Shirts with Hindu/Buddhist deities or symbols

[Andal]

I'm not offended by it as long as it's not on foot wear or underwear. When I see someone wearing a deity shirt I get this spark of hope that maybe they know a little something about Sanatana Dharma.... I'm usually disappointed.

The presence of deity images on shirts is a bit weird to me. I wouldn't want to walk around in a Jesus shirt or a scarf with Qur'an versus so I'm not quite sure why someone would want to wear a deity shirt- but to each their own.

Aum Hari Aum!

 

[biased]

Mantra Shirt By Hydro74

This one is a fantastic image of a Buddha maybe Siddhartha

but it fu$cking shrunk on me. So if you buy it DO NOT put it in the dryer for very long at all. I so mad, could only wear it for about 2 months. I might be rebuy it one day. If anyone wants a Men's Medium version of it I can sell it to you cheaper (I would wash it too and not put in the dryer long). I bought a large version and its too small for me now.

 

[JaiMaaDurga]

Namaste,

Just to clarify- why this T-shirt would not be worn: in Western culture, that which
one is proud to show one's affiliation with is worn on jackets, t-shirts, etc., so often
Westerners are puzzled as to why, for example, a devotee of Ganesha would not wish
to receive or wear such a thing.. but it is a matter of what actually happens in the
course of wearing such things- even a t-shirt is sweated on, has stains from a messy
meal fall upon it, is balled up and thrown into a smelly hamper, and so on.

Cultural appropriation issues aside, it is that while it is perfectly understood that
a picture on a t-shirt is not the actual deity, an image of the deity should be created
for the purpose of worship and reverence, in the mind of the devotee- so, for a
devotee to knowingly wear casual clothing with such an image, would be tantamount
to insulting the deity, rather than expressing pride in one's beliefs.

This is not to say whether or not the OP should or should not wear the t-shirt, that
is not for me to decide. I only wish to shed light on the reason behind any strong
negative reactions encountered from wearing it.

JAI MATA DI

 

[Philomath]

I take no issue with it, I actually own five shirts with various Hindu deities on them.

 

[Chalant]

There is no buddhist diety as far as I am aware, and people wear hindu god shirts all the time. I used to own one.

 

[apophenia]

There is no buddhist diety as far as I am aware, and people wear hindu god shirts all the time. I used to own one.

Actually there are plenty in Tibetan buddhism. They are called deities anyway. Graphic representations of archetypes.

 

[crossfire]

Actually there are plenty in Tibetan buddhism. They are called deities anyway. Graphic representations of archetypes.

Mahakala t-shirts? That would prolly easily sell.

 

[apophenia]

Mahakala t-shirts? That would prolly easily sell.

I'd like mahakala on my leather riding jacket. In reflective paint

 

[crossfire]

I'd like mahakala on my leather riding jacket. In reflective paint

As a nice artistic representation, or as in wearing a flayed skin manner, or as the great black cloak?

 

[apophenia]

Actually, I'll go for mahakala IN my leather jacket

 

[crossfire]

Actually, I'll go for mahakala IN my leather jacket

Heh!

 

[apophenia]

 

[psychoslice]

I wear t-shirts with Krishna, and have been praised by Hindus for wearing it.

 

[Buddha Dharma]

I think that for the right reasons, we should wear things depicting our worldview. I can't speak for Hindus here, but one of the ten precepts we re-affirm everyday (those of us that do daily practice) is that we will not hoard up the Dharma. This means we should ideally share the Dharma with others because it speaks to humanity about it's problems and the way to begin moving toward liberation.

I think if our intent is the hope that someone will look at the Blessed Buddha's peaceful expression on a shirt (just putting an example out there), or something like that, and be inspired to go learn about Buddhism- that's a good thing.

In my own school Tendai, and in other East Mahayana schools, it is even thought that the Buddha conveys a special merit to people that take refuge in the Triple Gem. He sets them on the Bodhisattva path and doesn't let them be reborn into a lesser birth. This is a mercy that the Buddha conveys through the infinite merits of the Dharma. I think it isn't bad to wear our faith, as it were- for that reason.

To add: it's also good to attract people to the Dharma in that way because it puts them on the path of non-violence, which means they're generating good karmic fields. Good karmic fields are meritorious in their own ways, in Buddhist view. The world needs more non-violence.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Well, generally we don't wear religion on our sleeves. It is something so personal. But we don't mind if someone wears it. I do like some viking-type images of Shiva and Kali.

I would avoid eating beef hamburgers in front of hindus while wearing it, but ..

Nice and thanks, but statistics say 70% of the Hindus are non-vegetarian. The Mahkala T-shirt is very nice. Tibetans perfected the art.

Not bad for a revolting atheist. Are there any temples in Revoltistan, or are the statues on your desk the presiding deities for the whole land?

But he is an 'ignorant atheist' by his own admission.

 

[Sirona]

Back before I became interested in Hinduism, I wore a Ganesha t-shirt, a gift from my mother, because it was "fashionable". The reactions I received from local Hindus were friendly and surprised.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Shiva, Kali

 

[Satyamavejayanti]

"Galen.Iksnudnard",

Namaste,
I personally would not be offended, unless its a "offensive", type of depiction on the shirt, i do actually see it as "cultural appropriation", but if the wearer (you) are actually concerned and aware of it being cultural appropriation and it seems you are trying to avoid it, i assume lessons the impact in a way.

But i guess if Hindus and Buddhist are actually making the t-shirts for selling and i assumed many also would wear it themselves, i don't blame the innocent outsider, nor should you be apologetic about it.

But i always wanted to ask a Non-Hindu person who wears a Hindu shirt this question, can you please provide your opinion on this, anyone else can also provide some feedback:

1) Would you wear a shirt with Prophet Muhammad on it?

2) Would you wear a shirt with Jesus on it?

3) Shirt with Hitler?

4) Shirt with Stalin?

5) Shirt with ISIS?

and Why would you, or why wouldn't you?

 

[Sharmaji]

This whole “cultural appropriation” is starting to turn into a religion itself, don’t even get me started on all the brown girls with their #reclaimthebindi hashtags. Plenty of them gave a damn about their parents’ religion and culture but the moment some white girl started wearing a bindi, they all suddenly remembered their roots. Clothing is in some way a form of art and a form of expression so feel free to wear what you’re comfortable in.