I see where most people get their information from. There are a lot of things about world cultures and belief systems which are wrongly named, poorly described or oversimplified in English. Part of the problem lies with natives who are either ill-equipped or afraid to correct Western narratives. Those who try are often overlooked or undermined. I believe if one really wants to learn about another culture or belief system or its symbols and representations, it's a good idea to immerse oneself into it or try to find sources which can really educate rather than confirm our rather simplistic notions. This applies not just to "the Western gaze". It also applies to how people of other parts of the world view the West. I say this as someone who was born in a traditional Hindu family in India, went to a Catholic institution for 12 years, lived in the US for 10 years, and returned home for the love of my own family, country and culture. I owe much to the US for inspiring me to discover myself.

Thank you for the thoughtful reply.
I have always had an unexplainable interest and love for India. I am not a traveling person and rarely venture more than 5 miles from home, so I likely will not go there. But it has always been very clear to me that India is such an ancient culture that most people of the world can not begin to understand it.