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.

Shiva Aparadha Kshamapana Stotram

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Adi Shankara
Translated By Swamini Sadvidyananda Saraswati

Aadau karmaprasangaat, kalayati kalushham, maatrikukshau-sthitam maam,
Vin-muutraa-medhya-madhye, kathayati nitaraam, jaatharo jaatavedaah,
Yadyadvai tatra duhkham, vyathayati nitaraam, shakyate kena vaktum,
Kshantavyo me aparaadhah, Shiva Shiva Shiva bho Shrii Mahaadeva Shambho., 1

Due to the my previous birth karmas, I was born inside my mother’s womb,
And placed between urine, excreta and heat, everything was sere unhappiness
And burnt a lot by the heat of the digestive fire.
And possibly none can describe the sufferings that I underwent there,
And So O Shiva Shambho! Be pleased to pardon my fault, sins, Oh Mahadeva., 1

Baalye duhkha-atireko, mala-lulita-vapuh, stanya-paane pipaasaa,
No shaktashch-endriyebhyo, bhavaguna-janitaah, jantavo maam tudanti,
Naanaa-rogaadi-duhkhaad-rudana-paravashah, shankaram na smaraami,
Kshantavyo me aparaadhah, Shiva Shiva Shiva bho Shrii Mahaadeva Shambho., 2

Due to lots of sorrow during early childhood, I rolled in dirt, with a dirty body, I was always interested only in drinking milk from breasts. All kinds of insects also bit me often Which I was not able to prevent, and was also attacked by many illness great, only thing I could do was crying, And never did I find time to think of thee oh, Lord Parameshwara.
And So O Shiva Shambho! Be pleased to pardon My fault, sins, Oh Mahadeva., 2

Praudhoaham yauvanastho, vishaya-vishha-dharaih, pajnchabhir-marmasandhau,
Dashhto nashhtoa-vivekah, suta-dhana-yuvati-svaadu-saukhye nishhannah,
Shaivii-chintaa-vihiinam, mama hridayam, aho maanagarva-adhiruudham,
Kshantavyo me aparaadhah, Shiva Shiva Shiva bho Shrii Mahaadeva Shambho., 3

When I was passing through the period of youth I was bitten by the five snakes of senses on vulnerable spots of my heart and hence I lost my wisdom, discrimanting power and began concentrating on pleasures of son, riches and ladies, so could not think of thee Parameshwara,
And So O Shiva Shambho! Be pleased to pardon My fault, sins, Oh Mahadeva., 3

Vaardhakye chendriyaanaam, vigata-gati-matish-cha, adhidaivaadi-taapaih,
Paapai rogair-viyogai-stvanavasita-vapuh praudhahiinam cha diinamh,
Mithyaa-mohaabhilaashhair-bhramati mama mano dhuurjater-dhyaana-shuunyam
Kshantavyo me aparaadhah, Shiva Shiva Shiva bho Shrii Mahaadeva Shambho., 4

When I was passing through ripe old age, My five senses got weakened,
My wisdom lost its memory, My body got weakened, Due to god given sin, sickness and pain never leaving it, and my mind started roaming behind,
Useless passions and desires, And so I did not think of thee Parameshwara,
And So O Shiva Shambho! Be pleased to pardon My fault, sins, Oh Mahadeva., 4

No shakyam smaarta-karma, pratipada-gahana, pratyavaaya-aakulaakhyam,
Shraute vaartaa katham, me dvijakula-vihite, brahma-maargeasu-saare,
Na-aasthaa dharma, vichaaraih shravana-mananayoh, kim nididhyaasitavyam,
Kshantavyo me aparaadhah, Shiva Shiva Shiva bho Shrii Mahaadeva Shambho., 5

Unable I am to observe the complex rules of Dharma daily, what to say about to follow very well the rules of Veda as told by Brahmins? I do not have trust in the Dharma and not able to think or understand them by listening to Vedas and also unable to ponder and meditate upon you and so what is the use of daily learning, And So O Shiva Shambho! Be pleased to pardon my fault, sins, Oh Mahadeva., 5

Snaatvaa pratyuushha-kaale, snapana-vidhi-vidhau, naahritam gaanga-toyam,
Puujaartham vaa kadaachid, bahutara-gahanaat-khandabilvii-dalaani,
Naaniitaa padmamaalaa, sarasi vikasitaa, gandha-dhuupaih tvadartham,
Kshantavyo me aparaadhah, Shiva Shiva Shiva bho Shrii Mahaadeva Shambho., 6

Having taken bathe at dawn time and after performing all the morning rituals, I did not bring ganges water for puja. I did not offer whole Bilva leaves, garland of lotuses bloomed in the lake. I did not offer fragrant incenses, lighted lamp, etc.
And So O Shiva Shambho! Be pleased to pardon My fault, sins, Oh Mahadeva., 6

Dugdhair-madhvaajyutair-dadhisita-sahitaih snaapitam naiva lingam
No liptam chandanaadyaih kanaka-virachitaih puujitam na prasuunaih
Dhuupaih karpuura-diipair-vividharasayutair-naiva bhakshyopahaaraih
Kshantavyo meaparaadhah shiva shiva shiva bho shrii mahaadeva shambho., 7

