Upset Hindus are urging world’s largest online retailer Amazon.com for the immediate withdrawal of wall-hanging showing image of Hindu deity Shri Ganesha carved on a buffalo-skull; calling it highly inappropriate.
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that Shri Ganesha was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines; and it was highly insensitive to sell his image carved on animal skull. Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or symbols or concepts for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the faithful.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, also urged Amazon.com and its President Jeffrey P. Bezos to offer a formal apology; besides withdrawing this buffalo-skull wall-hanging carved with Shri Ganesha image; as this was not the first time for the company to offer such products which were deemed offensive by Hindu devotees.
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 indicated.
Zed further said that such trivialization of Shri Ganesha 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.
In Hinduism, Shri Ganesha is worshipped as god of wisdom and remover of obstacles and is invoked before the beginning of any major undertaking. There are about three million Hindus in USA.
This objectionable “28” Authentic Buffalo Skull with Horns & Ganesha Carving” wall-hanging with “expertly hand carved Ganesha design” and “using real bone, real horns”; was priced at $449 (+ $25 shipping).
Amazon.com, Inc., a Fortune 500 top-tier company founded in 1994 and headquartered in Seattle, claims to offer earth’s biggest selection and guided by “commitment to operational excellence”.
Source : From Our Correspondent
