Welcoming reported attempts of British Museum (BM) in London to remove misrepresentations regarding Tantra in the West through an upcoming Tantra exhibition, Hindus have hoped that displays be in consonance with sacred texts.
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that although Hindus were appreciative of BM for its upcoming Tantra exhibition “focusing on the history of Tantra and its global impact”, they feel the need of staying in line with sacred texts to show respect for the rich spiritual tradition.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged BM, which claims to be “museum of the world, for the world”, to seriously attempt to create greater understanding of this sometimes-misunderstood philosophical system through this exhibition. They were looking forward to how BM would demonstrate “Tantra’s enduring potential for opening up new ways of seeing and changing the world” and its impact on religious traditions.
Tantras provided a storehouse of knowledge on wide range of topics, which included means of liberation, metaphysics, sadhana, sophisticated chakra system, cosmology, yoga, doctrine, behavior, architecture, worship practices, divinity of the body, experiencing bliss, spiritual journey, union with the divine, kundalini, etc.; Rajan Zed noted.
Zed also urged major art museums of the world, including Musee du Louvre and Musee d’Orsay of Paris, Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Los Angeles Getty Center, Uffizi Gallery of Florence (Italy), Art Institute of Chicago, Tate Modern of London, Prado Museum of Madrid, National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, etc.; to frequently organize Hinduism focused exhibitions; thus sharing the rich Hindu heritage with the rest of the world.
Curated by Dr. Imma Ramos, Tantra exhibition runs from April 23 to July 26 and “will chart the rise and spread of Tantra”. “Over 100 objects will be on show, including masterpieces of sculpture, painting, prints and ritual objects”, announcement states. BM claims to house “one of the biggest and most comprehensive collections of Tantric material in the world”.
BM, founded 1753, which boasts to be “The first national public museum of the world”, has eight million objects showcasing “two million years of human history and culture”; including Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures, and Egyptian mummies. Sir Richard Lambert and Dr. Hartwig Fischer are Chairman and Director respectively.