indu priests and religious officials in India are protesting against a U.S.-based company's decision to sell undergarments emblazoned with images of Hindu gods and sacred religious icons.

Officials from India's eastern state of Orissa have pressed the U.S. government to seek actions against California-based Cafepress.com, a website under fire for selling intimate apparel featuring sacred Hindu deities and holy places, such as Jagannath temple, considered to be among the most sacred Hindu temples in India.

In a letter sent to both the U.S. embassy in New Delhi and federal officials such as Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Orissa authorities pressed authorities to take concrete measures against the offending company.

"I, on the behalf of the government of Orissa, request you to take up the issue with the American governemnt for taking action against the website owner to refrain the company from such unholy activities," Orissa's law minister BB Harichandan said in his letter, published by the Times of India.

Harichandan continued on to say that the state of Orissa was "deeply shocked and concerned over the unscrupulous means of advertisement" and demanded the website issue an immediate apology and cease sales of the offending undergarments.