Protest : ‘iridegear.com’ selling T-shirts having pictures of Deity Shiva

We have received complaints from devout Hindus that ‘iridegear.com’, an online marketplace operated by BikeBasix Pvt. Ltd., is selling T-shirts having pictures of Deity Shiva. The T-shirt is described as ‘Shiva The Rider’ on the website. (The item can be viewed on http://iridegear.com/index.php?route=product%2Fproduct&path=26&product_id=281)

As per Dharmashastra and spiritual science, the word, touch, form, taste, fragrance and the energy associated with them coexist. Whenever any image of a Deity (like Shiva) or a divine symbol (like Om or Swastik) is produced, the divine energy is present in that. However, when T-shirts / clothes are printed with such images and are used, they are touched with dirty hands, washed along with soiled clothes, get trampled upon and once old eventually turn up in the waste bin or drains etc. This amounts to denigration of revered Deities, which is hurtful to the religious sentiments of Hindus.

Devout Hindus are protesting lawfully on following contact details

BIKEBASIX PVT LTD
Nr. Torrent Power, Naranpura, Ahmedabad, INDIA.

Telephone: 8080556640 | 9820951001

Email can be sent using : http://iridegear.com/index.php?route=information/contact

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, on behalf of hurt Hindus, sent a letter to BikeBasix Pvt Ltd and tried to make them aware of the denigration of Deity Shiva. Also, a volunteer called up and spoke to one of the co-owners, Ms. Mohana about this. However, to our surprise, they rejected our plea outright and even went as far as to inform us that ‘they had talked to their lawyers who had advised them that the T-shirt did not violate any trademark law’! (In the letter sent by HJS, trademark violations are not mentioned anywhere. We have only put forward the plea that one occurs sin by not only designing such a product, but also the consumer incurs sin. – Editor). She also said that their sales have increased 80% only due to that T-shirt. (Using religious symbols for commercial profit is a punishable offence under Indian Trade Practice Act 1999. – Editor) Hence we are starting this protest campaign. Now we appeal all devout Hindus to protest lawfully against iridegear.com so that it should remove all the Deity Shiva T-shirt and also it should render unconditional apology to Hindus for hurting their religious sentiments. If iridegear.com does not remove this, then will all Hindus completely boycott this website?

Below is the protest letter sent by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti to ‘iridegear.com’

To,
    BIKEBASIX PVT LTD
    Nr. Torrent Power, Naranpura
    Ahmedabad, INDIA
    Phone : 8080556640 | 9820951001

Dear Sir / Madam,

Sub: Request to stop advertisement/sale of products with Hindu Deities  symbols/pictures like Deity Shiva on T-shirt                                               

        Hindu Janajagruti Samiti is a registered NGO engaged in social, religious and National welfare work. The Samiti is active throughout the world, educating people about Dharma in scientific way, campaigning against malpractices that have been attached to religious practices while also solving issues of national, social and religious importance. For further details please refer to our website www.HinduJagruti.org

        We appreciate your efforts to glorify Hindu Dharma by showcasing Hindu Deities on your products. We understand that accordingly you might have used Deities’ pictures and religious symbols on your products. But we have received many complaints about your product.

        As per Dharmashastra and spiritual science, the word, touch, form, taste, fragrance and the energy associated with them coexist. Whenever any image of a Deity (like Shrikrushna or Shri Ganesh) or a divine symbol (like Om or Swastik) is produced, the divine energy is present in that. However, when such products are used they are touched with dirty hands, may get splattered with mud, washed with other dirty clothes, get thrown around and once old eventually turn up in the waste bin or drains etc. This amounts to denigration of revered Deities, which is hurtful to the religious sentiments of Hindus. In turn this increases your destiny and SIN. Deities’ images should be in Temples and the hearts of devotees and not on Tshirts / trousers. We feel that manufacturers use Hindu Deities’ images to increase sales, but actually it is denigration and an offense as per Indian Penal Code section 295A. Further please note that using religious symbols on products is an offense as per the Indian Trade Practice Act 1999.    

        In view of above we request you to stop advertisement /sale of the following products with Hindu Deities symbols/pictures.  
1. Shiva (http://iridegear.com/index.php?route=product%2Fproduct&path=26&product_id=281)
Please acknowledge this letter and inform us in writing about the action taken by you in this regard.

Regards,                        
Hindu Janajagruti Samiti