President of the Universal Society of Hinduism, Rajan Zed, heavily criticized the use of Hindu god Lord Shiva in a video slot game created by Merkur division of the Gausselmann group. Zed explained that 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.
The blue four-armed Lord Shiva is depicted as the wild symbol in the 5-reel, 50-payline Shiva slot, along with other symbolism important for the Indian and Hindu culture. Zed described the usage of the religious icon as "wholly inappropriate and regrettable", pointing out that Shiva was highly revered in Hinduism, and is meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines - not for "...promoting gambling on slots for mercantile greed of an international company."
He is insisting that Gausselmann should apologize and withdraw the game to avoid further offence to devotees. May be this isn’t such a bad idea considering the fact that Hinduism is the third largest religion with about one billion followers worldwide. Its rich philosophical culture should not be taken lightly, Zed observes.
dirkemans
9 years ago
I really think that is silly, there are to my knowledge not many sots that depict symbols of the other major religions, but there certainly are American-Indian themed slots with totems as symbols, also considerable as a holy symbols of a serious faith, and let's not forget the mockery of christianity, in the Monty Python...
I really think that is silly, there are to my knowledge not many sots that depict symbols of the other major religions, but there certainly are American-Indian themed slots with totems as symbols, also considerable as a holy symbols of a serious faith, and let's not forget the mockery of christianity, in the Monty Python slot.. i bet if you want, you can find something offensive in any slot, about any "sensitive" subject... It's a waste of time, in my opinion, any "believer" that spends time looking for arguments with people that don't SEEM to be taking them seriously, are not doing anything useful but rather obstructive..
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Efti
9 years ago
For those who think there's nothing to be offended about, have you ever seen ANY slot based on the Judeo-Christian or Muslim faiths? What do you think the reaction would be if someone designed a game featuring important religious icons like Jesus, Moses or the prophet Mohammed? Whoever came up with this profoundly ridiculous...
For those who think there's nothing to be offended about, have you ever seen ANY slot based on the Judeo-Christian or Muslim faiths? What do you think the reaction would be if someone designed a game featuring important religious icons like Jesus, Moses or the prophet Mohammed? Whoever came up with this profoundly ridiculous concept for a slot obviously didn't consider Hinduism to be a major religion in its own right, deserving of the same deference and respect that other major faiths are entitled to, rather than some 'exotic foreign myth' to be exploited for commercial gain.
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Emma.lcb
9 years ago
Kathmandu is themed after Nepal and it doesn't have any religious icons.
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tenho7
9 years ago
Ain't there many other slots too with Hindu religious icons out there? Like Pearls of India and maybe Kathmandu ? Not sure though. However i don't understand how they can be offended by this I found there nothing to be offended of. However i'm not Hindu.. :D
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jade
9 years ago
Even in this day and time their are people that do not understand the scope of religion. The people who made this slot doubtfully intended to insult anyone. Now that this issue has come to light, some type of compromise or change may have to occur. It takes an enormous amount of time and money to execute a project of this...
Even in this day and time their are people that do not understand the scope of religion. The people who made this slot doubtfully intended to insult anyone. Now that this issue has come to light, some type of compromise or change may have to occur. It takes an enormous amount of time and money to execute a project of this type. I am curious to see what will become of this issue and this slot.
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yapro123 9 years ago
Oh come on! I really hate what someone feel offended for such things, specially when it come to religious. Really, i think such people just trying to find problem from nothing. What there can be offended, they really think slot creators want to show their unrespect and offend them!? Really, come on!
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