After the controversy over the use of Ganesha images over leggings by a Texas company, now yoga mats have appeared in the US with images of Hindu deities Ganesha, Durga and Hanuman.
These yoga mats have been produced by Spiritual Revolution, a company based at Gladwyne in Pennsylvania.
Angry Hindu groups have asked the company to withdraw the mats as they offend Hindu sentiments.
The company is selling the `Durga: The Great Protectress’ yoga mat for $85. The `Hanuman: Devotion in Action’ yoga mat also sells for $85.
The other yoga mats by the company are being sold under various Hindu symbols – such as the third eye or the heart chakra, etc.
The company claims its “yoga mats are the greatest tool to aid you in your journey to optimal health, happiness, success, and peace.”
It says, its yoga mats are toxic-free and “each mat is designed to raise your vibrational frequency”.
As if this was not enough, the company boasts, “You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy a Spiritual Revolution yoga mat and that’s basically the same thing”.
Calling its a company of artists desiring to bring inspiration to yoga practitioners, it says, “Our vision is simple: put amazing, gallery-quality artwork on eco-friendly yoga mats. Our images are one-of-a-kind. They look just as good hanging on your living room wall as they do under your feet in Warrior III. Awaken to the Revolution and live your yoga days filled with artistic inspiration!’’
Hindu leader Rajan Zed, who runs Universal Society of Hinduism in Nevada, said in a statement that Lord Ganesha, Goddess Durga and Lord Hanuman were highly revered in Hinduism and were meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to sit on or put feet/buttocks/legs on or sweat on. Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees.
He demanded that Spiritual Revolution withdraw these mats from sale and its CEO offer an apology.
A couple of weeks ago, another US company from Texas, which sold leggings with images of Lord Ganesha (shown below), withdrew its products and apologized to Hindu groups in the US.
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