Asura's Wrath Cover
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) said that such trivializing and reimagining of highly reserved symbols and concepts of Hinduism was not okay as it was upsetting for the devotees.
Zed, who is the president of University Society of Hinduism, urged the video game developers not to unnecessarily drag Hinduism just for mercantile greed. Developers were welcome to use Hinduism related themes but the information should be based on its actual ancient texts.
Rajan Zed pointed out that “Asura’s Wrath” showed Durga (who gets murdered) as the wife of Asura; while in Hinduism, Durga was one of the major dieties, honored as savior of the world from evil, who destroyed buffalo-demon Mahisasura, a well known asura.
Asura was a hero in “Asura’s Wrath”, who also featured refashioned Hindu concepts and symbols of Brahmastra (Brahma’s missile, which appeared in Epics), Mantra (Vedic Hymn) and Naraka (Hell). Asuras found mention in ancient Hindu texts of Rig-Veda, Brahmanas, Puranas and Epics, Zed added.
He said that unless the developers could accurately and authentically deliver religious imagery and symbolism, they should not unnecessarily poke into religion. Entertainment, escapism etc being the purposes of video-games, it was tough for developers to do justice to religion and treat it fairly or provide it with the real depth if needed.
“Video games did not appear to be an appropriate paltform to discuss God seriously and added to more confusion in young minds about the already misunderstood arena, ” he said.
Zed stated that, however, video games industry was welcome to immerse in religion but taking it seriously and respectfully and not attempting at refashioning religious concepts and symbols.
Recently releases “Asura’s Wrath”, heavily infused with Hindu themes, is published by Capcom (headquarter Osaka, Japan), developed by CyberConnect2 (headquarter Fukuoka, Japan), directed by Seiji Shimoda and produced by Kazuhiro Tsuchiya for Xbox 360 and playstation 3 platforms.
This game, full of vendetta and uncontrollable anger, takes elements from Hinduism and blends those with science fantasy.
What kind of ppl are we, Hindus ? It always make me sad and bitter from inside when I look at the things happening around ourselves aNd can't do and seem to know anything that can be done for ourselves. Hindus are killed, In temple are hang the head of cow (kerala) by muslim, in Hyderabad hindu are not allowed to take out procession becoz of the muslim and so on. So many of us know that but how many of us willing to do anything about it. How long are we going to live like this. Just keep on saying "it's ok they are also living being, they are sorry". Do you think they will do the same if we do something like that. No never y becoz in the other religion ppl they have communication. If something happen against them in one part of the country the other part of country know about it try to work something for it and the way i see ti it's through the praying place but what about us where can we share our feeling of our brother being beaten or sister being …..
Please think and try to come up with some kind of solution it doesn't matter who that person might be