Hindus have asked Burger King Corporation to publicly apologize and immediately withdraw a poster seen in Spain, which shows the Hindu goddess Lakshmi promoting a meat burger.

American Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said, “It was highly disturbing to see goddess Lakshmi modeling for a meat sandwich. Lakshmi was meant to be worshiped in temples or home shrines and not for pushing meat sandwiches in the streets for mercantile greed of a global corporation.”

The poster is titled “La Merienda Es Sagrada”, which roughly translates as “Snack is sacred” and shows a meat-cheese sandwich with few other products for 1.75 Euros. What was so ‘sacred’ about a meat sandwich, Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, asked.

Rajan Zed pointed out that Hinduism promoted strict vegetarianism insisting on ahimsa (not harming living creatures) and non-killing, and renouncing animal slaughter and meat eating. It suggested taking of sattvik (vegetables, fruits, etc.) and avoiding rajasik (eggs, etc.) and tamasik (meat, intoxicants, etc.) foods.

Zed argued that there was extensive protection of life in Hinduism and ahimsa was a command. It was a clear denigration showing a Hindu goddess patronizing a meat sandwich.

Burger King should clear all such publicity material before it went to the public. If Burger King wanted its executives to learn about world religions, he was willing to help, Rajan Zed added.

UPDATE: Following the Hindu American Foundation appeal a Burger King spokesperson confirmed: "Out of respect for the Hindu community, the limited-time advertisement has been removed from the restaurants."