Upset Hindus ask for immediate withdrawal of Hanuman plush doll

Nevada (US), Feb 16 (ANI): Upset Hindus have asked for the immediate recall of the toy "Hanuman as plush doll", calling it "inappropriate, upsetting, and denigrating".

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees.

Hanuman as a plush doll reduced him to a toy under the mercy of a child, while in reality the believers put the destinies of themselves in the hands of their deities. This would send erroneous message to our highly impressionable children that they could control Hanuman and other deities, Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, added.

Meanwhile, Bhavna Shinde of Forum for Hindu Awakening, in a communiqui today to Kridana, the company based in Pennsylvania (USA) which sells Hanuman plush dolls, wrote: "Hanuman is highly revered in Hinduism, meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines, and not to be thrown loosely around on the floor, cars, bathrooms, etc.; or squeezed; or hit by feet; or used as a play ball or pillow. Please recall this toy immediately and refrain from producing/selling any more of these in the future."

"We feel that your toy 'Hanuman as plush doll' is very inappropriate, upsetting, and denigrating. We humbly request that while manufacturing other Hinduism related objects also, please stay true to the Scriptures and respectful to Deities and concepts", Shinde added.

Zed explained that Lord Hanuman was greatly revered and his worship was very popular among Hindus and there were numerous temples dedicated to him. Son of wind-god, besides incredible strength and changing shape at will and flying, he was believed to be a perfect grammarian, great scholar and excelled in all the sciences. According to a legend, even while he was still an infant, he intimidated the sun. In Mahabharata war, flag on Arjuna's chariot driven by Lord Krishna displayed Lord Hanuman. According to a belief, all the planets were under his control. Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken lightly. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Zed argued.

Company (Kridana) describes "Hanuman plush" as "squeezbly soft" and "super-cuddly". "Through modern toy technology, we're connecting our children with millenia of tradition and culture", it adds. (ANI)