Though I could only deduce little of the plot from clips I found from “The Way,” the references to Hindu lore within the plot were obvious. Gods and avatars are depicted and acted by humans, and fight in epic battle—not all to strange considering the Bhagavad Gita’s epic war. However, the Bhagavad Gita did not make Hanuman look like Chewbacca.
Likewise, Hindu practices such as meditation are portrayed in mystical, exotic, and often negative ways (ie: the Gabriel being tortured in meditation). Even more so, these rituals and the very archetypical sultan “Indrajit” are pitted against Eli, a character who’s Biblical sounding name and Christlike appearance seem to imitate Christ, and thus embody more Western Christianity (a belief I base further upon Indrajit’s calling Gabriel Eli’s “disciple”). Indrajit takes on the metaphorical role of Satan, tempting Eli with promises of glory and wonder. Perhaps we can perceive this as a metaphor for the appeal of Hindu belief, and the evil that some would say lies just beneath its seemingly exotic surface. Created in a time when Eastern religions were growing quickly into white, middle class societies—namely through popular Hare Krishna movements and the New Age movements—this episode seems to be imploring viewers to stay true to their faith, ultimately implying that Hindu beliefs are untrue, or do not fit with reality.
Between that and a God being portrayed as Chewbacca, the Hindu community’s resentment to this episode is understandable.
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