Talk:List of converts to Hinduism

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Bakasuprman: just because someone sings sanskrit mantras does not make them a hindu. Deva Premal is quite upset to be listed as a Hindu convert as she has no interest in the the religion and I will continue to remove her from the list if you replace her. Larry Coryell plays in a Bombay Jazz band, that does not make him a Hindu.

Many of the people listed here are not 'converts to Hinduism' but have simply spoken positively about Hinduism (Aldous Huxley or Coryell for example) and your including them here makes a mockery of the whole page.

And, as has been pointed out in other places, Hinduism (like Judaism) is a non-converting religion. One is born Hindu, or one is not a Hindu, as simple as that.

Your continued reverting of edits is verging on vandalism and if you continue, will be reported as such. jalal 07:29, 12 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Your inane statement above is a testament to why your edits are reverted. Hinduism is a missionary religion, and any person with even minuscule knowledge of the history of Cambodia, Indonesia or even India would know that. I merely report what the sources say, considering I did not write this page.Bakaman 16:36, 12 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Baka, I don't want to get into a religious argument. The point I am trying to make is that most of the people you have listed on this page have not 'converted' to Hinduism but have (in some cases) expressed an interest or an appreciation of Hinduism. I am mainly interested in the case of Deva Premal who is quite clear that she does not wish to be listed as a hindu as she has no connection to the Hindu religion. I ask you to respect that. I would suggest that if you wish to give this page some credibility then you try to find some references for the names that you are putting up here. jalal 07:59, 13 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Jalal, u can better take care of the article Converts to Islam. Leave this article to hindus. Axxn 16:14, 16 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not interested in any conversion to or from any religion. My friend does not want to be listed as a convert to Hinduism and I have been trying to get her off of this page despite Bakasupram constantly adding her back. We seem to have reached an understanding now, so I have nothing further to do here. You can enjoy your conversion games as you like. jalal 21:33, 17 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

==[edit]

JUDGE IFA SUDEVI (JUDGE OF BALI BOMBING CASE) ifa sudevi is recorded as converted to hindu from islam,whereas she always has been hindu,never muslim —Preceding unsigned comment added by Sureshnaidu (talk • contribs) 14:31, 27 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Notable persona only[edit]

Please be advised that this list is only for notable persons. A notable person usually has an article on him/herself.Bless sins (talk) 19:40, 26 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

BTW, this link is to a forum. Can we get the link to telegraph please?Bless sins (talk) 19:50, 26 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The forum link has been removed, and a link to the telegraph has been provided RustDragon (talk) 23:17, 4 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Sources for purported converts[edit]

These alleged converts have been moved from main page to here, as per WP:V. Add them back only if conditions have been met, for both former and current religious affiliation. Also, please make sure they are noteworthy of being included.

Ma Jagattarini Devi - (born Janne Wesly) former hollywood actress (Need source confirming both past and current religious adherence)

Nilla Cram Cook - Associate of Mahatma Gandhi (a 1933 source has been provided, but a newer source says she converted to Islam later in her life.) I will move this person to converts to Islam.

Stephen Knapp, and Swami B. G. Narasingha will both be removed, in accordance with WP:NOTE RustDragon (talk) 05:56, 5 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Annie Besant has been removed for now, unless someone wants to quote the exact passage in the cited reference (Besant, Annie. The Building of the Kosmos and Other Lectures: Delivered at the Eighteenth. The Path, 1894.) or find another source. It seems she was a former Anglican turned atheist turned Theosophist, not a adherent of Sanātana Dharma. RustDragon (talk) 19:52, 5 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Urmila Devi Dasi (born Edith E. Best)- American follower of Swami Prabhupada,[1][2] : Removed due to concerns about notability. See here RustDragon (talk) 07:19, 6 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Ram Dass was influenced by:

"a panoramic array of spiritual methods and practices from potent ancient wisdom traditions, including bhakti or devotional yoga focused on the Hindu deity Hanuman; Buddhist meditation in the Theravadin, Mahayana Tibetan and Zen Buddhist schools, and Sufi and Jewish mystical studies." 1.

