Upset Hindus have urged well-known German fashion brand “Front Row Society” headquartered in Berlin for the immediate withdrawal of leggings carrying image of Lord Shiva, calling it inappropriate.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that Lord Shiva was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to be worn around one’s legs, crotch and hips. Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, also urged “Front Row Society” to offer a formal apology.
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, Rajan Zed pointed out.
Zed further said that such trivialization of Lord Shiva was disturbing to the Hindus world over. Hindus were for free artistic expression and speech as much as anybody else if not more. But faith was something sacred and attempts at trivializing it hurt the followers, Zed added.
Product description of “Shiva the Great Leggings” ($39.95) on the company website includes “Let your legs do the talking in this brightly colored stretch leggings”, whose print design is by Akwaflorell.
“Front Row Society”; whose products sell at Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters, Amazon.com, etc.; claims to offer “high quality accessories with unique and original designs”. Dr. Florian Ellsaesser is the Managing Director.
In Hinduism, Lord Shiva, along with Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu, forms the great triad of Hindu deities.