Conversion?

[Arav]

I dont know if a thread like this has already been made, but I was wondering if Conversion to Hinduism or Sanatana-Dharma is possible. When I was looking up information about Arunachala Hill, I ran across alot of info about the Upanisads and Vedas and started reading them. I really like the information that I was given and it really began to help me. So, to say again, what I am wondering is, is can you convert to Hinduism?

Also, in Hinduism is there such thing as a "mortal" or "unforgivable" sin? And lastly, do many Hindus, or any on RF, take the info found in the Vedas and Puranas to have really taken place? For instance, when it is said that Krishna lifted Govardhana Hill or Shiva killed a person, do you take that to be true or an example or somthing that represents a quality of Brahman?

Thanks!

 

[Wannabe Yogi]

I dont know if a thread like this has already been made, but I was wondering if Conversion to Hinduism or Sanatana-Dharma is possible. When I was looking up information about Arunachala Hill, I ran across alot of info about the Upanisads and Vedas and started reading them. I really like the information that I was given and it really began to help me. So, to say again, what I am wondering is, is can you convert to Hinduism?

Yes, you can. Many in the West have already done it. Some very orthodox people don't accept it, they believe you must be born into it.

Also, in Hinduism is there such thing as a "mortal" or "unforgivable" sin?

No, this is a Christian concept. Madhva did believe in an eternal hell. This is do to the influence of the Christians and Muslims.

And lastly, do many Hindus, or any on RF, take the info found in the Vedas and Puranas to have really taken place? For instance, when it is said that Krishna lifted Govardhana Hill or Shiva killed a person, do you take that to be true or an example or somthing that represents a quality of Brahman?

I take the Puranas as truth in the form of mythology, not as necessarily history.

 

[Cypress]

Since you are interested in Arunachala Hill, there is a forum dedicated to Arunachala & Ramana Maharishi, it is here.
Perhaps you can ask your questions about conversion there, they may be able to help you.

 

[Arav]

Thank you both for answering my questions. I have been interested in Hinduism for a long time and thought about converting before I became a Jain. I think im going to think about this some more and see where I go from there. Thanks again!

 

[Arav]

Well, I have decided to just dive into Hinduism and start practicing it. Hopefully all goes well and I find what I am looking for.

 

[Gaura Priya]

I dont know if a thread like this has already been made, but I was wondering if Conversion to Hinduism or Sanatana-Dharma is possible. When I was looking up information about Arunachala Hill, I ran across alot of info about the Upanisads and Vedas and started reading them. I really like the information that I was given and it really began to help me. So, to say again, what I am wondering is, is can you convert to Hinduism?

Yes and no. There never really was a conversion ceremony as much as one would simply believe. In Vaishnava circles, taking diksha would make one's seriousness in following the path more concrete, but believing is the only necessity. In Shaiva circles, the same applies, but one should at least also take a Hindu name as well. Other organisations such as Arya Samaj have a shuddhi ceremony to officiate one back to Vedic beliefs.

I'm speaking as a Filipino Vaishnava.

Also, in Hinduism is there such thing as a "mortal" or "unforgivable" sin? And lastly, do many Hindus, or any on RF, take the info found in the Vedas and Puranas to have really taken place? For instance, when it is said that Krishna lifted Govardhana Hill or Shiva killed a person, do you take that to be true or an example or somthing that represents a quality of Brahman?

Even if the concept of Hell is there, in the Vaishnava religion, Hell is a temporary destination. There are several hellish realms described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam itself, each for whatever one has done in this lifetime. But eventually they take birth again on earth and the cycle of samsara continues.

It depends on each Hindu. Some Hindus believe in the Puranas and the histories of the Mahabharata and Ramayana as literal. Others take a completely metaphorical approach, and others (like me) do take a semi-philosophical approach to the Scriptures.

 

[Arav]

Thanks for your answering my questions Madanbhakta.

 

[nameless]

Also, in Hinduism is there such thing as a "mortal" or "unforgivable" sin?
Thanks!

some schools considers fear would be helpful in leading a moral life and will follow the religion with respect, so they embraces the concept of hell. The concept is also against karma theory.

 

[Madhuri]

I dont know if a thread like this has already been made, but I was wondering if Conversion to Hinduism or Sanatana-Dharma is possible. When I was looking up information about Arunachala Hill, I ran across alot of info about the Upanisads and Vedas and started reading them. I really like the information that I was given and it really began to help me. So, to say again, what I am wondering is, is can you convert to Hinduism?

Of course you can. Nobody can tell you what you can or can't believe or what you can or can't practice. Truth is not limited to a particular society, as much as some people like to think so

Also, in Hinduism is there such thing as a "mortal" or "unforgivable" sin? And lastly, do many Hindus, or any on RF, take the info found in the Vedas and Puranas to have really taken place? For instance, when it is said that Krishna lifted Govardhana Hill or Shiva killed a person, do you take that to be true or an example or somthing that represents a quality of Brahman?

