Hindus are disturbed over distortion of goddess Kali image in Titan Comics and are seeking the withdrawal of all the comics containing such distorted Kali from the stores and online.
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, described it as highly inappropriate portrayal of goddess Kali and urged public apologies from all those responsible for it, including Titan Comics its parent Titan Publishing.
Titan Comics describing Kali on its website, says: “Kali, oldest and deadliest of these creatures, was thought defeated long, long ago; her body scattered throughout time to prevent her return.”
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, stated that goddess Kali was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to worshiped in temples or home shrines and not to be thrown around loosely in re imagined versions for dramatic effects in comics. Such absurd depiction of goddess Kali with no scriptural backing and calling her a “creature” was hurtful to the devotees.
Rajan Zed noted that many actions/characteristics attached to goddess Kali in the Titan Comics were unheard of in mainstream Hinduism. It seemed to be blatant twisting of the facts aimed at mercantile greed and maligning Hinduism in the process, Zed said.
Such trivialization of goddess Kali was offensive to Hindus world over; Zed indicated and urged Titan Comics not to inappropriately and unnecessarily drag Hindu deities to advance the commercial or other agenda in the future.
Rajan Zed stressed that Hindus were for free speech as much as anybody else if not more. But faith was something sacred and attempts at belittling it hurt the devotees. Comics, being one of the very effective mediums, should be more sensitive while handling faith related subjects, Zed argued.
Hindus welcomed entertainment industries to immerse in Hinduism but taking it seriously and respectfully and not just for indecorous showing of Hindu symbols and concepts to advance their selfish agenda. Casual flirting sometimes resulted in pillaging serious spiritual doctrines and revered symbols and hurting the devotees, Zed pointed out.
Rajan Zed further said that Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and should not be taken frivolously. No faith, larger or smaller, should be ridiculed at; Zed said and added that if entertainment executives needed any assistance about Hinduism, he or other Hindu scholars would be glad to help.
Goddess Kali, who personifies Shakti or divine energy and considered the goddess of time and change, is widely worshipped in Hinduism. Moksh (liberation) is the ultimate goal of Hinduism.
Titan Comics, headquartered in London, is the comics and graphic novel division of global publishing giant Titan with brands such as James Bond and Sherlock Holmes.
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