Non-Hindus and the devas?

[Rainbow Mage]

I'm not sure rather to stick this in the Hindu or Pagan DIR and this could well become a debate, so lets go with this.

Do you believe a non-Hindu could be drawn by the devas and still remain whatever path they're in?

I consider myself pagan because I have deities from quite a few pantheons, but I consider Shiva and Ganesha especially important to me. I first felt drawn to Ganesha at 14 years old.

Do Hindus have any thoughts and/or objections to this, people of other paths feeling drawn to a deva or even venerating them?

 

[Rainbow Mage]

Also wouldn't Buddhists be a historical example of non Hindus venerating the devas?

 

[Vinayaka]

I don't see why not, but mostly on the inner side of things it would go on. Remember, devas help in seen and unseen ways.

 

[Ashoka]

I think it's fine. I used to identify as a pagan, and I would worship Ganapati then. I think that is what lead me to Hinduism, funnily enough

 

[Breathe]

Do you believe a non-Hindu could be drawn by the devas and still remain whatever path they're in?

Yes.

Also wouldn't Buddhists be a historical example of non Hindus venerating the devas?

Yes.

 

[Ashoka]

Also wouldn't Buddhists be a historical example of non Hindus venerating the devas?

I would say yes, but I don't know very much about Buddhism.

 

[Satyamavejayanti]

Egyptian Phoenix;3373509]
Do you believe a non-Hindu could be drawn by the devas and still remain whatever path they're in?

Yes, I don't think belief in Deva/Devi makes any difference to ones path.

Do Hindus have any thoughts and/or objections to this, people of other paths feeling drawn to a deva or even venerating them?

I personally don't object, but be prepared to encounter debate of what a Deva/Devi actually means.

 

[Madhuri]

I would say that you can be drawn to them and still remain on your own path. Buddhism is a good example. Many Buddhists believe in and worship Hindu deities still today.

 

[Ashoka]

I have seen even in Japan, some of the Devas and Devis are worshiped. Benzaiten is the name they give to Maa Sarasvati.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

Yeah I think Buddhists would be like the best example of this. Buddhists brought the devas as far as Japan, to think :-D

 

[Rainbow Mage]

I wanted thoughts on this because lots of Polytheists/pagans worship them as well. I do myself. I have a Shiva and Ganesh shrine

 

[Jainarayan]

Do you believe a non-Hindu could be drawn by the devas and still remain whatever path they're in?

When I was Christian (i.e. in the basic sense of following the teachings of Jesus, not the church) I accepted the existence of Hindu deities, as well as other deities, as manifestations of God. I simply chose Jesus as my personal representative of God. Whether I accepted his divinity at the time, I really can't say with accuracy.

Do Hindus have any thoughts and/or objections to this, people of other paths feeling drawn to a deva or even venerating them?

I have no objection to anyone worshipping anyone or anything of another tradition as long as it's done with reverence and devotion and it works. Of course, I am an unabashed syncretist and henotheist, so that answer should come as no surprise. As Madhuri said, many Buddhists revere and even worship Hindu deities. Many Hindu deities are direct "carry overs" to Buddhist

 

[Aristocrat]

I am not a Hindu but as a traditionalist I do not worship the Devas, but have been heavily influenced by the theology, spirituality, and eschatology of Hinduism. I would be an utter hypocrite to condemn a neo-pagan for worshiping them, despite my personally critical views of worshiping gods from more than one pantheon. That being said, I would like to add in respect to your statement of Buddhists worshiping the Devas that Buddhism essentially started as a spiritual discipline and philosophy within the context of Hinduism, and not a renunciation of the previous faith. It was those who followed the Buddha after the Prince's death that created a religion of worship around him. Anyhow, I am rambling.

 

[Kalidas]

I'm not sure rather to stick this in the Hindu or Pagan DIR and this could well become a debate, so lets go with this.

Do you believe a non-Hindu could be drawn by the devas and still remain whatever path they're in?

I consider myself pagan because I have deities from quite a few pantheons, but I consider Shiva and Ganesha especially important to me. I first felt drawn to Ganesha at 14 years old.

Do Hindus have any thoughts and/or objections to this, people of other paths feeling drawn to a deva or even venerating them?

You know my answer lol. My fiance my even use my alter and new Kali murti.