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Why religious Holy symbols are handled so casually?

  • Thread starter Thread starter V.Balasubramani
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V.Balasubramani

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Pranams,

Today, I happened to visit a Two Wheeler Service Centre. Motor cycles/Scooters of that particular brand were orderly arranged outside. I had a glance at these Bikes /Scooters. One of the interesting thing I noticed was that in one motor cycle there was a knot of a yellow colour Jaragai cloth and another one with a lime fruit hanging over its mud guard. On the scooter section, I can find stickers of Gods of different religions and quotes, but without the mandatory Bulls eye sticker in the headlight. When I saw the keys stand, each key chain has an attachment of an article concerning religious symbols, Alphabets, fancy items.etc. It is belief. One can be religious. But when I saw a Holy religious symbol hanging at the back pocket of an individual, being an attachment of a key chain, it really hurts. Why religious Holy symbols are handled so casually?


Any thoughts?


Regards
 
Dear Balu Sir,

There are sarees and pAvadais made with God's images. When the wearer walks, it appears as if the images are kicked!

Similarly, when God images are on the 'pallu' of a saree, the one who wears it is likely to sit on the image! :sad:
 
Many people don’t distinguish between an object and its subject, between the substance and its surface, between a meaning and its symbol, you have book burnings, statue attacks, whatever. They think it will preserve their world. They’re trying to forestall change of the world they’re feel safe in.

I agree that we should respect the feelings of others, but we also need to balance it with artistic expressions. What is art to me, may be blasphemous to you. So we need to be mindful of it. So if something offends you do not do it, but why would you want to control others.
 
Whether a symbol is attached to the back pocket or the front pocket, what is the difference? Both are attached to the same individual right, who presumably is showing a degree of attachment to the religion and its symbols.

Nowadays people sing Raghupati Raghava to rap music. Maybe that is still better than the obscenity laced rap in Western music.
 
Sri. Balasubramani Sir



Gayathri Mantra, Pancharatna Keerthana, and other Hindu Slokas are freely used as Ring tones, Door Bell Music etc.

By this the Greatness of these mantras are not affected in anyway, but it only shows the ignorance of the people who use them without understanding the meaning of it.



Similarly , people who use Hindu religious symbols in inappropriate places, probably do not understand the significance of these symbols.




Back in 1999 artist Chris Ofili smeared elephant feces and pasted pornographic photographs on an image of the Virgin Mary and hung it in the Brooklyn Museum of Art. It caused a firestorm of protest. Ofili's detractors were outraged at the sacrilege. His defenders retorted with the predicable arguments citing freedom of expression and artistic autonomy but avoided any serious engagement with the real meaning of the piece.

Rev. Johannes L. Jacobse -- The Artist as Vandal: Culture and the desecration of religious symbols

PARIS, FRANCE, October 23, 2004: The UNESCO Executive Board unanimously decided to take action on the misuse of religious symbols and expressions at its 170th session in Paris on October 12 on a proposal by Sri Lanka. Fifteen countries cosponsored Sri Lanka's proposal recommending that the UNESCO General Conference in 2005 adopt a Resolution on this issue that has received much public attention in Sri Lanka.

UNESCO Takes Up Issue of Misused Religious Symbols - Hindu Press International - Hindu Press International - Hinduism Today Magazine

It is not right for political parties to misuse religious symbols that are respected by believers, a spokesman of the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC), the apex body of the Catholic Church in the State, has said.
The spokesman said here on Sunday that it was painful to see political parties using religious symbols. This tendency deserved to be condemned.
Religious symbols must not be misused, says KCBC - The Hindu






Freedom of Speech Is No Excuse for Insulting Religious Symbols
 
Dear Prasad Sir,

I wrote my thoughts about the sarees. I don't buy them but I have never thought of controlling others! :)

FYI, some of my relatives based in the U S of A bought Ramayana sarees!
 
Raji Ram said:
Dear Prasad Sir,

I wrote my thoughts about the sarees. I don't buy them but I have never thought of controlling others! :)

FYI, some of my relatives based in the U S of A bought Ramayana sarees!
Click to expand...

rajiji,
I did not write with you in particular, my statement was in general. I have a Shanka, chakra plaque for decoration, an Iyangar older genterman got upset that I had it.
 
prasad1 said:
Many people don’t distinguish between an object and its subject, between the substance and its surface, between a meaning and its symbol, you have book burnings, statue attacks, whatever. They think it will preserve their world. They’re trying to forestall change of the world they’re feel safe in.

