Hindus ask for a disclaimer with James Cameron's 'Avatar'

Nevada (U.S.), Nov 9 : Hindus have urged James Cameron to attach a disclaimer in the starting and end of his upcoming film ‘Avatar’ explaining that it has no relationship with Hinduism or its concepts.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that “avatar” was one of the central themes of Hinduism and insensitive handling of faith traditions sometimes resulted in pillaging serious spiritual doctrines and revered symbols and hurting the devotees.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, explains that “Avatar”, a Sanskrit term, means descent or incarnation.

Hinduism is shaped by its traditional belief in the incarnation of Vishnu (the Preserver in Hindu trinity) into ten forms to establish dharma (divine law), which include Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parasurama, Rama, Krishna, Buddha, Kalki (believed to come at the end of present Kaliyuga).

Hindus believe that without such intervention, the entire created universe would have gone into decline. Many devotees also regard their respective Gurus as incarnations of the Divine.

Budgeted around 230 million dollars, ‘Avatar’, an upcoming digital 3-D science fiction feature film, is directed and written by Canada born three Oscars winning James Francis Cameron, 55, of highest-grossing and 11 Oscars carrying ‘Titanic’ fame.

In it, a band of humans, two centuries in the future, are pitted in a heroic battle against a distant planet''s indigenous population.

It is due to be released in France-Egypt-Belgium on December 16 and USA on December 18 next.

--ANI