Nevada, July 16 (IBNS) A US based Hindu group is perturbed at the portrayal of goddess Kali, a highly revered deity of Hinduism, which gives the appearance of a porn-star in an upcoming online action video game SMITE being developed by Georgia (USA) headquartered Hi-Rez Studios.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) said that such portrayal of goddess Kali was quite disturbing for the devotees who worshipped her in temples or home shrines on a regular basis. It was denigration and belittling of the entire community.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged online video game developer Hi-Rez Studios to immediately remove the Kali and other Hindu gods (Vamana and Agni) from the game as it trivialized the highly revered and sacred deities of Hinduism.
Meanwhile, Catholics, Jews and Buddhists have come out in the support of US Hindus who are upset at this inappropriate usage of Kali and other Hindu deities.
Roman Catholic leader in Nevada Father Charles T. Durante, prominent Jewish leader in Western USA Rabbi ElizaBeth W. Beyer and distinguished Buddhist leader from Nevada Reverend Jikai’ Phil Bryan have issued separate statements backing the cause of protesting Hindus.
Reverend Bryan commented: “Shame on the game-makers for denigrating these Supreme Beings.”
Zed further said that in a video game set-up, the player would control and manipulate goddess Kali and other Hindu deities, which was highly inappropriate as in reality the devotees put the destinies of themselves in the hands of their deities.
Goddess Kali, who personifies Shakti or divine energy and considered the goddess of time and change, is widely worshipped in Hinduism.
Hi-Rez Studios describes SMITE as an “online battleground between mythical gods” in which players choose from a selection of gods.
