Sexploitation of Yoga

Hindus are upset at what they call as “sexploitation” of yoga.

Rajan Zed

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that yoga was a serious mental and physical discipline by means of which the human-soul (jivatman) united with universal-soul (parmatman). But for mercantile greed, market seemed to be flooded with books, magazines, DVDs, and other media showing yoga as some kind of potion to enhance sex life.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, stressed that it was simply misuse of age old and revered system of yoga.

Rajan Zed listed some of the popular titles selling in the market: “Better Sex Through Yoga” (Greaux, Langheld, Rich), promising “Easy Routines to Boost Your Sex Drive, Enhance Physical Pleasure, and Spice Up Your Bedroom Life”; “Sexy Yoga” (Barrett), giving “40 Poses for Mindblowing Sex and Greater Intimacy”; “Sex Yoga” (Brighton), showing “The Seven Easy Steps To A Mind-Blowing Kundalini Orgasm . . . No Partner Required!”; “Intimate Yoga for Couples” (Mishabae); etc.

Here is sampling from some well known magazines: “Yoga Positions for Better Sex” (Prevention), “Want Better Sex? Do Yoga” (Psychology Today), “Workout: Yoga for Hotter, Better Sex” (Men's Health), “Yoga for Better Sex” (Women's Health Magazine), “The Great Sex Yoga Workout” (Fitness Magazine), etc. Even Harvard Health Publication of Harvard Medical School gave "Examples of yoga poses to enhance sexual function". Playboy.com shows a "Playboy's Naked Yoga" free video depicting Playmate of the Year Sara Jean Underwood doing various yoga poses on a yoga mat totally naked.

Criticizing portrayal of yoga as erotica, Zed pointed out that yoga, referred as “a living fossil”, was one of the six systems of orthodox Hindu philosophy and was highly revered in Hinduism.

Rajan Zed further says that some sages have described yoga as the silencing of all mental transformations, which leads to the total realization of the Supreme Self. Some have used yoga attempting to gain liberation by removing all sensory barriers. According to Patanjali, author of the basic text, the Yoga Sutra, yoga is a methodical effort to attain perfection, through the control of the different elements of human nature, physical and psychical.

Zed argued that just for plain mercantile greed, companies and individuals should not attempt to distort the esteemed ancient yoga tradition as it would hurt the devotees.

About 16 million Americans, including many Hollywood and other celebrities, reportedly do yoga. Hinduism, which introduced yoga, is the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about billion adherents and “moksh” (liberation) is its ultimate goal.

Hollywood stars with Om tattoos

Hindu “Om” tattoos seem to be getting popular among Hollywood celebrities and American actress-singer Vanessa Hudgens, 22, is the latest celebrity to ink one.

Accompanied by another Hollywood star Ashley Tisdale (Aliens in the Attic), 26, Hudgens (High School Musical)  reportedly got “Om” inked on the back of her hands by popular tattoo artist “Bang Bang” in Manhattan (New York, USA) recently.

Famous American singer-actress Miley Cyrus, who reportedly already had 'karma' tattooed on her right index finger, recently got a new tattoo of Hindu religious symbol “Om” on her right wrist.

There seems to be a fascination for tattoos depicting things Hindu among celebrities, and tattoo parlor owners are reportedly seeing a surge of interest in Hindu deities, concepts, and Sanskrit verses. “Om” seems to be the most popular of such tattoos, followed by shlokas (verses) from ancient Hindu scriptures.

Welcoming interest of Hudgens, Cyrus, and other celebrities in “Om” and other concepts/symbols of Hinduism, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, urged them to go beyond the fashion statement and explore the rich philosophical thought which Hinduism offered. He or other Hindu scholars would gladly provide the Hinduism resources helpful in their exploration and comprehensive understanding of Hinduism, Zed said.

Rajan Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, further stated that Hollywood celebrities needed to have more patience and go beyond the superficial because Hinduism concepts evolved over thousands of years and needed deep study. Zed urged Hudgens to visit a nearby Hindu temple to have firsthand experience of Hinduism.