I did not do Abhishekam, bathe on Shiva-lingam with milk, honey, curd. I did not apply the sandlewood paste, I did not offer the golden and flower garlands. I did not offer incenses, camphor lamp and the varied tasty food to You.
And So O Shiva Shambho! Be pleased to pardon my fault, sins, Oh Mahadeva., 7

Dhyaatvaa chitte shivaakhyam prachuratara-dhanam naiva dattam dvijebhyo
Havyam te laksha-sankhyair-hutavahav-adane naarpitam biija-mantraih
No taptam gaangaa-tiire vratajana-niyamaih rudra-jaapyair-na vedaih
Kshantavyo meaparaadhah shiva shiva shiva bho shrii mahaadeva shambho., 8

Never did I give much money to Brahmins with thought of Lord Shiva in my mind,
Never did I do fire sacrifice, Chanting millions of mantras, Never did I meditate on the banks of holy Ganga, Never did I do penances based on Vedas and never did I chant Rudra,
And So O Shiva Shambho! Be pleased to pardon My fault, sins, Oh Mahadeva., 8

Sthithwa sthane saroje, pranavamaya-marut-Kundale sookshma-marge,
Shanthe swanthe praleene, prakatitha-vibhave, Jyothi rope parakhye,
Lingagne brahmavakye, sakala-thanu-gatham, Sankaram na smarami,
Kshantavyo me aparaadhah, Shiva Shiva Shiva bho Shrii Mahaadeva Shambho., 9

Never did I sit in lonely place, in meditating posture, And send the Kundalini,
And the breath which is of the form of pranava through the subtle path,
To reach the ever shining Para Brahma and never did I calm my mind, and meditate on Paramashiva, Who transcends the physical body, and who is the essence of Vedas,
And So O Shiva Shambho! Be pleased to pardon My fault, sins, Oh Mahadeva., 9.

Nagno nihsanga-shuddhas, trigunavirahito, dhvasta-moha-andhakaaro,
Naasaagre nyastadrishhtir, viditabhavaguno, naiva drishhtah kadaachith,
Unmanyaa-avasthayaa, tvaam vigata-kalimalam, shankaram na smaraami,
Kshantavyo me aparaadhah, Shiva Shiva Shiva bho Shrii Mahaadeva Shambho., 10

Never have I concentrated on the tip of my nose, And try to personify you,
Who is naked, Who is unattached, Who is ever pure, Who free from three qualities called Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. And who is capable of dispelling the delusion and ignorance, I did not remember that Lord Shiva,
And So O Shiva Shambho! Be pleased to pardon My fault, sins, Oh Mahadeva..10

Chandrod-bhaasita-shekhare smarahare gangaadhare shankare
Sarpair-bhuushhita-kantha-karna-yugale (vivare) netrottha-vaishvaanare
Dantitvak-krita-sundara-ambara-dhare trailokya-saare hare
Moksha-artham kuru chitta-vrittim-achalaam-anyaistu kim karmabhih., 11

Hey Lord, who wears the moon ornamented crown, Who is the enemy of the God of love, Who carries Ganga in his head, Who gives peace to his devotees, Who wears snakes on his neck and ears, Who has fire in his eyes, Who wears the hide of the elephant, And who is the lord of the three worlds,
Please show me the path of liberation, For what is the use of any other path., 11

Kim vaaanena dhanena, vaajikaribhih, praaptena raajyena kim,
Kim vaa putra-kalatra-mitra,-pashubhir-dehena, gehena kim,
Gyaatvai-tat-kshana-bhanguram, sapadi re tyaajyam, mano duuratah,
Svaatmaartham guruvaakyato, bhaja bhaja shriipaarvatiivallabhamh., 12

Oh, Mind, What is the use of charity, riches, horses, and by getting a kingdom, what is the use of son, wife, friends and cows, What is the use of this house, this body, for all these can be destroyed in a second, And so keep them all away, And for the sake of redemption of the soul, Meditate on the consort of Parvathi, According to the lessons taught by thine teacher., 12

Aayur-nashyati pashyataam, prati-dinam, yaati kshayam yauvanam,
Pratyaayaanti gataah, punar na divasaah, kaalo jagadbhakshakah,
Lakshmii-stoya-taranga-bhanga-chapalaa, vidyuchchalam jiivitam,
Tasmaan maam, sharana-agatam sharanada, tvam raksha raksha-adhunaa., 13

Hey please hear, daily span of life decreases, the youth daily disappears, the days that are past do never return, Time swallows the world, and Life and wealth are not permanent, For they are like the tide and lightning,
And so my god Parameshwara, Forever protect this devotee of thine., 13

Kara-charana-kritam vaak,-kaaya-jam, karma-jam vaa,
Shravana-nayana-jam vaa, maanasam vaa-aparaadhama,
Vihitam-avihitam vaa, sarvam-etat-kshmasva,
Shiva shiva karunaabdhe, shrii mahaadeva shambho., 14

Whatever faults or mistakes I have done so far with the help of my hands, legs, speech and body, also due to my actions, also by seeing and hearing or may be mentally or as per the injunctions of Veda, all these Oh Lord Shiva who is all compassionate please forgive me. You are the Lord of all deities and one who nature is to bless all., 14

iti shrimadh shankaraachaaryakrita shivaaparaadhakshamaapana stotram sampurnamh

This is a prayer called Shiva- aparaadha-kshmapan-stotram composed by Adi Shri Shankaracharyaji

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