Upset Hindus are urging Gladwyne (Pennsylvania) headquartered yoga mats company “Spiritual Revolution” for immediate withdrawal of yoga mats carrying images of Hindu deities Ganesha, Durga and Hanuman; calling it highly inappropriate.
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that Lord Ganesha, goddess Durga and Lord Hanuman were highly revered in Hinduism and were meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to sit on or put feet/buttocks/legs on or sweat on. Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, also urged “Spiritual Revolution” and its CEO to offer a formal apology.
Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about 1.1 billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken frivolously. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Rajan Zed noted.
Zed further said that such trivialization of Hindu deities was disturbing to the Hindus world over. Hindus were for free artistic expression and speech as much as anybody else if not more. But faith was something sacred and attempts at trivializing it hurt the followers, Zed added.
“Ganesha: Remover of Obstacles”, “Durga: The Great Protectress” and “Hanuman: Devotion In Action” yoga mats are priced at $85.00 each. “Spiritual Revolution”, which sells “yoga mats for all ages”, claims that their “yoga mats are the greatest tool to aid you in your journey to optimal health, happiness, success, and peace” and adds that “Each mat is designed to raise your vibrational frequency”. It states on its website: “You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy a Spiritual Revolution yoga mat and that’s basically the same thing”. “Revolutionaries” listed include Amie Barsky, Angela Knight Benoit, Lindsay Westcott, Kiley Holliday, Vanessa Van Noy, Erica Bleznak, Heather Grutzmacher, Allie Starfox and Oceanic Society.
There are about three million Hindus in USA.
Source : From Our Correspondent
I condemn the immoral, inhuman, cruel, irresponsible, insensitive, intolerant & barbaric acts of Spiritual Revolution company, aimed at not only hurting the faith, sentiments & beliefs of millions of Hindus all over the world but also against the most revered Hindu dieties like Goddess Durga, Lord Ganesh & Lord Hanuman. I also urge the company& the U.S. Govt. to immediately ban & withdraw all the products of not only Spiritual Revolution company but also all other companies who have followed in the footsteps of Spiritual Revolution company & dared to show our respected Hindu dieties & Hindu Religion in poor light. I also urge the Spiritual Revolution company to only issue a public opology to all Hindu devotees spread all over the world but also to seek apology from all Hindu dieties & Gods for demonaic acts, NOW.