Some of the celebrities who sport Sanskrit/Hindu tattoos reportedly include Grammy winner singer-model Rihanna, MTV winner actress Jessica Alba (Sin City), musician Tommy Lee (Motley Crue), singer-actress Brandy Norwood (Moesha), dancer-singer Kimberly Wyatt (Pussycat Dolls), actress-singer Alyssa Milano (Who’s the Boss), footballer David Beckham, Golden Globe winner actress Gillian Anderson (The X Files), British footballer Theo Walcott, etc.

 “Om”, the mystical syllable containing the universe, is used in Hinduism to introduce and conclude religious work. Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. Sanskrit is considered a sacred language, the language of the gods. Tattoos go back in history to at least since Neolithic times.

Jews stand with Hindus on Ganesh vs. Hitler play in Melbourne Festival

Jews have supported the Hindus on their concerns about “Ganesh Versus the Third Reich” play premiering at Melbourne Festival in Australia on September 29

Rabbi ElizaBeth W. Beyer, prominent Jewish leader in Nevada (USA), in a statement today, said that although she valued freedom of expression, especially in the arts, it was unnecessary dragging into the Third Reich of a deity who was highly revered by our Hindu brothers and sisters.

Such trivialization of Lord Ganesh, whom Hindus worshipped, would naturally hurt the faithful, and must be avoided, Rabbi Beyer added.

Meanwhile, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who spearheaded the issue, in a statement in USA today, said that the play producer/director and Melbourne Festival managers should make sure that Lord Ganesh was not made a laughing stock in the process of pushing their respective agendas.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out that besides Festival managers; Australia Council for the Arts, Arts Victoria, and City of Melbourne; who supported this play; should also look at the play before it premiered on September 29 so that there was nothing hurtful to the feeling of devotees.

Rajan Zed has earlier argued that Lord Ganesh was divine and theater/film/art were welcome to create projects about/around him showing his true depiction as mentioned in the scriptures. Creating irrelevant imaginary imagery, like reportedly depicting him being tortured and interrogated by Nazi SS, hurt the devotees.

Its creator, internationally acclaimed “Back to Back Theatre”, itself calls it a “strange” fable, “rambunctious”. Describing the play, media release of co-presenter Malthouse Theatre says that Ganesh “seeks to go one-on-one with Hitler”. It is also described by some as “wildly inventive ride through history, where sacred icons and rituals become weapons” and “brimming with humour”.

Recently, depiction of Hindu Goddess Lakshmi on swimwear at a fashion event held in Sydney (Australia) resulted in worldwide protests. Popular radio host Kyle Sandilands recently made derogatory remarks, ridiculing Hindus’ holy river Ganga, on Sydney’s hit music station. Australian swimwear company, Sandilands and his radio station later apologized after the protests.

Bruce Galdwin directed “Ganesh Versus the Third Reich”, will be shown at Merlyn Theatre (The Malthouse) in Southbank (Victoria, Australia) from September 29 to October nine. Ticket prices are up to $58. It is also scheduled to be exhibited at the "5th World Summit on Arts and Culture" on October four.

Founded in 1987, Back to Back Theatre claims to be “one of Australia’s leading creative voices, focusing on moral, philosophical and political questions about the value of individual lives”. It states on its website: “The stories they create explore ‘the cold, dark side’ of our times…”. Headquartered in Geelong (Victoria), Peter Bridges is Chair of its Board, Bruce Gladwin the Artistic Director, and Alice Nash the Executive Producer. Over the last five years Back to Back has reportedly toured over 40 cities across the world and is said to be “one of Australia’s most globally recognised and respected contemporary theatre companies”.

Malthouse Theatre and Melbourne Festival are jointly presenting this play. Melbourne Festival, with Brett Sheehy as Artistic Director, claims to be one of Australia's flagship international arts festivals and one of the major multi-arts festivals of the world. Malthouse Theatre, with Marion Potts as Artistic Director, is a non-profit organization “dedicated to the development, production, and promotion of contemporary Australian theatre”. Victoria’s capital Melbourne is the second most populous city of Australia.

One of most widely worshipped deities in Hinduism; Lord Ganesh is regarded as god of wisdom and good luck, patron of learning and remover of obstacles, and invoked at the commencement of all undertakings. Hinduism is oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.