Proposed Ban Of Bhagavad Gita In Russia Ignites Protests Among Indian Community As Trial Verdict Nears

State prosecutors in the Siberian city of Tomsk are trying to ban the Russian translation of the Bhagavad Gita, an important Hindu scripture, because they believe the text too "extremist."

The trial, which started in June, has attracted a lot of negative attention, and sparked protests, which even closed down the Indian parliament Monday, according to the Guardian.

The court's decision concerning the proposed ban was expected on Dec. 19, but officials pushed back the date until Dec. 28.

Prosecutors reportedly took issue with the Russian translation of the sacred text called "Bhagavad Gita As It Is", with commentary by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), because it promoted "social discord" and hatred toward non believers, according to The Hindu .

However, ISKCON followers and about 15,000 Indians living in Moscow say the proposed ban was brought about by a "majority religious group's" intolerance toward the Hindu religion, the Asia Times reports.

Protesters have even called on diplomats to intervene in the case.

But in an exclusive interview with CNN-IBN, Ambassador of Russia to India Alexander Kadakin explained the government cannot influence the courts. He did, however, acknowledge the "madness" must come to an end. He said:

"...It is not the Russian government that started the case; these are the some petty people in far away though very beautiful city of Tomsk who did it. The government has nothing to [apologize] for, the government can only testify and reiterate the love and affection and highest esteem our nation has for Bhagavad Gita."

Last year, courts banned Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf," but a spokesperson for ISKCON India said comparing the Bhagavad Gita to the dictator's autobiography was outrageous.

"To compare Hitler to Lord Krishna is an insult to Indians across the globe," Vrajendra Nandandas told the Wall Street Journal. "Our cultural identity and ancient beliefs have been mocked at today."

If the book is banned, ISKCON says the government should expect "intensified" protests, the Hindustan Times reports.

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Comments

[sana-dana]

11:22 AM on 02/14/2012

Bhagavat Gita is extrimist - it is expected one from the now ignorant post-communist russia which is in the hands of the russian orthodox x-tian denomination.

[mohit2k6123]

04:21 AM on 12/30/2011

To All Hindu-Detractor ( LegoPiece , HS Vachoa and --- My bad , I can only see two here :) ) ,

Let me tell you one thing.No matter how much misunderstanding you create here about Geeta , it won't affect the real and religious Hindus a bit.You can ban Geeta , Ramayana , Mahabaharat not only in Russia but in whole world but it won't affect us anyway.As Hindus never had the intention to spread the Hindusim in the world.You people keep coming to Indian to find yourself and spirituality.And now when you have nothing to oppose , you have turned towards Geeta.

This creature LegoPiece is stuck with ONE verse of Geeta like a parasite and is drawing some hypothetical conclusion without being aware about the social-condition when Geeta/Mahabharat happened.Lord Krishna seems to have said that no matter what caste , gender or profession you belong , you are always welcome in my shelter.

The mention of 'women' , 'Shudra' and 'Merchant' was because these people may/may not have been treated equal by the society at that time.Lord Krishna was actually opposing that view of society and calling for equality.

If still this is not clear not these hate-mongering perverts then only Lord Krishna can help them.

[Neil Swaminarayan]

10:31 AM on 12/28/2011

Great news.
Russian court refuses to ban Bhagvad Gita, followers cheer across the world.

[Compassionnotreligion]

12:42 PM on 12/27/2011

The Abrahamic religions are the worst in very many aspects, but all religions are mass delusion, created by ancient man to try and understand his world. Unfortunately it became a tool for control and hence the masses are so used to servility, that they continue to think like children ( or rather dont think!).

Not that I am advocating banning anything - prohibition doesn't work anyway. In time, and with the help now of the information/communication agge, people will learn to think rather than mindlessly regurgitaing their ancestors beliefs through indoctrination.

[kiran1207]

10:43 PM on 12/26/2011

of all the religions Hinduism is the most tolerant thanks for nothin russians

[LMPE]

07:47 PM on 12/25/2011

May I propose a banning of the Bible if I consider it extremist?

[SoldAmerican]

04:30 PM on 12/25/2011

The Vatican and other Church are quite on the matter. Like they were when Jews were being persecuted.

[HS Vachoa]

01:28 AM on 12/25/2011

This is what the Gita and its translation by the Swami states. This is followed by millions of Hindus around the world. Readers can decide what it signifies.

Although rape is not legally allowed, it is a fact that a woman likes a man who is very expert at rape. (Srimad Bhagwad 4.25.41, p.)