I agree that we should respect the feelings of others, but we also need to balance it with artistic expressions. What is art to me, may be blasphemous to you. So we need to be mindful of it. So if something offends you do not do it, but why would you want to control others.
Click to expand...

Sir,

You are right.

Here, I am just striving hard to control my own senses, emotions, desires, etc and I know pretty well that I have absolutely no say on others acts. It is nothing but an expression of sharing my own feeling Sir.


Regards
 
Well well...good topic.

BTW so many of us print religious symbols on wedding cards and send out invites and then its tossed into the garbage bin once the wedding is over.

We have agarbathi covers strewn about the roads near temples with images of Divinity on it.

Its hard to say if these actions are right or wrong cos technically God is in everything..going by that should I walk on my head so that I do not trample Mother Earth with my feet?

Not possible right?

We might complain that some guy is using a religious symbol carelessly but we might be guilty of littering and throwing rubbish on mother earth and that amounts to disrespecting God too.

So what to do?

The best is to do what makes us happy..respect itself is subjective these days.

I do not see anything wrong in ring tones of Gayatri Mantra etc..at least the mind is trying to think of God.

Technically any image of God we see is mostly an artist impression of Raja Ravi Varma....none of us know how God looks like.

BTW most people use religious symbols for some feeling that God is with them..so I would not want to comment if someone is careless or not.

As far as I know only Count Dracula has a problem with religious symbols!LOL
DraculaIsAClansman_1371.jpg
 
If a symbol is used for positive aspects - bhakti, reverence, respect, comfort, fear, harbinger of luck and fortune - it is fine. Only using it for negative aspects - ridicule, abuse, insult etc, is objectionable.

Deliberate intent to misrepresent in commercial products must be resisted. Justification on grounds of freedom of art or speech is not valid.
 
Always wondered why lakshmi vedi and no pictures in jute clad atom bombs!
QUOTE=Raji Ram;223714]How about Lakshmi vedi? :boom:[/QUOTE]
 
Raji Ram said:
How about Lakshmi vedi? :boom:
Click to expand...


Mam,

Would like to share this:

Mangalore: Hindu Janajagruti Samiti Condemns Use of Images of Gods on Crackers
Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)

Mangalore, Nov 10: Printing images of gods and national leader on Diwali crackers and bursting them in public places should be stopped," said Ramananda Gowda of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti at a press meet here on Saturday, November 10.
“Strict rules should be enforced against usage of images of deities like Lakshmi, Vishnu, Krishna and others. As the crackers with these images are burnt and torn off, the remains of which finally end up being scattered everywhere on the roads, gutters and waste boxes, it is not acceptable”, he said.

"For publicity, some of the cracker manufacturers have named their products after Gods like Lakshmi bomb, Krishna bomb, Vishnu bomb, etc. There are particular rules about this which are not being followed. The government has to take proper measures to ensure that the rules are followed and also take necessary action against those who violate them," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, social activist Hanumantha Kamath said that there are particular rules pertaining to the use of crackers. "Crackers emitting loud noise and heavy smoke crackers and bursting of crackers in public places after 10 pm is not allowed," he said.
He said police never take steps against those who violate these rules. "Police are given enough vehicles to go on rounds, but they park it at some place and go to sleep. They should at least make the right use of the facilities on Diwali and take action against the violators in the coming days," he said.
Sukanya Acharya was also present at the press meet.



Regards

Source: http://www.daijiworld.com




 
V.Balasubramani said:
Pranams,

Today, I happened to visit a Two Wheeler Service Centre. Motor cycles/Scooters of that particular brand were orderly arranged outside. I had a glance at these Bikes /Scooters. One of the interesting thing I noticed was that in one motor cycle there was a knot of a yellow colour Jaragai cloth and another one with a lime fruit hanging over its mud guard. On the scooter section, I can find stickers of Gods of different religions and quotes, but without the mandatory Bulls eye sticker in the headlight. When I saw the keys stand, each key chain has an attachment of an article concerning religious symbols, Alphabets, fancy items.etc. It is belief. One can be religious. But when I saw a Holy religious symbol hanging at the back pocket of an individual, being an attachment of a key chain, it really hurts. Why religious Holy symbols are handled so casually?


Any thoughts?


Regards
Click to expand...

Dear VB
Keeping the symbols of his/her taste, faith or preference as long as it does not harm anyone or cause ill-repute to religion or one's own personal belief and right. In other words, if a person who is under distress, pressure or under want may get good vibration, impression, happiness, and blessings when he notice a simple of his own taste appears/fixed in any one of the object/vehicle. The moment of sighing the symbol would mean blessing, boost or boon of Almighty with a hope that the distress of a particular person would vanish. This may not be considered as a blind superstitious. Let it be.
 
V.Balasubramani said:
Pranams,

Today, I happened to visit a Two Wheeler Service Centre. Motor cycles/Scooters of that particular brand were orderly arranged outside. I had a glance at these Bikes /Scooters. One of the interesting thing I noticed was that in one motor cycle there was a knot of a yellow colour Jaragai cloth and another one with a lime fruit hanging over its mud guard. On the scooter section, I can find stickers of Gods of different religions and quotes, but without the mandatory Bulls eye sticker in the headlight. When I saw the keys stand, each key chain has an attachment of an article concerning religious symbols, Alphabets, fancy items.etc. It is belief. One can be religious. But when I saw a Holy religious symbol hanging at the back pocket of an individual, being an attachment of a key chain, it really hurts. Why religious Holy symbols are handled so casually?


Any thoughts?


Regards
Click to expand...

Religious holy symbols will get only that much reverence as its followers/believers give to such symbols. Suppose hinduism had a martyr squad to destroy all such goods and its manufacturers, sellers, users, then nobody will even dare to use any hindu religious symbols on all kinds of sundry goods. But is this possible? Are there hindus ready to give up even their lives for the sake of upholding religious purity?

Secondly, and this is far more important, hinduism was a close preserve of the three elite classes and the shudras who form the vast majority have only less than 90 years of close familiarity with the brahmins' religion. They (the shudras, panchamas, etc.) are still newcomers and may not feel one with the religion of the "paappaan". Hence our sentiments about religious holy symbols may not find resonance in the vast majority of hindus today.
 
V.Balasubramani said:

“Strict rules should be enforced against usage of images of deities like Lakshmi, Vishnu, Krishna and others. As the crackers with these images are burnt and torn off, the remains of which finally end up being scattered everywhere on the roads, gutters and waste boxes, it is not acceptable”, he said.

"For publicity, some of the cracker manufacturers have named their products after Gods like Lakshmi bomb, Krishna bomb, Vishnu bomb, etc. There are particular rules about this which are not being followed. The government has to take proper measures to ensure that the rules are followed and also take necessary action against those who violate them," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, social activist Hanumantha Kamath said that there are particular rules pertaining to the use of crackers. "Crackers emitting loud noise and heavy smoke crackers and bursting of crackers in public places after 10 pm is not allowed," he said.
He said police never take steps against those who violate these rules. "Police are given enough vehicles to go on rounds, but they park it at some place and go to sleep. They should at least make the right use of the facilities on Diwali and take action against the violators in the coming days," he said.
Sukanya Acharya was also present at the press meet.



Regards

Source: http://www.daijiworld.com
Click to expand...

When we burst crackers, we never imagined that we were ripping of the pics of gods and goddesses. It was just a cracker to us and unlimited fun.

But advocates of A and VA should not be perturbed, I should think. It is only the D who only can raise an objection. :-)
 
vgane said:
Agreed our religion is evolving..How about the modern pictures of Gods..In the name of modern art should we degrade our Gods?

Is there not a limit to artistic expressions?

Illustrations of Indian gods - Imgur
Click to expand...

How do we degrade GOD?
I understand that our sentiments are hurt.

Mr. Sangom,
That post about introducing Caste in this thread was totally uncalled for.
I am sure all followers of any religions have feeling for their faith, and they might feel insulted or hurt by inappropriate use of their religion.
 
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