NEVADA: Members of the Indian community have been appalled and hugely upset over the launching of a Shiva gambling machine developed and marketed by the Merkur Division of Espelkamp, the German-based Gauselmann Group.
The much- talked of “Shiva” slot depicts Lord Shiva, all blue and four-armed, with dark burgundy lips, holding a Damru in one hand. The gambling machine, which is all over the online gambling sites in the US, also has the cobra, monkey symbols, all part of the Hindu religion. “Step into the realm of the god Shiva and experience an exciting adventure!” the website announcement says. It can be played live on various online casinos.
Voicing disgust and ire of Hindus over this denigration of Lord Shiva, Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, said that Lord Shiva, who was highly revered in Hinduism, was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not for promoting gambling on slots for mercantile greed of an international company.
“In Hinduism, Lord Shiva, along with Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu, forms the great triad of Hindu deities. Moksh (liberation) is the ultimate goal of Hinduism,” he said
In a remarkable interfaith gesture, Christian-Buddhist-Jewish leaders have come out in support of Hindus who were upset at Germany developed Hindu god Shiva themed slot gambling game titled “Shiva”, calling it highly inappropriate.
Rev Richard L. Smith, a United Church of Christ pastor in Nevada, in a statement, said: “I support the protests of Hindus who are offended by the name and image of the god Shiva being used to promote gaming machines. As I recall, it was the Roman soldiers who cast lots for Jesus’ clothing, so I would be likewise offended if his name were to be attached to such a product.
I urge the Gauselmann company to find another, more respectful approach.
Jikai’ Phil Bryan, well-known Buddhist leader, in a statement, stressed: “The game’s usage of Shiva and other Hindu religious symbols and iconography is wholly inappropriate and should be discontinued.”
ElizaBeth W. Beyer, Jewish Rabbi in California and Nevada, in a statement, insisted that Gauselmann Group stop using deities revered by millions of Hindu adherents. Religious iconography, such as Lord Shiva, necessitates respectful and thoughtful use. It should not be trivialized on a game, Rabbi Beyer adds.
Welcoming the support of these diverse religious leaders Rajan Zed urged Gauselmann AG and its chairman Paul Gauselmann to publicly apologize and immediately recall this slot game showing Hindu Lord Shiva. Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees, Zed pointed out.
Madhu Patel, president of NRI Press Club, said that this sort of denigration of other religions should be a source of concern to all. He said that a cartoon depicting Prophet Mohammed a few years ago had outraged Muslims over the world and a Fatwa was issued for the head of the cartoonist. “We had come out criticizing this sort of trivializing of religious figures and holy men. We want a universal code of conduct that would prevent anybody indulging in this type of mischievous activity once for all,” he said.
Globally active Gauselmann Group, launched in 1957, claims to be “world’s leading gaming companies” which reportedly did over €1.8 billion business in 2013. Merkur Gaming, whose tagline is “More than just a game”, has a large game selection and develops “cutting-edge casino machines” with presence in various countries of Europe; besides Mexico, Peru and Colombia.
Suri Swamy
