Avatar | Sanskrit | Hinduism

With the dazzling 3D-vortex of colours, actions and emotions, James Cameron’s Avatar seems to have given everyone something to rave about.

But let’s get it straight — Avatar is a downright misnomer for this latest new blockbuster.

No, not because, sadly for Hare Krishna moviegoers, the film’s got nothing to do with Hinduism except its Sanskrit name. And some Hindu activists who habitually frisk all new releases for concealed sacrileges also needn’t worry — there are none in Avatar, or at least not more that in those little digital icons they hide themselves behind on their own e-chats.

The path taken by Sam Worthington's character in James Cameron's Avatar reverses the meaning of the Sanskrit word.

The path taken by Sam Worthington’s character in James Cameron’s Avatar reverses the meaning of the Sanskrit word.

It’s because the movie reverses the very concept that the term “avatar” is based on.

Interesting article from the devotees in the northern zone cowritten with Mukunda Goswami. Hopefully the beginning of many more to come.

About Aniruddha

President of the Hare Krishna Community in Melbourne Australia, amongst other things.
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3 Responses to Avatar | Sanskrit | Hinduism

  1. Anke Holst says:

    How many places in India and around the world can you name where adivasis are being driven from their land/killed by greed for the minerals under their holy mountains/trees/etc?I’m reading a lot of “spiritual” blogs (for example, http://deshika.wordpress.com/2009/12/27/avatar/ ) where “devotees” are complaining about James Cameron having misunderstood the concept of Avatar. Well dear devotees – if your spiritual organisation (for example, ISKCON) is on the wrong side on this struggle and actively supports companies (for example, Vedanta Resources) in the destruction of holy mountains (for example, Niyamgiri) and the home of adivasis in the name of resource (for example, Bauxite) exploration, then *you* are misunderstanding something and need to be corrected.

  2. Aniruddha Das says:

    I’m not sure of the connection here? Does ISKCON actively support Vedanta Resources?

  3. Anke Holst says:

    Anil Agarwal, owner of Vedanta Resources, is highly involved with ISKCON London. He’s the head of the advisory board of the I-Foundation http://www.i-foundation.org/advisory.php – yes I think so.

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