Thanks!

No there isn't. There are actions which are considered very bad/worse than others but nothing is unforgivable and to be honest, there's no God sitting about grading you or dishing out rewards and punishments.

I always did take the stories literally. These days I like the stories but have no strong opinion either way as to how factual or allegorical they are. I think it likely that some stories are based on actual history and others are entirely metaphorical.

 

[Riverwolf]

I dont know if a thread like this has already been made, but I was wondering if Conversion to Hinduism or Sanatana-Dharma is possible. When I was looking up information about Arunachala Hill, I ran across alot of info about the Upanisads and Vedas and started reading them. I really like the information that I was given and it really began to help me. So, to say again, what I am wondering is, is can you convert to Hinduism?

Well, I adapted Hinduism; I wouldn't say converted.

Also, in Hinduism is there such thing as a "mortal" or "unforgivable" sin?

Not that I've ever seen.

And lastly, do many Hindus, or any on RF, take the info found in the Vedas and Puranas to have really taken place? For instance, when it is said that Krishna lifted Govardhana Hill or Shiva killed a person, do you take that to be true or an example or somthing that represents a quality of Brahman?

Seeing as the Puranas all have conflicting accounts of history, I'd have to say that they're mostly mythology, but may be based loosely on now-forgotten historical events. Same with the Mahabharata and Ramayana.

As for the four Vedas, they're completely different from any other central text in other religions; they're not books to be read, they're mantras to be chanted. And, as Swami Vivekananda said, the Vedas aren't books, but the accumulated spiritual knowledge of mankind. According to myth, the Mahabharata was actually composed to help explain what the Vedas were all about to less intelligent people.

 

[Arav]

Well, I adapted Hinduism; I wouldn't say converted.

Not that I've ever seen.

Seeing as the Puranas all have conflicting accounts of history, I'd have to say that they're mostly mythology, but may be based loosely on now-forgotten historical events. Same with the Mahabharata and Ramayana.

As for the four Vedas, they're completely different from any other central text in other religions; they're not books to be read, they're mantras to be chanted. And, as Swami Vivekananda said, the Vedas aren't books, but the accumulated spiritual knowledge of mankind. According to myth, the Mahabharata was actually composed to help explain what the Vedas were all about to less intelligent people.

Thanks Riverwolf!

 

[Mahacandra]

I dont know if a thread like this has already been made, but I was wondering if Conversion to Hinduism or Sanatana-Dharma is possible. When I was looking up information about Arunachala Hill, I ran across alot of info about the Upanisads and Vedas and started reading them. I really like the information that I was given and it really began to help me. So, to say again, what I am wondering is, is can you convert to Hinduism?

George Harrison converted to Hinduism (ISKCON/Hare Krishna). Julia Roberts is a practicing Hindu (don't know which branch).

And lastly, do many Hindus, or any on RF, take the info found in the Vedas and Puranas to have really taken place? For instance, when it is said that Krishna lifted Govardhana Hill or Shiva killed a person, do you take that to be true or an example or somthing that represents a quality of Brahman?

Thanks!

I'm not a Hindu, but still, I think I might have something useful to say. Most Christians don't take Genesis seriously, and very, very few Biblical Scholars take Revelations seriously (it was a warning to early Christians about Nero, which got misinterpreted). All religious literature serves a purpose in the religion, but very rarely is that purpose historical accuracy.

 

[kaisersose]

Even if the concept of Hell is there, in the Vaishnava religion, Hell is a temporary destination.

The Madhvas - a major Vaishnava group - subscribe to the concept of eternal hell. They believe some souls can never be liberated.

Madhva explains why this is so, but I do not have access to that text now.

 

[Gaura Priya]

The Madhvas - a major Vaishnava group - subscribe to the concept of eternal hell. They believe some souls can never be liberated.

Madhva explains why this is so, but I do not have access to that text now.

That is very interesting... because in the Chaitanyaite perspective, even though we are under the line of Madhva, the understanding is that there exists the hellish and the heavenly realms as explained in Bhagavatam, but such places are temporary are still considered material (bahiranga shakti), as opposed to Vaikunthaloka and Goloka Vrindavana (antaranga shakti). Thus, a person who commits sinful actions and goes to the hellish planes of existence must suffer, but they are given a chance to be born again as a human in order to eventually come back to Krishna/Vishnu, through the practice of bhakti yoga.

The Gaudiya Vaishnava school has somewhat of a universalistic element to it, that everyone will eventually reach Krishnaloka, but some people will arrive faster than others, lol.