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.

Vaiṣṇavi

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Vaiṣṇavi is listed among the Saptamātṛkās.[1] She is the śakti[2] of Lord Viṣṇu. In the Durgāsaptaśatī[3] she is described as an emanation, one of the seven of Durgā. She is identical in form with Viṣṇu. She is dark in complexion and wears yellow silken robes and a vanamālā[4] also. She has four hands holding:

  1. Cakra - discus
  2. Śaṅkha - conch
  3. Gada - mace
  4. Padma - lotus
Vaiṣṇavi

Sometimes she is shown with six hands, the last two showing the gestures of abhaya[5] and varada.[6] She also holds śankh[7] gada[8] and padma.[9] Sometimes she is shown with six hands. She rides on the Garuḍa, the famous vulture-mount of Viṣṇu.


References[edit]

  1. Saptamātṛkās means the Seven Mothers.
  2. Śakti is the power-goddess.
  3. Durgāsaptaśatī 8.18
  4. Vanamālā means garland of wild flowers.
  5. Abhaya means protection from fear.
  6. Varada means giving boons.
  7. Śankh means conch.
  8. Gada means mace.
  9. Padma means lotus.
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore