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Hindus have applauded India, University of Chicago (UOC) and Art Institute of Chicago (AIC) for promoting spiritual icon Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) and his message in USA, who is a household name in India.

Government of India has reportedly entered into an agreement with prestigious AIC for “Vivekananda Memorial Programme for Museum Excellence” and with renowned UOC for establishing “Vivekananda Chair”.

India will reportedly provide a grant of $1.5 million to UOC for the Vivekananda Chair to honor the life and legacy of Swami Vivekananda and to facilitate exchange of research scholars from/ to India. India will give $500,000 to AIC to conduct “Vivekananda Memorial Programme for Museum Excellence” under which AIC will work with India Government to impart a broad range of knowledge on modern operations of museums like conservation, planning of exhibitions, etc., for a four year period.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, commended India, AIC and UOC for efforts to highlight Swami Vivekananda and his teachings who enlightened the world with Hindu philosophy, Vedanta, Yoga, etc.; gave the treatises on Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga and Raja Yoga; organized Ramakrishna Mission and Math; was a spiritual ambassador and spiritual genius; preached brotherhood and service of mankind; was an instrument for awakening India to spirituality; etc.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that on September 11,1893 at the 1st World’s Parliament of Religions in AIC, where Swami Vivekananda was a star, he said: "I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance."

Chicago already has a Swami Vivekananda Way, a 10-feet bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda, and a bronze plaque in AIC to commemorate his historic address in that building. He was reportedly offered chairmanship of Eastern philosophy at famous Harvard University (USA) which he declined. About 16 million Americans practice yoga now and it is about six billion dollars annual industry.

AIC, one of the major art museums of the world, has already developed a “lesson plan” for classroom activity in which students of 4-8 grades solve a global issue by taking the role of one of Hindu deity Vishnu’s avatars (incarnations). Founded in 1879 as both a museum and school, AIC’s  collection now encompasses more than 5,000 years of human expression from cultures around the world, and the school’s graduate program is continually ranked as one of the best in the country. Thomas J. Pritzker is Board of Trustees Chairman while Douglas Druick is President.

University of Chicago, founded in 1890, which boasts of about 87 Nobel laureates and where US President Barack Obama was a lecturer in its Law School, has a strong global presence with its own facilities in Beijing, London, Paris, and Singapore, and active educational programs in the College in locations throughout the world. Andrew M. Alper is Chair of Board of Trustees while Robert J. Zimmer is President.

Perturbed Hindus urge California firm to withdraw Lord Ganesha yoga mats

Upset Hindus have urged for the immediate recalling of yoga mats carrying images of Lord Ganesha sold by a California (USA) based firm Yogamatic on its website, calling it inappropriate.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that Lord Ganesha was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to be trampled under one’s feet while doing yoga. Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees.

Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken lightly. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, argued.

Rajan Zed further said that such trivialization of Lord Ganesha was disturbing and offensive to the Hindus world over. Hindus were for free artistic expression and speech as much as anybody else if not more. But faith was something sacred and attempts at trivializing it hurt the followers, Zed added.

Yoga mats Hindu devotees are finding objectionable include two carrying images of Lord Ganesha (ym_0248 and ym_0190). Both are priced at $89, excluding tax & shipping.  Each mat measures 72" x 24" with a depth of 1/4" and weight of about seven pounds. Company itself explains Ganesha on its website as: “Ganesha is widely revered… as Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles..."

Yogamatic.com labels itself as "the custom yoga mat company" asking customers to "Choose from 100’s of mats in our exclusive Galleries". Entrepreneur magazine listed it under “100 Brilliant Companies” with comments: "A favorite of Oprah and Jennifer Aniston". For $79 plus tax and shipping, one can order a Yoga Mat with her/his own image at Yogamatic, which claims to operate a fully functional design service from its studio/gallery in Santa Monica (California). Besides Yoga Mat, it also sells Travel Mat/Yoga Towel.

In Hinduism, Lord Ganesha is worshipped as god of wisdom and remover of obstacles and is invoked before the beginning of any major undertaking.