Hindu religious and advocacy groups, including Cupertino's Hindu Education Foundation, ignited the controversy last autumn when they alleged that depictions of Hinduism in textbooks drew more upon stereotypes than historical accuracy. Hindu groups asked the state board of education to rid the textbooks of what they called factual errors. (A similar debate on textbook content took place in India three years ago.)

Specifically, the groups alleged that the textbooks misrepresent the caste system and the role of women in Hindu society 2,500 years ago. The groups say the caste system is no longer discriminatory, and women had different, not inferior, roles than men in ancient India.

"The books make fun of Hindu deities and sacred Vedas," said Khanderao Khan, a Hindu Education Foundation spokesman, in an email. "Some textbooks referred [to] Hindu Goddess Durga as bloodthirsty."

At the same time, opponents of these views have said many of the proposed changes "saffronized" or whitewashed history.

"There are many good things about Hinduism, but [groups such as the HEF] are attempting to sanitize history," said Anu Mandavilli, a self-described Hindu and member of Friends of South Asia, an organization that contested the proposed changes.

Khan's group and the Vedic Foundation of Austin, Texas, submitted hundreds of revisions for the state board to consider during its routine six-year review of textbook content for grades K-8. The board's decision has national implications because many states follow California's example. More than 6,000 individuals from throughout the United States also signed a petition to support the revisions.

However, an equally determined group of scholars, individuals and 17 state legislators argued against the changes.

Akhil Gupta, a professor of cultural anthropology at Stanford University, said those arguing for the changes tended to skew toward one version of Hinduism--Brahmanism--not necessarily shared by others.

"Care should be taken that textbooks be written in an even handed manner," he said, while adding negative perceptions such as patriarchy should not be swept under the rug.

Mandavilli agreed.

"History is not an attempt to make you feel better, but to inform the present," she said.

Even so, Khan said the board's ruling represented progress.

"We [were] able to correct a number of distortions and inaccuracies," he said, listing corrections to text and pictures he described as blasphemous. At the same Khan said there was still work to be done.

"The coverage on Hinduism does not cover basic beliefs and tenets of Hinduism as it covers other religions," Khan said, adding the Hindu Education Foundation would also support the activities of a third group, the Hindu American Foundation, which is considering legal action against the board.