DEMONIC BUFFALO??!! I am posting a picture that appeared in The Hindu this morning. It shows the head of a buffalo (50ft high and 30 ft wide) and mentioned it as signifying Mahishasura, a demonic and evil power of society. Mahishasura, the demon was born as a union of Rambha and a she buffalo (Mahishi) and consequently was half man and half buffalo. However, the photo shows only the rather belligerent face of the buffalo and does not show the human image which is attached to the buffalo, re-inforcing once again, only the image of the beast as vicious and demonic, whereas the buffalo is a gentle and peaceful herbivorous animal, much abused by humans. Since when has the buffalo been demonic or attacked anyone? In one of the pictures attached here, we see the human who has decapitated the buffalo in a pool of blood and attaches himself to the body of the buffalo and the other is the picture in the newspaper today. Neither have the maker of the statue nor the photographer, Shanker Chakravarthy, educated themselves on how animals ought to be portrayed. Religion should do due diligence and cannot afford to be careless because it has the power to influence the public by constant recall. Constant portrayal of animals in such a light in Hindu myths and legends contradict the essentially ahimisic philosophy of kindness towards all living beings. This tug and pull is what makes us Indians cruel towards animals. I may be lynched by Hindu mobs for saying this, in which case, I hope all my FB friends will rally around me!
Posted on: Mon, 29 Sep 2014 05:44:26 +0000
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