2006-06-20 22:04:51 · 17 answers · asked by ripple 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
sunamwal hinduism was not started by manusmriti !! this is entirely wrong.
As per hindu philosophy, any one who believe in god, and himself and who is ever searching for Truth is a Hindu.
So any one searching for Truth is a hindu in broader terms.
As far as ritual part of hinduism is concerned, there are 100s of different cults going on in India, and it is not necessary that they represent true hinduism.
The only authentic scriptures of hinduism are vedas, upanishadas and Gita (which is a gist of all upanishadas).
Hinduism can not be bound into narrow definitions. So anyone on the path of Truth, anyone who is not a blind follower, anyone who is humane, is a Hindu
2006-06-22 04:56:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
The ancient Hindu religion is based on 'ManuSmiriti' a code dividing and distinguishing Hindus among 4 castes. One has to live, marry, and practice the caste. For a newcomer Hindu, the problem is the Caste which shall accept the convert. And what caste would the children be in if a man and awoman together become a Hindu and marry each other. The caste system is an iron curtain. The Hindu groups rebelling against this have not had much of a success. The other ancient belief is that of 'Untouchability'. By a mere touch, a high caste Hindu becomes impure.It applies to food-touched to make it inedible. ~ It is not uncommon to see segregated Hindu temples, for different castes. This is interesting question and must be concluded to its logical end.
2006-06-21 09:45:34 · answer #2 · answered by sunamwal 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
Throughout the history people have converted to t. You may be copnverted even without formal ceremony and live as a Hindu.
Or you may make it official by religious ceremony.
Note:
There are other incidents not only Shivaji.
Harihar and Bucca the Brothers who founded beautiful Vijaynagar were converted to Islam. By force. They converted for time being. when they returned, they changed again to Hinduism and I guess anyone who knows Indian History know about Vijaynagar who did Well for a time. Till again attacked by all sides by four surrounding Muslim states.
Note:
Person below is highly misinformed.
Manu was the law giver not a religious book.
His book is more humane than all contmporary books of other civilizations.
Unlike different churches for blacks and whites, Hindus do go to same temples and the caste system has been discareded. Unlike slavery system of bible, Vedas do not promote any distiction and caste system by Manu was also based on profession.
It was a social practice and has nothing to do with religious philosophioes.Hinduism is based on VEDAS and Upanishads not law books by Manu.
The Hindu religious system can be divided into two major systems. The Orthodox system (called astika in Sanskrit) accepts the authority of the Vedas.
1. Sankhya - founder Sage Kapila
2. Yoga - Sage Patanjali
3. Mimamsa - Sage Vyasa / Sage Jaimini
4. Vedanta - Shankaracharya, Ramanuja/Chaitanya/ Madhava/Vallabha
5. Nyaya - Sage Gautama (not Buddha)
6. Vaisheshika - Sage Kanda
The Heterdox (Nastika) system rejects the authority of the Vedas. This system includes Carvaka (materialism), Jainism, and Buddhism.
Throughout History India has been destination of forigners who settled here and converted to Hinduism. Even Greeks, Shak, Hun, etc.
2006-06-21 08:04:45 · answer #3 · answered by Karma 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ther tem Hindu is simply an Islamic coinage for the people leaving east of the River Sindhu and does not refer to any religion per se - even though it is widely used.
There are many religions covered under the Hindu umbrella - admittedly offshoots of the same concepts. The original religion was called Sanatana-Dharma - i.e. the eternal duty.
We believe that God is one although he (she) is known by different names in different parts of the world. The sun is known by different names in different parts of the world but it is the same regardless of what it is called or despite it appearing hotter or cooler in different parts of the world.
Much of "Hinduism" places no restriction on who can join in, unlike e.g. Jews, i.e. you cannot be initiated into being a Jew you have to be born a Jew.
To learn more about Sanatana-Dharma / Hinduism check out:
2006-06-21 22:07:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most religion invites converts, and this includes Hinduism.
Most Hindu sects don't proselytize, and there are extremely diverse assembly of groups with a wide range of beliefs and practices. So if you are interested in Hinduism, it would be wise to study it first, and go to a few groups first, and see if you like any particular group and fit in.
Many Hindu groups are admixed with Indian culture and people, so if you are non-Indian you may experience culture shock as well as the conversion experience.
2006-06-21 05:33:20 · answer #5 · answered by Kreb D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the name hindu did not come from indians but foreigners..
In india, hinduism is called "sanatana dharma"...meaning eternal law..
ie. understanding the laws which govern life and the universe..
everyone tries to understand life and the universe....so the hindus never give credit to a particular prophet, coz truth is not anyone's property...
hinduism is not a religion, its an attempt to understand the laws of the universe...so everyone is a hindu in a way.
2006-06-26 09:39:39 · answer #6 · answered by raj_6c1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hinduism is not about forced conversion but about understanding oneself.
YES of course you can choose to follow Hinduism and Hinduism does not demand that you leave anything to do so... It may sometimes look like you may leave your faith but that is usually occuring when there is a demand for you to be more focused in your desired quest.
Hinduism as a whole recognizes that we are a spiritual being first and religion is irrelevant if it does not serve towards the emancipation of that spiritual aspect inside of you.
2006-06-25 14:40:05 · answer #7 · answered by Vayu W 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great king Shivaji had converted his right hand Netaji Palkar n his
family back to Hinduism from Islam after 12 years.This is one famous incident in Indian History.Netaji was arrested alive in some battle n was forced to convert to Islam by Aurangzeb.Till this incident it was forbidden.The main prom with Hinduism is of caste.u have to take birth into a caste.Some ppl may even forbid this today...B'coz the question remains of which caste to put the converted into?If u r worshipper of Shivaji like me u can convert in any caste u like...If u stick to rituals u cannot....
2006-06-21 05:19:55 · answer #8 · answered by babloo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Iam a hindu you can be one too but you must be a hindu by heart and not for namesake
2006-06-21 05:14:48 · answer #9 · answered by Indian gangsta rapper 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
iam hindu, and i think if i was not born as hindu , and if in my life something come like this then i think i can change my relgion and become hindu
2006-06-21 05:10:45 · answer #10 · answered by Rocky 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