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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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Kṣetrapala

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Kṣetrapala literally means ‘guardian of the site’.

Kṣetrapala

The Kṣetrapāla occupies an important place among the subsidiary deities in the temples of Śiva . He is the chief guardian of the temple. His appearance can be described as below:

  • His idol is usually naked.
  • He has protruding eyes.
  • He exhibits sharp fangs in the mouth.
  • He has disheveled hair.
  • Snakes are his ornaments.
  • He is shown with two or four or even six hands carrying:
  1. Sword
  2. Bell
  3. Trident
  4. Noose
  5. Skull-cup
  6. Fire
  • He stands on a lotus.
  • He is accompanied by a dog.
  • He is worshiped first before commencing the regular service of the day.
  • He seems to be an aspect of Bhairava.
  • He may have three aspects according to the three guṇas:
  1. Sattva
  2. Rajas
  3. Tamas
  • He can also be an independent deity with his own shrine usually set up in the north-eastern corner of the village or town.
  • His shrine should not face east.

References[edit]

  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

Contributors to this article

Apurva Mahendra Bhangdia, Deval Sancheti

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