[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
Re: REQUEST : Can non-Indians become Hindu?
-
Subject: Re: REQUEST : Can non-Indians become Hindu?
-
From: "Jaldhar H. Vyas" <jaldhar@braincells.com>
-
Date: Sat, 7 Sep 1996 04:59:14 GMT
-
Apparently-To: soc-religion-hindu@uunet.uu.net
-
Newsgroups: soc.religion.hindu
-
Organization: Consolidated Braincells Inc.
-
References: <ghenDx9t13.Btn@netcom.com> <ghenDxBv4y.4My@netcom.com>
vivek@cs.rice.edu (Vivek Sadananda Pai) wrote in article
<ghenDxBv4y.4My@netcom.com>...
> According to no less an authority than Hinduism Today, non-Indians can
> become Hindu, but be prepared to pay about $900 for the privilege of
> being counted among the 800 million or so who are Hindu for free
> (well, or for the price of being born). You'll also have to change
> your name from Jason if you're serious, according to this
> article. They seem to indicate that using both your Christian and
> Hindu names will "reap no spiritual benefit". Apparently, God must
> care more about what you call yourself than what you do.
>
Vivek, if you hadn't posted the excerpt and a URL I would have thought
this was a joke but apparently the author is serious. Suffice it to say
that while I'm sure for $900 you could find people to do this for you the
namakarana sanskara doesn't represent any kind of Hindu conversion and
your photocopied certificate (suitable for framing) isn't going to
guarantee you acceptance anywhere. It's particularly galling that the
author (who seems to be a Shaiva Siddhantin) claims to speak for Smartas,
Vaishnavas and others while only quoting the usual modernist suspects.
--
Jaldhar H. Vyas [jaldhar@braincells.com] o- beable .-_|\
Consolidated Braincells Inc. / \
http://www.braincells.com/jaldhar/ Perth Amboy-> *.--._/
"Witty quote" - Dead Guy finger me for PGP key v McQ!
