutations.

8.Dhanam dehi priyam dehi , puthraan dehi sureswari,
Dharmam dehi , yaso dehi, Sashti devyai namo nama.

Give me wealth , give me love , give me sons, Oh goddess of devas,
Give me dharma , give me fame, Salutations to sashti devi

9.Bhumim dehi , prajaam dehi, vidhyaam dehi supoojithe,
Kalyanam cha jayam dehi , Sashti devyai namo nama.

Give me land , give me progeny , give me knowledge , oh Worshipful one,
Give me auspiciousness, give me victory, Salutations to sashti devi.

10.Ithi devim cha samsuthya lebhe puthram Priya vrutha,
Yasavinam cha Rajendram . Sashti devi prasadatha.

Thus praying the goddess Priya vrutha got sons,
Who were famous and regal by the grace of Sashti devi.

11.Sashti stotram idham padan ya srunothi cha vathsaram,
Aputhro labhathe puthraan varam, suchira jeevanam.

If this prayer of Sashti is read or heard for a year,
The childless people will get sons, boons as well as pleasant life

12.Varshamekam cha ya bhakthya samyatedham srunothi cha,
Sarva paapa vinirmuktha , Maha vandhya prasooyathe.
13,Vira puthram cha guneenam , vidhyavantham yasvinam,
Suchir ayushmanthameva Sashti mathru prasadadath.

If this is heard at length for one full year,
All sins would be destroyed and a women who is barren would give birth,
To a heroic son , with good character and great knowledge ,
Who is pure and with a long life due to blessing of Sashti Matha.

Sri subrahmanya vaivrutha purane , sri priyavrutha rachitha sashti devi stotram sampoornam
The prayer addreesed to sashti devi written by Priya Vrutha which occurs in Subrahmanya vaivrutha Purana comed to an end.








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