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Published by Himalayan Academy, India, USA.
Second Edition, Copyright 2000 Himalayan Academy
- Why is religious commitment important?
- Aren't all religions really one?
- How does one choose a name?
- Do you have to be born a Hindu to be a Hindu?
Never have such questions been so boldly addressed as in this book about how anyone can honorably enter the world's oldest faith. Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, founder/publisher of the international magazine Hinduism Today, is a traditional satguru immersed in the global Hindu renaissance for half a century, named by Delhi's World Religious Parliament as a Jagadacharya, world teacher, elected as one of three presidents to represent Sanatana Dharma at the 1993 Chicago Parliament of World's Religions and presented the U Thant Peace Award during the historic United Nations' Millennium World Peace Summit for Religious Leaders.
Review:
A reader from London, United Kingdom, writes:
"How to become a Hindu is exactly what the title suggests. This is a clear and precise guide for Born Hindus, seekers who wish to enter Hinduism and for any soul wanting more information on the worlds oldest religion called Hinduism.
"It explains in plain english, different sects of Hinduism, beliefs, sacraments and culture. This precise guide on 'How to become a Hindu' cannot be found anywhere. It also has many personal life testimonies from new Hindus describing their profound mystical experiences leading to the path of Self-Conversion, to born Hindus seeking the light of the soul.
"I strongly recommend this book as not only it is a concise reference on Hinduism's Self-Conversion path, but also a brilliant guide for Hindus who wish to know more about this great Peaceful faith.
"A must-read to clear any confusions on Hinduism and its self-conversion process!
"The author is an enlightened soul and a winner of the U-Thant Peace award formerly awarded to Dalai Lama.
Review:
By Dr. K. Panchapagasen, Chennai
"I like the gentle dew that falls unseen and unheard and yet brings into blossom the fairest of roses, has been the contribution of India to the thought of the world", says Swami Vivekananda about the silent mesmerism of Indian thought. The message of Vedanta has reached the far-ends of the world and has won a large number of votaries of other religions over to its fold. still, Hinduism does not believe in conversion by force or money-power; nor does it have a formalized code of conversion as such.
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswamy has, in the book under review, described the minutest detail all the important steps that anon-Hindu should take before becoming a Hindu. The author has taken care to introduce the new entrant to the hindu customs, practices, traditions and etiquette. In an exhaustive glossary, the swami provides the meanings of the Hindu names, the Vedantic terms , and the informations about the hindu deities. The book contains ten chapters.
The first chapter contain the personal narratives of a number of converts who recounts the circumstances under which they introduced to Vedantic ideas and the irresistible spell Vedanta cast over them. The Gurudeva as the author is affectionately called, outlines the six important steps to be gone through for becoming a Hindu, the most important among which is namakarana samskara, i.e. the formal change of name. the aspirant must legally get severed from the former mentors and satisfy himself or herself about the Superiority of Hinduism. it is not mere change of label but a sense of commitment, conviction, and inner transformation that is required to become a hindu. The author calls this 'ethical conversion'. An entire chapter is devoted to the explanation of the salient features of all the major religions of the world. The chapter which provides excellent answers to the frequently asked questions about the Sanatana Dharma bears testimony to the erudition of the Swami.
'The Song of The Sannyasin' of Swami Vivekananda seems to be one of the formative influences of the author. late Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswamy was a born American who became a Hindu at the age of twenty in 1947., initiated by Satguru Sivayogaswamy in Sri Lanka. he as the Abbot of a Hindu Monastery in the Garden Isle of Kauai, Hawaii, and was the founder- publisher of the international magazine 'Hinduism Today'. The Swamy represented the; Dharma at the 1993 Chicago Parliament of World's Religions.
The cover design is attractive carrying pictures of some Hindu rituals and Hindu deities. The book contains fascinating illustrations by the Swamis of the orders which he belongs.
The book is a must read not for only non-Hindus but also for the 'half- hindus' who know a little about their own religion.
