Remember Ghee Happy? This was Pixar illustrator Sanjay Patel’s take on the Hindu Pantheon, done in a drawing style that was hipster crossed with the Powerpuff girls. 
At the time, Manish observed that
… any kid-safe interpretation of Kali is bound to cross the line into kitsch. [Link]
Sanjay is now going from 2-D to 3-D. He has a mockup of a plush Kali doll [via BB], and is in the process of looking for a manufacturer. Presumably, he’s looking to market this as a children’s toy, although somehow I suspect it will end up in more hipster cribs than kiddy cribs.
This is where my intuitions fail me. The book and prints and apparel all seemed like things that might be purchased by (some) ABD Hindus. Certainly the remarks in the comments of the original post were pretty positive about Sanjay’s renderings.
Would the same be true about the plushy doll? If not, why not? Here, the fact that I’m not a Hindu gets in the way of my ability to imagine people’s reactions. Is there a difference between a children’s t-shirt and a doll? Hindu iconography has long been used for commercial purposes, is this any different? Is this something that you would buy?
I bought his books and tee shirts when he first came out with them, for my son. He threw in a bunch of free posters which we LOVE! I have them up on a wall in the playroom…always good for questions from visiting moms/kids. Now the plush doll of Kali, not so sure. Can’t quite put my finger on why, but I don’t know if I would buy it.
As a non-Hindu, it’s confusing to me what your relationship with her is supposed to be like (i.e. are you supposed to love her in the sense of Jeebus, or is it more a fearful respect, my impression is that it’s closer to the latter) and I think that’s what makes imagining a plush Kali difficult.
If I were a ABD Hindu parent, I’d definitely get Kali over the other more mainstream ones!
ah, saw this on techcrunch or lifehacker or somethin by xeni jardin.
It showed up first on Boing Boing by Xeni, I credit her in the post. Look for the “via” citation.
2 · SSK said
There are many manifestations of Shakti, some are motherly and protective. But Kali is meant to be feared like Old Testament Yahweh or his right hand Gabriel..that’s the closest comparison I can make as a non-Christian/Muslim/Jewish person. I don’t feel any of his toys make sense for any Hindu deities (excepting Krishna and Ganesh)
Correction to above. My quote begins here “There are many..” . Also I meant to say “his left hand Gabriel”
Hey, if anything, a plush Kali is easier to carry around than a plaster murti! The doll doesn’t bother this Hindu’s sensibilities one bit.
I hope I won’t lose any karma points for like the plushy Kali!
I liked Ghee Happy, so the plushie doesnt shock me. It just reminds me that our gods are not really designed/shaped to be cuddly (except maybe Ganesha)
Though I don’t think it’s horribly offensive, I just can’t see a plush Kali in the same room as Curious George and Hannah Montana.
Different Hindus will have different relationships to this – both in terms of the particular traditions they inherited through their families/communities as well as their own thinking and personality. As a bong raised Goddess worshipper / atheist, it makes me variously feel grossed out by the commodification, curious about it all, liberated in the sense that as far as I’m concerned this now gives me license to do whatever the f@#k I want to with other people’s religious imagery, and scared (as all Kali images do to me). I’m also just amazed at how much free advertising and feedback this guy’s getting before the product’s even launched.
I don’t think there is a problem with plush devi dolls per se, though Kali is difficult to imagine. You can buy plush stuffed Ganesha’s in most malls in Delhi nowadays, though I have a feeling its linked to the merchandising of a recent mythological film
louiecypher:
I concur. Add Garuda and Hanuman. The Indian version of Ganesh is too cute and already like a cuddly toy.
13 · my_dog_jagat said
It’s not just the cuddliness, but the fact that in every day folk Hinduism they are approachable (not sure about Garuda) and are supposed to intercede in our human concerns. Contrast with aloof, meditative Shiva
Kali Ma’s not necessarily my bag. I think I’d definitely buy a plushie version of his Ganpati though. Definitely.
I agree with the people who would buy a plush Ganesha. I might even buy a plush Krishna- both gods do give off a more approachable vibe and I would feel comfortable doing so. I wouldn’t feel worried that they’d get mad at me, as silly as that sounds. I don’t know why, but a plush Kali just feels kind of wrong to me. -Because- she is supposed to be feared in that way, that she isn’t that cute little icon you can look at and smile about. My mom also pointed out that if this did come in a traditional home, the plushie couldn’t touch the ground since it’s a representation of god. But what kid’s going to listen to that?
Just catching up with posts after vacation. I don’t think the kali dolls are anything that new. Ammachi, the hugging guru, has similar dolls for sale at her events and at the Amma shop. There’s a market for everything, though I’m guessing that most parents would probably buy a Ganesha or Radha doll over a Kali doll.