The Australia-based jewellery business has removed a product from its website after receiving an email from the Universal Society of Hinduism objecting to an anklet featuring 'Lord Ganesha' (an Indian God).
“I am very sorry to have caused unintentional offence. I received an email this morning informing me that my Ganesha anklets were inappropriate & causing harm, so I immediately deleted the product from my website,” Haidee Turner of Heart Mala based in Byron Bay told SBS Hindi.
US-based President of Universal Society of Hinduism Rajan Zed had objected to the design of an anklet by Heart Mala.
In a statement, Mr Zed had said that Lord Ganesha was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to adorn one’s ankles.
"Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts or symbols for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees," the statement read.
Heart Mala is an online store for ‘sacred jewellery’.
Heidee Turner designs products like Mala beads, yoga jewellery, chakra jewellery, Goddess necklaces and sacred geometry charms.
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Founder-owner-designer of Heart Mala Jewellery, Ms Turner said she hadn’t realised the significance and meant no harm.
“My jewellery is created with the intention of bringing people joy, not harm. Thank you for letting me know the significance of how inappropriate it is for a Ganesha charm to be worn as an anklet. I will also recall the ones I’ve sold and will no longer make them,” she said.
Mr Zed thanked Heart Mala Jewellery and Ms Turner for understanding the concerns of the Hindu community.
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