He should not be characterized as a convert to Hinduism, and thus has been removed. RustDragon (talk) 08:03, 6 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Aldous Huxley has been removed, as there is no source. RustDragon (talk) 10:49, 6 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Crispian Mills removed due to improper citation (1) RustDragon (talk) 18:48, 6 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Lex Hixon removed due to his myriad of spiritual beliefs. here he says :

""There are four traditions with which I have an initiatory connection - Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the Khalwati-Jerrahi (Dervish) Order of Islamic Sufism, the Vajrayana Tantric Buddhist tradition of Tibet, and Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Sarada's transmission of what I call Hindu Tantra.""

As to whether he is a Hindu, he thinks he might be one, but is not sure:

"And does Lex Hixon consider himself a Hindu? "I haven't received the samakaras and taken the sacred thread, so I don't think I could culturally be called a Hindu in that sense, but Ramakrishna embodies the fullness and the mainstream of Hindu culture and spirituality, and I've absorbed that entirely, so in that sense. I think I am."

He has been removed from the list due to his own lack of conviction. Maybe a list should be started of converts to "Syncretism" RustDragon (talk) 19:23, 6 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Jon B. Higgins has been removed due to no source that mentions his religious affiliation. RustDragon (talk) 21:00, 6 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

James Pomerantz has been removed due to no source that mentions his religious affiliation. RustDragon (talk) 22:59, 6 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Nina Hagen seems to be spiritual, with syncretic beliefs (she says she is a Christian as well). Read at her official site. She has been removed for now. RustDragon (talk) 23:35, 6 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Lex Hixon, Hagen, Mills, Dass, Devi Dasi, and Huxley all have sources that attest to their conversion. Whether they are syncretist is irrelevant, since all of them have asserted that they practice some form of Hinduism. In this context HT is reliable, as it is a magazine discussing Hindu faith.Bakaman 02:54, 7 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]
On Besant, page 7 of the aforementioned book has the quote. "I became a Hindu with my full and complete acceptance of theosophy as taught by the occultists". With the others listed, many of those were placed by IP's, and its smart to have a good prune of IP-crap once in a while, so I commend you for that.Bakaman 03:03, 7 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]
I have readded Annie Besant, but to "non religious" section. She was a prolific atheist before her conversion (thanks for the quote, btw). Please do not add James Pomerantz and Jon B. Higgins witout sources regarding their religion (I could not find one that mentioned their religions). Crispian Mills had a "Hindu wedding" and "lived in a Hindu temple" according to source; no where does it state he was a Hindu--find a proper citation please if you are going to add. Lex Hixon has been added again, with details+source. Aldous Huxley has been added again with details. Nina Hagen has been added again with details. Ram Dass has been added to the Jewish section (Jewish parents) with details + source. I don't really agree, but I have readded Urmila Devi Dasi, with a VNN source. Also, I added a section of "undetermined religious beliefs" due to lack of sourcing on what many of the converts converted from. Please leave the section intact, but if you find any sources showing any converts' prior beliefs then by all means add them. RustDragon (talk) 09:32, 7 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]


I have updated Heather Graham, but am doubtful as to whether to she is a Hindu per se, as opposed to just adapting Transcendental Meditation. TM is officially not any religion, as per:

"It’s not a religion—The Transcendental Meditation technique is a simple, natural technique practiced by millions of people of all religions, including clergy. Practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique does not require or involve faith or any particular set of beliefts." 1.

Personally, I think it is a stretch to call her a Hindu for just meditating and am inclined to remove any mention of Hinduism from both her page and this list. Input on whether to keep her or not would be great. RustDragon (talk) 11:58, 7 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

For Mills, participation in Hindu wedding rituals and the fact that he lived in a Hindu temple is all bout tantamount to self-identification. I dont know where Graham came from, if you cant find a source, I trust one probably doesnt exist then.Bakaman 00:57, 16 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]


Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders is a Hare Krishna. Her initiated name is Krishna Mayi. She mentions it in her song, Boots of Chinese Plastic. She was initiated by Narayana Maharaja, the same guru as Crispian Mills. She played on his record helping to finance a school for his guru's organization, School of Braja. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.8.199.50 (talk) 18:32, 27 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Dead link[edit]

The following points an empty/dead link:Dr. Anwar Shaikh : A Great Soul, A Great Fighter for Truth - International Opinion

A better one needs to be found.Bless sins (talk) 06:19, 26 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Sarmad[edit]

I removed both sources because they didn't say he converted to Hinduism. If I'm wrong please correct me.Bless sins (talk) 00:02, 19 July 2008 (UTC)[reply]

George[edit]

Please stop reverting to vandals removal of George Harrison entry. Wikidās ॐ 09:39, 2 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Please stop using the word pagan![edit]

Those belonging to the Abrahamic religions use the word pagan to denote those who do not belong to their faith. Please non-Abrahamics do not use the word Pagan, does any one know how we can declare the word as inappropriate like perhaps N***o for blacks.

This section refers to converts, I wonder what the caste of these converts is, like it or not, each Hindu has a caste, whether he cares about it is another matter, though for many its only manifestation is on their school leaving certificate. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Yogesh Khandke (talk • contribs) 07:53, 16 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]


Pagan is a term that IS used by non-Abrahamics, too. It is generally meant to be a neutral description of any religion that is not Abrahamic. Using the term "Pagan" in a negative way would be like using Christian, Jew or Muslim as a negative word. So, it has no relation whatsoever to the offensiveness of the "N-word". I am Pagan and proudly so, and just because the Abrahamics might use the word in a derogatory way does not mean they are using it correctly. If the term Pagan is to be thought of as negative, then we will have to start using Christian as a negative word equivalent to the "n-word", or any other religious traidition.----- saloli, asheville, nc usa

Very offensive to suggest pagan is some sort of racial slur. I mean just look at this nonsense. Proof wikipedia is not a reliable source. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2A02:C7F:6066:5C00:D0A2:F247:BCCE:B22F (talk) 20:15, 9 October 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I wish Hindus should stop their fixation with these poster boys and girls.[edit]

I assume that this list exists as a sign of the revival or growth of Hindus, friends we can do without these freaks and take all of them off from this section, and include only those we can write to and those who confirm their being Hindu.

An important exclusion is lakhs of Indonesians who are reasserting their Hindu faith, not in Bali but across the archipelago. Yogesh Khandke (talk) 08:01, 16 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

If anyone famous converts out of Indonesia, they can be added to the list. Also, calling people freaks makes us less likely to even glance at your outbursts.Pectoretalk 22:53, 16 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I do not care a damn about the list and much less about those who have a soft corner for f****s including those who refer to themselves in plural, wikipedia is a anti-India racket (I do not have a citation for this statement). Yogesh Khandke (talk) 08:35, 17 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Yes go on calling people pagansYogesh Khandke (talk) 08:38, 17 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Pagan is a term used for all-non Axial_Age religions. I have a very tiny soft corner for freaks, and much less of a soft corner for trolls that spout religious hatred, apparently even against their own religion.Pectoretalk 20:44, 17 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Are These People Really Converts?[edit]

More often than not, these so-called converts are Jews and Christians who are reacting out of frustration of western civilization and are looking to do something radical for whatever reason -- to get back at their parents, or at society as a whole, or whatever. I doubt they really become believers. Hinduism only means "the religion of the Hindus (ie, Indians)," and its more of a traditional belief system (like shamanism among Native Americans, etc.) than a religion that someone can convert to, like Christianity or Islam (or even Judaism, I guess, but that too is more of a tradition than a religion, although there is a religious component to it). It's like when someone identifies as a "Jew-Bu," like Goldie Hawn. She identifies as Jewish, yet she's into this new-age anti-Western craze which began in the 60s. I really seriously doubt that Julia Roberts takes this stuff seriously, with all due respect. I think these people are just bored. Also, they tend not to want to appear biased in the film industry, so they choose something "cool" and "trendy," and not "Christian and square." It's become popular among the "spiritual and not religious" crowd, the light drug users, and people who attend séances. Russell Brand? Give me a break.

PS: This is not to demean genuine Hindus, who were born into that society and maintain their identity and culture through their faith, but people like Julia Roberts are most likely charlatans. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.243.35.203 (talk) 21:18, 1 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Nargis[edit]

Please Correct The Note about [Nargis] she never convert to Hinduism . and Both name related to write to convert Muslim to Hinduism it's not Real Truth. The Real Truth is no one convert Real Muslim in Hinduism. so i requested to Hinduism lobe to Remove this un-athorised Note

182.178.33.121 (talk) 08:12, 11 March 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Where would Savitri Devi fit in?[edit]

She was from the nominally Christian West, but had rejected Christianity in favor of Indo-European paganism by the time she formally converted to Hinduism. —Morning star (talk) 13:29, 22 March 2017 (UTC)[reply]

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