When a husbandless woman is attacked by an aggressive man, she takes his action to be mercy. (Srimad Bhagwad 4.25.42, p.)

Generally, when a woman is attacked by a man--whether her husband or some other man--she enjoys the attack, being too lusty. (Srimad Bhagwd B 4.26.26, p.)

[SoldAmerican]

04:27 PM on 12/25/2011

Those are bible translation. there is no such thing in the Gita. Nice Try!

[Sweetsherin]

08:40 AM on 01/28/2012

hello, did u ever read bible in the first place?

[Ambidextre]

03:02 PM on 12/26/2011

I have several translations of the Bhagvad Gita. I have also read it in the original Sanskrit. And I can tell you with authority that there are no such passages in it.

[Basilio]

03:06 PM on 12/24/2011

It seems like the Orthodox Church has replaced communism with its intolerance and trying to shut down non-Orthodox faiths as much as possible.

[Yasser Yousufi]

12:17 PM on 12/24/2011

looks like bigots are done parsing through Quran so the Hindus are their next target. Banning Bhagvat Gita would be a shameful act.

[flywithmeamerica]

09:24 PM on 12/24/2011

.... Buddhists better get ready

[SoldAmerican]

08:52 PM on 12/23/2011

The Archbishop of the Russian Orthodox sent goons to beat up the Russian Hindus.

Here are the photos

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7147/6533995105_af4477a96d_z.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6533995021_abb4c31252_z.jpg

He is the guy behind this horror

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7020/6533995183_e732a66960_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6533995075_411d4614f8_b.jpg

[koushnik]

08:02 PM on 12/23/2011

I went to a hindu temple the other day, and they had a picture of Christ in the back. When I asked one of the congregants about it, they explained that every major religious figure is simply another incarnation of the eternal Brahman, as are we. That's an extremely elegant and civilized way to look at the world and other groups, imo.

[Varys]

09:56 AM on 12/24/2011

Of course, it's also a bit of lazy "band-aid theology" that patches over centuries of established dogma to satisfy credulous moderates.

[french queen13]

07:59 PM on 12/25/2011

Complain about dogmatic religion and complain about non-dogmatic religion, eh?

[Saidas]

01:31 PM on 12/26/2011

What the congregant said is absolutely true. The laziness is not in the theology but in your approach to understand it.

[Red Leaves]

08:30 PM on 12/22/2011

Do these Siberians believe that by reading these "extremist" books people will suddenly be driven to murder their enemies? What utter nonsense.

[HS Vachoa]

04:27 PM on 12/22/2011

Here is Gita's Chapter 9 Verse 32
Women, vaisyas [merchants], sudras [low-level workers], or any people of sinful birth go to the supreme abode, if they take shelter in me.


In just one verse whole of humanity has been condemned to sinful birth.

[108nate]

08:45 AM on 12/23/2011

This verse encourages not condemns humanity.

This statement shows how God doesn't favour anyone. He is equally dispose to all.

My understanding is that all religious doctrine have a similar statement that anyone who doesn't obey God's laws, is condemned.

Also, there are some religious thought that state you have to born into the religion in order to receive salvation.

[Pradip Gangopadhyay]

09:40 AM on 12/23/2011

Here is Gita's Chapter 9 Verse 32
"Women, vaisyas [merchants­], sudras [low-level workers], or any people of sinful birth go to the supreme abode, if they take shelter in me. "

This is an extremely poor translation. The word "papa yoni" does not in this context mean sinful birth. It means "socially handicapped birth".

The correct translation of the Gita verse should be:

Gita's Chapter 9 Verse 32
"Women, vaisyas [merchants­], sudras [low-level workers], or any people of socially handicapped birth go to the supreme abode, if they take shelter in me. "

This is a message of hope.

[LegoPiece]

07:44 PM on 12/23/2011

Why are women considered to be 'socially handicapped' in the first place? To condemn a group of people to the status of 'sinful' or 'socially handicapped' is just downright evil. To then say... well, even those losers can find salvation through the worship of a mono-theistic deity is not a message of hope - it's a message of enforcing a wicked social stratification - even if the 'low' people can be saved. At least we know the origins of the sadistic caste system. Hinduism is just as callous as other religions no matter how hard it tries to portray itself as a sophisticated philosophy.

[kiran1207]

11:57 PM on 12/21/2011

This isn't even the main holy book fir Hindus

[Ganapati Edu]

07:28 AM on 12/22/2011

It's pretty important.

[Saidas]

01:41 PM on 12/26/2011

Correct. It is now Facebook.