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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.


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Vaitaraṇi

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Vaitaraṇi literally means ‘the river to be crossed’.

Vaitaraṇi, a River[edit]

The purāṇas describe that those sinners who are destined to go to hell have to cross this fetid river, full of blood, hairs and bones. While crossing it they are tormented terribly.

Vaitaraṇi, a Cow[edit]

It is also the name of a cow that is donated to a brāhmaṇa during the antyeṣṭi,[1] which is supposed to help the soul of the dead to cross the river Vaitaraṇi.

Vaitaraṇi, a River[edit]

A river in Kaliṅga[2] has been called Vaitaraṇi. It is sometimes identified either with the river Mahānadī or the Betrani.

Vaitaraṇi, a Vrata[edit]

The ekādaśī of the dark fortnight of the month of Mārgaśīrṣā or Agrahāyaṇa[3] is called Vaitaraṇi. A special vrata[4] called Vaitaraṇīvrata is observed on this day by worshiping a dark cow so that it will help the observer to cross the Vaitaraṇi River after death. This vrata has to be observed for one year in three periods of four months.


References[edit]

  1. ↑ Antyeṣṭi means death-rites.
  2. ↑ It is in the modern Orissa State.
  3. ↑ It falls in November/December.
  4. ↑ Vrata means religious observance.
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

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