Nevada (US): Hindus have found American actor/singer Selena Gomez’s reported “Om” tattoo on her upper left thigh as highly “irreverent and disrespectful.” Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada, said that Hindus usually started and ended their prayers with “Om.”
Such trivialization of “Om” was upsetting to Hindus and it was highly inappropriate for Selena to place such revered and sacred symbol of Hinduism with high religious significance on her thigh, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, said.
In April 2013, Hindus described Selena’s debut performance of "Come & Get It” at MTV Awards ceremony in California wearing bindi as “insensitive.”
Rajan Zed suggested that as a renowned performer, Selena should get acquainted with the basics of world religions. Zed said that Hollywood needed to understand that Hinduism, with about one billion adherents, was oldest and third largest religion of the world with a rich philosophical thought. Its concepts and symbols had well-defined meanings and purposes and these were not created just for Hollywood’s usage to add dramatic affects as some sanctity and spirituality was attached to these, Zed stated.
Hindus welcomed Hollywood and other celebrities to immerse in Hinduism but taking it seriously and respectfully and not just for showing of Hindu symbols and concepts to advance their selfish agenda. Casual flirting sometimes resulted in pillaging serious spiritual doctrines and revered symbols and hurting the devotees, Zed added. He said that if Selena or other entertainers needed any assistance about Hinduism, he or other Hindu scholars would be glad to help.
