Does one officially "convert" to the Santana Dharma?

[Mr_Galaxy]

I've heard many people say that people can't convert to Hinduism, but there are a few who say you can. Complete with a ritual and everything. Can you actually do such a thing?

If you can:

1.) Would you be, theoretically, put into a caste?

2.) Would you have to adopt a Hindu name; as many have done so when converting?

[orlando]

Namaste Mr_Galaxy

Would you have to adopt a Hindu name; as many have done so when converting?

The hindu name must be given from a true hindu guru.

Anyway,you are not forced to change legally your name

Regards,
Orlando.

[charitra]

You can convert to hinduism officially right here in the USA.Initiation by an ashram is recommended. Make sure you don’t have to pay for the ritual. You will not be given any caste, FYI hindu renunciates, monks, gurus, s adhus and swamis don’t have a caste!! Also there are many many kids born from intercaste and interreligious marriages and they too don’t acquire any caste. Legal name change can wait for many years. If a guru or a monk gives a name at the time of initiation, that’s fine to keep it and use it socially, but then one should not rush to go for a legal name change. Well, frankly there is no need ever for it imo. For when you apply for a job it causes confusion to the employer seeing different names, original school documents vs name on the application, you will regret the legal name change step. Besides in the west George S mith sounds better than Jai Narayan (don’t fight liberals and PC police, we know practical world is a different kind animal, right?). If one’s own abrahamic name becomes a sore point on a daily basis after a few years, then it would be better to revisit legal change issue in future. Namaste.

[orlando]

Namaste all.

We Hare Krishnas(at leat the western) don't use to change legally our name.
So I will never do it

Regards,
Orlando.

[philosoraptor]

I've heard many people say that people can't convert to Hinduism, but there are a few who say you can. Complete with a ritual and everything. Can you actually do such a thing?

If you can:

1.) Would you be, theoretically, put into a caste?

2.) Would you have to adopt a Hindu name; as many have done so when converting?

Conversion practices vary from sect to sect. The general rule of thumb is that if they have created temples or gathering places outside of India, then they probably will offer conversion. However, a lot of these diaspora organizations are of, how to put it delicately, of varying levels of authenticity. Not uncommonly, you can find a traditional guru who will offer initiation if you are sincere, are willing to do some travelling, and seek out the less visible gurus.

Caste is by convention hereditary, which is why there was no ambiguity about a person's caste in traditional Hinduism - it was based on birth. The principles governing assignment of caste to a convert from outside of Hinduism are not clear. Some would hold that you don't have caste, others would have you take up the caste of a non-dvija (i.e. a shudra), and still others would offer you brahminical status. The point of conversion however is not to have a caste, but to get onto the path of liberation, which many sects agree is open to all.

[dhyandev]

everyone is naturally born a hindu ,it is only after doing some rituals after 'n' number of days after birth that people become Xians,muslims,jews etc

[Equinox]

Vannakkam

If you can:

1.) Would you be, theoretically, put into a caste?

Actually, you cannot be "put" into a caste. You're only born into one. This would mean that you won't have a caste. Philosoraptor has mentioned that paragraph well.


Charitra:

Also there are many many kids born from intercaste and interreligious marriages and they too don’t acquire any caste.

They acquire the caste and religion of their father, since Hindus are generally a patriarchal society. But of course they won't be regarded as thoroughbred. This would encourage them to forget their caste and religion because they are stuck in a situation of "neither here nor there", with neither side of their family truly accepting them. That doesn't mean they don't have a caste or religion. Older records equate them to the caste of the lower-born parent.

This is exactly the reason why women are always encouraged to marry a man from the same or higher caste, so the children acquire his status. It doesn't really matter for men though.



Aum Namah Shivaya