Concern over Ganesh and Shiva toys, puppets and clocks; Company responds negatively

Phalgun Krushna Panchami, Kaliyug Varsha 5111

Why we must stop such Denigration of Hindu Deities?

A concerned Hindu gave information to FHA about sale of denigratory toys and materials, having Hindu deities printed on it. When FHA voiced its concern through e-mail, company gave negative response. FHA’s concern and Company’s response are given below:

FHA’s concern over use of Hindu Deities for Toys and Puppets

From: Bhavna Shinde , FHA
Date: Wed, Mar 3, 2010
Subject: Concern over Ganesh and Shiva toys, puppets and clocks
To: [email protected]

||Sree||

Namaste.

We were contacted by a concerned Hindu regarding some toys and materials on sale on your website/in your shops. As can be seen at the below links, you have some toys of Lord Ganesh and Lord Shiva, such as puppets and dolls of these Deities, and clocks/watches with Their images with Their hands as the hands of the clock/watch.

(E.g.: http://www.philosophersguild.com/index.lasso?page_mode=search&act=search&search=Ganesh

http://www.philosophersguild.com/index.lasso?page_mode=search&act=search&search=Shiva )

We would like to bring to your attention that millions of Hindus around the world worship Lord Ganesh and Lord Shiva as their revered symbols of faith. Using the images of these Deities in clocks/watches and making puppets and dolls of them, trivializes these revered symbols of faith. The concept of manipulating puppets and playing with dolls made after Deities is downright denigrating, given that Hindus perform devoted worship and spiritual practice to experience the eternal truth that these Deities govern the universe. Hence, we urge you to immediately withdraw from your website and shops these toys and materials made after our revered Deities and in future not make such toys and materials that denigrate Hindu sacred symbols.

Sincerely,
Bhavna Shinde
www.ForumforHinduAwakening.org

Company’s response to letter of Bhavna Shinde, FHA

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Stephan Shaw <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wed, March 3, 2010
Subject: Concern over Ganesh and Shiva toys, puppets and clocks

Dear Bhavna Shinde,

Thank you for your letter. I’m sorry that you feel our products are denigrating. I assure you that this was not our intent and the products
you cite were designed with love and tenderness. My family happens to be Hindu and we have the Ganesh doll in our mandir at home. Our two year old son as well as my 78 year old devout Hindu, South Indian, in-laws do puja to it each day! If they have no problem with the Ganesh Doll, it is hard to understand why you do. I have come to understand the practice of Hinduism as extremely personal; there are as many ways to practice the faith as there are incarnations of the deities themselves, which is to say, infinite.

Hinduism is not denigrated by the existence of our toys (how could it be?) and the noble religion isn’t weakened by any playfulness or
light-heartedness. The delightful Hindu idea that all of the universe is the result of God’s creative play (leela) is clearly lost on you.
Please lighten up!

Stephan
—————-
Stephan Shaw
Unemployed Philosophers Guild
68 Jay St #508
Brooklyn NY 11201

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