An Erie County meadery named a beverage after a deity. A Hindu activist wants an apology.
An Erie County mead maker laughed when told a Hindu statesman was calling for Ironstone Meadery to apologize and withdraw its alcoholic drink named after the Hindu deity Kali.
"This is America," said Rich Konkol, owner of Ironstone Meadery and maker of Kali's Pleasure. "It's a free country. Freedom of speech goes all the ways."
Konkol on Monday afternoon said Ironstone had not been contacted by Rajan Zed, whose website lists him as the president of the Universal Society of Hinduism. Zed, however, had posted a press release calling the use of the goddess Kali "highly inappropriate." Konkol called it "kind of cowardly" to post the release online and not contact him. Ironstone, which is located at 9333 Tate Road in Greene Township, has a website and a Facebook page with contact information.
Who is Kali?
Zed's website describes the deity as "highly revered in Hinduism" and "the goddess of time and change," personifying "Sakti or divine energy." Britannica and the World History Encyclopedia online identify her as the goddess of time, doomsday and death and describe her as black or blue with a lolling tongue and multiple arms.
Konkol, who said he "follows old heathen beliefs," likes to look up herbs and spices and said he found Kali to be associated with hibiscus and ginger. Kali's Pleasure has a blend of hibiscus and ginger infused deep into the mead, according to Ironstone's website.
What is mead?
Mead is an alcoholic beverage that is made by fermenting honey. Ironstone's website says the Pennsylvania meadery's slow-fermented meads are flavored with natural, top-quality fruits, spices and botanicals.
From 2018:Ironstone Meadery ready for customers
Why is Zed calling the Kali mead inappropriate?
Zed, in his statement, said the "inappropriate usage of sacred Hindu deities or concepts or symbols or icons for commercial or other agenda(s) was not okay as it hurt the devotees." He also said Kali "was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to be used in selling mead" and "it was deeply trivializing" for her to be portrayed on a mead label.
Hinduism is the world's third-largest religion, after Christianity and Islam. Zed's release said Hinduism has more than a billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought that should not be taken frivolously.
He did say that "symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled."
Konkol said Kali's Pleasure was created as "a positive nod" toward the goddess and not meant in any way to detract from her. The mead's label has a long-tongued, multi-armed blue deity on it.
Ironstone's website describes Kali's Pleasure as giving an initial "tongue spanking" on the first sip before the flavors of hibiscus and ginger flow freely across the taste buds. The site also calls it "truly a drink befitting the destroyer of thirst in us all."
Who is leading the criticism?
In the release, Zed calls himself a "Hindu statesman" and president of the Universal Society of Hinduism. The society's website, which has little information, indicates it is headquartered in Reno, Nevada, and its vision is to "serve as the collaborative body to bring together people, organizations and resources to leave the world a better place for future generations." Zed is the only person named on the society's website.
In a biography on his personal website, Zed said he has delivered Hindu prayers for the Senate and House of Representatives in numerous states. He said he holds several degrees and is the recipient of multiple awards and honors.
In 2020, he led a protest to have New York craft breweries Pressure Drop Brewing and Big Ditch Brewing Co. discontinue a beer called Aqua Shiva that featured a caricature of the Hindu deity Shiva.
From 2020:Buffalo brewers discontinue Hindu deity-themed beer
That same year, Zed was part of an effort calling on Belgium-based brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV to rename its Brahma line, saying it trivialized the Hindu faith and Lord Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, according to an Associated Press story at the time.
From AP:Campaign brewing to get Hindu god Brahma off popular beer
Zed's press release about Ironstone's Kali's Pleasure was on his personal website and was titled "Upset Hindus urge Pennsylvania meadery to withdraw goddess Kali alcoholic drink & apologize." However, Zed was the only person named in the release.
Is Kali's Pleasure available for purchase now?
Ironstone's website indicates that Kali's Pleasure, which is 13.8% alcohol by volume, is out of stock. Konkol confirmed that the mead sold out recently, saying it's extremely popular.
"It always sells out quick," he said.
From Jennie Geisler:Meadery makes merry
Will Ironstone Meadery be making more Kali's Pleasure?
Konkol said he would make more Kali's Pleasure despite the objection by Zed. The mead likely won't be available again until late summer, Konkol said. Ironstone's website said some of its meads take six to 12 months to make.
Dana Massing can be reached at dmassing@timesnews.com. Follow her on Twitter @ETNmassing.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Hindu man wants goddess Kali off Ironstone Meadery alcoholic beverage
