This weekend I posted a picture on my Facebook fan page that made a joke about the movie Avatar and Krishna. It depicts a cartoon of Krishna using a common Internet meme about "hipsters." I found it very clever and fun, but I was surprised to see an immediate backlash.
Amit Rasam dont play like this with hindu god. This not a cartoon,
I could see his point. I had not thought about people who see this as disrespectful to the Gods. It made me think two things:
1) It seems to me that the Gods are full of playfulness and teasing. Particularly Krishna. The stories of him are full of fun and games, teasing and jokes. He always has a twinkle in his eye.
So it's difficult for me to think that Krishna would be offended by this. It is not demeaning him, but in fact pointing out that the idea of a blue avatar is older than the Avatar movie. There's nothing offensive about that.
It is said that as one gets closer to God, He becomes more of a friend than a scary authority figure that is going to punish you. I feel that my relationship with Krishna is full of fun and teasing that is nothing but affectionate. I adore Krishna, and fully believe that He adores me.
2) Being chastised for my behavior towards the Gods makes me feel as though this person believes he is the authority on Hinduism and that I am not as Hindu as he is. Perhaps I'm imagining that, but it is what it comes across as.
I don't know this man, I have no relation to him, but he feels he should tell me what I should or shouldn't do with the Gods.
But the thing is, they are my Gods too.
And basically what I said to him was that this is the relationship that I have with the Gods, and if he finds it offensive, he doesn't have to visit my fan page. It's as simple as that.
I'm fascinated to see that some people take religion with such an intense seriousness and I can't help but think it's going to cause them to develop an ulcer. Having a sense of humor around religion seems to me to be much more in line with the divine creation as a play and entertainment for God.
Amit Rasam dont play like this with hindu god. This not a cartoon,
I could see his point. I had not thought about people who see this as disrespectful to the Gods. It made me think two things:
1) It seems to me that the Gods are full of playfulness and teasing. Particularly Krishna. The stories of him are full of fun and games, teasing and jokes. He always has a twinkle in his eye.
So it's difficult for me to think that Krishna would be offended by this. It is not demeaning him, but in fact pointing out that the idea of a blue avatar is older than the Avatar movie. There's nothing offensive about that.
It is said that as one gets closer to God, He becomes more of a friend than a scary authority figure that is going to punish you. I feel that my relationship with Krishna is full of fun and teasing that is nothing but affectionate. I adore Krishna, and fully believe that He adores me.
2) Being chastised for my behavior towards the Gods makes me feel as though this person believes he is the authority on Hinduism and that I am not as Hindu as he is. Perhaps I'm imagining that, but it is what it comes across as.
I don't know this man, I have no relation to him, but he feels he should tell me what I should or shouldn't do with the Gods.
But the thing is, they are my Gods too.
And basically what I said to him was that this is the relationship that I have with the Gods, and if he finds it offensive, he doesn't have to visit my fan page. It's as simple as that.
I'm fascinated to see that some people take religion with such an intense seriousness and I can't help but think it's going to cause them to develop an ulcer. Having a sense of humor around religion seems to me to be much more in line with the divine creation as a play and entertainment for God.
I believe even the word "avatar" comes from Sanskrit, but I may be wrong about that. I thought that guy kind of came off the same way fundamentalist Christians do about Christianity, in that he, as you point out, seems to have a rather limited view of the God/s he worships.
ReplyDeleteHear it from the horse's mouth : James Cameroon talks about 'Avatar' and Hinduism - http://www.hinduismworldwide.in/2012/04/james-cameroon-talks-about-avatar-and.html
DeleteOh man, it says the video can't be played in my country!
DeleteSo tell us, does he acknowledge Hinduism in relation to Avatar?
Does this link work? - http://headlinestoday.intoday.in/headlines_today/programme/Hindu+beliefs+are+fascinating:+Cameron/1/89184.html
DeleteThat one works! Thank you for sharing that with us :)
DeleteBeloved Aamba...i completely agree.
ReplyDeleteand he isn't just your God too...a Portion of Him created You...which makes you Beloved Beloved! You are a Portion of Beloved with a sense of humor. Sometimes those more serious Portions will not be so happy with us.:P
Which is quite silly!
Beautifully put! I like the "more serious portions" way of looking at it.
DeleteThere are fanatics and so-called fundamentalists in every faith. Hinduism has no deficit of them.
ReplyDeleteAmbaa, I think you're right on with Sri Krishna's personality. With God's personality. One can see it everywhere. In incarnations like Sri Ramakrishna, who was known for telling jokes -- even rude ones -- to amuse his young disciples, and Krishna, who stole the Gopis' clothes and initiated the color-flinging festivities of Holi. And one can see it in the world, which is all God, and which, though terrifying and wonderful and lovely and disgusting, is often just plain funny.
True, true :)
Deletei agree with you on this.it is not about fearing you god. its about loving them.
ReplyDeletethe greatest devotees of god be it mira or ram krishna paramhansh, have been the ones who have loved their god.
if joking about your god is your way to show affection towards them,then there is nothing wrong in doing it.
even i joke about shiva being a rockstar with long hair, funky clothes and a dance number(tandav) but it is not for disrespecting him. its just my way to keep him alive in day-to-day conversation.
"Amit Rasam dont play like this with hindu god. This not a cartoon"
ReplyDeletei see no problem in it did he warn of any consequences of doing that like abusing u or threatened physical violence etc. if not then y u r taking notice of such comments he is just giving his opinion & all of u so called "enlightened" bloggers r bashing him for that.
I always look forward to the opportunity for discussion and debate about all subjects related to the sacred.
DeleteThis comment provided me a way to think about why I was not offended by the image when he was.
I did not intend to bash him, just to show my reason for not taking it down.
By posting the comment, he opens himself up to that discussion. He has put his opinion in writing for us to view and so it is up to us to also express ours.
DeleteAmbaa,
ReplyDeleteThis is the precise reason why MF Hussein's paintings were also subject to huge outrage. Public display of images that are modifications of centuries old interpretations can lead to hurt sentiments. It is not about authority over religion, nor ownership of God. I can imagine why you felt the way you did, I understand. But I also see Amit's point of view. Every person alive who prays to an image of any religious faith, does so purely out of belief. No one alive has seen any of the Gods being worshiped today. All we have is the images. While every person certainly 'owns' their part the of the God they pray to, it is necessary to remember, our intentions are not explained in the image and can therefore, lead to misunderstanding.
Ambaa,
ReplyDeleteWhen I step into your shoes, I can understand why you might have felt the way you did. But when I step out, I see Amit's perspective too. It is not about owning a God, nor about being an authority. Fact is, across all religions, all that human beings have, is images of their faith. No one has seen God, but they fervently cling to their image of the Supreme Power for strength, comfort and solace and are hurt to see a modified version. Especially in a public forum where one's intention doesn't transmit itself.
It's true. And I do see his point, I definitely do. It's a tricky issue, I think, because we do all have our own ways of relating to God and his images.
DeleteI'm not sure what the right thing is, but I do know that the way this man expressed his displeasure definitely made me defensive!