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 Kama Sundari ashtakam

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia


Shivakama Sundari Ashtakam

By

Sage Vyagrapada

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

(Shivakama Sundari is the Goddess Presiding besides Lord Nataraja in Chidambaram temple , This octet written by sage Vyagra pada(sage with a fet of a tiger) who praises her.)

1.Pundareeka pura Madhya vasinim,
Nrutha raja saha dhgarminim,
Adhri raja thanayaam,
Dhine dhine chinthayami Shivakama Sundarim.

I daily think of the Shivakama Sundari,
Who lives in the middle of the town of lotus flowers,
Who is the wedded wife of the king of dancers,
And who is the daughter of the king of mountains.

2.Brahma Vishnu dhama deva poojitham,
Bahu sreepadma suka vathsa Shobitham
Bahuleya kalapana nathmajam,
Dhine dhine chinthayami Shivakama Sundarim.

I daily think of the Shivakama Sundari,
Who is worshipped by devas in the worlds of Brahma and Vishnu,
Who holds in her hands lotus and a parrot
And who shines holding the prattling Lord Subramanya as her son

3.Veda seersha vinutha aathma vaibhavam,
Vanchithartha phala dhana thathparam,
Vyasa soonu mukhathaparchitham,
Dhine dhine Chinthayami Shivakama sundarim

I daily think of the Shivakama Sundari,
Whose greatness is sung by the head of the Vedas,
Who is interested in fulfilling desires of devotees,
And who is worshipped by sages like Shuka Brahmam.

4.Shodasarna para devatham Umam,
Pancha Bana anisa yothbhava Veshanaam,
Parijatha tharu moola Mandapam,
Dhine dhine Chinthayami Shivakama sundarim

I daily think of the Shivakama Sundari,
Who is Goddess Uma who is sixteen years old,
Who brought back to life, Manmatha who had five arrows,
And who lives in the Prayer hall above roots of Parijata tree.

5.Viswayonim amalam Anuthamam,
Vag vilasa phaladham vichakshanam,
Vari vaha sadhrusa lambaram,
Dhine dhine Chinthayami Shivakama sundarim

I daily think of the Shivakama Sundari,
Who is the pure incomparable mother of universe,
Whose words are always true , who is intelligent,
And who has flowing hair comparable to rich black clouds.

6.Nandikesa vinutha athma vaibhavam ,
Swa namamanthu japakruth sukha pradam,
Nasa heena pathatham , nadeswarim,
Dhine dhine Chinthayami Shivakama sundarim

I daily think of the Shivakama Sundari,
Who is saluted by Nandi deva due to her greatness,
Who makes life pleasant to those who chant her names,
And saves her devotees from destruction and is the goddess of dance.

7.Some surya hutha bukthabhir lochanam ,
Sarva mohna kareem sudheedinaam,
Thri varga paramathma soukhythaam,
Dhine dhine Chinthayami Shivakama sundarim

I daily think of the Shivakama Sundari,
Who has sun, moon and fire as her eyes,
Who attracts every one and blesses with good intelligence,
Who is above the three states of Dharma, wealth and salvation
And grants one with divine pleasures.

8.Pundareeka charana rishina krutham stotram,
Yethath anwaham padanthi ye ,
Pundareeka pura nayikam ambikam,
Ya drushtim akilam maheswari.

If one reads always without fail this prayer,
Composed by the Vyagrapada sage,
That Goddess who is the queen of the city of Lord Shiva,
Would see them with kindness and fulfill their wishes,