Book on Ganesha draws flak

A new book, Ganesa, Lord of Obstacles, Lord of Beginnings, by Emory University Professor Paul Courtright has earned the wrath of some Hindus in the United States.

Several passages in the book, which has a nude picture of Lord Ganesha on the cover, are insensitive to Hindu faith, they say.

An online petition to protest against the book demands that publishers withdraw it from circulation. A release issued in Houston by the Hindus claimed that so far about 5,000 people have signed the petition.

According to the release, the book "is not only ridiculing and insulting Hinduism but has utterly disgusting and distasteful material, which is mind-boggling and throws a direct challenge to our traditional beliefs and practices".