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, reflecting our ongoing commitment at Hindupedia to challenge the representation of Hindu Dharma within academia.

Viṣṇubali

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Viṣṇubali literally means ‘offering to Viṣṇu’.

Instance of Viṣṇubali[edit]

This is a rite performed by the husband of a pregnant lady during the eighth month. It should be done on the 2nd, 7th or the 12th day of the bright fortnight when the moon is in the stars Srāvaṇa, Rohiṇi or Puṣya. Its purpose is to remove all the harm to the foetus and assure an easy and safe delivery. It should be performed during every conception.

Ritual of Viṣṇubali[edit]

  • Nāndīśrāddha is to be done on the previous day.
  • The next day, a homa has to be performed to Viṣṇu with 64 oblations of boiled rice mixed with ghee using Ṛgvedic mantras.[1]
  • To the northeast of the fire a square plot with 64 small squares should be prepared.
  • Cooked rice balls are kept in these squares.
  • They are offered first by the Ṛgvedic mantras.
  • One ball from them is offered to Viṣṇu with the mantra "Om namo nārāyaṇāya".

The husband and wife should partake of two rice balls of the same separately as prasāda or consecrated food.


References[edit]

  1. Ṛgveda 1.22.16-21; 10.90.1-16 and so on.
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore