Hinduism is not a religion in the strictest sense; it is a way of life. Hinduism or Hindu religion is the most tolerant religion and Hindus, unlike followers of other religion, do not react when someone criticises the Hindu Gods or Hinduism.
A true Hindu believes in %u201CVasudeva Kutumbakam%u201D in other words %u201Cworld as one family%u201D. Universal brotherhood is inbuilt in Hindu culture. By and large, Hindus do not hurt the feelings and sentiments of others. None of the Hindu literature will ever criticise or belittle other religious literature.
On the contrary, several instances of other religious literature criticizing Hinduism, Hindu Gods and philosophy are plenty. This is resorted to by others, as there are no protests by Hindus. Only since the recent past, organisations such as VHP are opposing such instances.
Some unscrupulous companies used images of Lord Ganesha on footwear and the images of God Hanuman on the underwear etc. These products were withdrawn from the markets after protests by Hindus in the USA.
The present instance of using of images of Jagannath, Balaram and Hanuman on the apparels needs condemnation by all right thinking people irrespective of religious faiths. Using the name or image of any God of any religious faith for the purpose of business is a crime and will definitely hurt the sentiments of followers of that religion. Perpeters of this crime should be punished severely.
RE:INSULT TO NAME AND IMAGE OF HINDU GODS
by firoz firoz on Dec 17, 2007 08:50 PM Permalink
Hurting the sentiments of other religions should be condemned.But Hinduism or Hindu religion doesnt promote universal brother hood. Hinduism divides people on cast basis like Bramhins,sudras etc.Vasudeva kutumbam is mere farce.
RE:INSULT TO NAME AND IMAGE OF HINDU GODS
by Topno on Dec 17, 2007 09:12 PM Permalink
In Islam people kill other people calling Shia or Sunni or Kafir.
Islam has caused more death and destruction than any deaseas or Cyclone or earthquake. This is why Islam is the biggest deaseas on this earth.
RE:INSULT TO NAME AND IMAGE OF HINDU GODS
by Gopi on Dec 17, 2007 09:17 PM Permalink
Hinduism as a religion never existed. It was Shaivite or Vaishanavite philosophy whichever ruled the roost (or the mind of the kings who ruled) that contested for the religious space in India with Buddhism / Jainism. Some body really smart combined both Shaivism and Vaishnavism and called it Hinduism.
And about the "way of life" claim, every religion claims to be so. So that is no USP or claim worth crowing about.
What ails the most popular religion in India (we can call it whatever name we want) is unity amongst its constituents. This is, I guess, a consequence of its stilted interpretation of the Manu Smriti... which divided people on the basis of occupation, which got manipulated to divide them on the basis of their birth amidst stratification of society.