Hindu and Buddhist leaders want the New York brewery to rename Nirvana IPA, saying the name is disrespectful to their beliefs.
“Angered Hindus and Buddhists are calling on Ommegang, an organization in Cooperstown, N.Y., to apologize and recall its “Nirvana” beer, based on an announcement released by Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, and Buddhist minister Matthew Fisher.
The Dressed said that hitting the word “Nirvana” on the beer was a “profound trivialization” of the sacred term, and that “it was very painful for devotees to equate it with alcohol.”
Owned by Belgium’s Duvel Moortgat, Ommegang said in an announcement: “The name ‘Nirvana IPA’ is meant to have fun the atmosphere where we hope beer lovers will enjoy their beer, which is peace when the noise and cares of the world fall away.
“Ommegang Brewery began distributing Nirvana IPA in 2015; nonetheless, until today now we have not been aware of the apparent interest within the name within the Hindu and Buddhist communities. We never intended to disregard any community or religious beliefs by including “Nirvana” within the name of the IPA. We look ahead to educating ourselves and checking out what potential changes we’d consider for this beer.”
Fisher told The Post that he hoped “any nail salons that use the words ‘Zen and Nirvana’ will even get the message.
“It depreciates the word and is unkind,” he told The Post. Fisher and Zed said that alcohol, which religions don’t accept, is “a path to delusion and degradation.” Buddhist monks are known for his or her modest lifestyle, avoiding alcohol and luxuries.
This is not the primary time the couple has spoken out about firms that seize religious symbols.
In 2020, Zed and Fisher together with other religious leaders undertook Live Nation Entertainment to put in statues of Buddha, Lord Mahavira and Lord Parshvanatha in its nightclubs, including House of Blues, across the country.
On the time, the House of Blues said in an announcement to the Associated Press: “We deeply apologize and have immediately removed the Mahavira statue from all our venues,” adding: “We’re reassessing the presence of all deities in our venues and are engaging with the coalition and other religious experts to advise on next steps, including deletion, transfer or other appropriate motion.
