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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.


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.

Ekāksara-Gaṇapati

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Ekākṣara-Gaṇapati literally means ‘Gaṇapati indicated by one letter’.

Gaṇapati or Gaṇeśa, the elephant faced deity, is one of the most popular deities. His bījākṣara[1] is ‘gain’. The form of Gaṇapati which is associated with this letter is to be meditated upon while repeating it. It is called ‘Ekāksara-Gaṇapati’.

It is one of the eight famous aspects recommended for attaining siddhis or supernatural powers. Ekākṣara-Gaṇapati is described as stout and dwarfish. He is red in color and seated in padmāsana or lotus posture. In iconographical representation, his hand holds:

  1. Bījāpura - pomegranate
  2. Pāśa - lasso
  3. Aṅkuśa - goad
  4. Gesture of varada[2]

This form is specially worshiped to attain happiness in life.


References[edit]

  1. ↑ Bījākṣara is the seed-letter containing his power and essence.
  2. ↑ Varada posture denotes bestowing boons.
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

Contributors to this article

Krishna Maheshwari, Deval Sancheti

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