Can one convert to Hinduism

"Can one convert to Hinduism?" or "How does one become a Hindu" is a very common question many foriegners ask.

In previous times the idea of conversion to Hinduism was absent in religion because the idea of a restricted group of Hindus itself was not there.

There were only ideological conversions which used to happen on the basis of a debate, the loser converts to the winning side, like those between Advaitins, Buddhists, Vaishnavites etc. Anyhow neither was there any formal idea of a restricted group present, nor was there a defined idea of conversion. It was just like you read relativity and nolonger subscribing to classical mechanics as true.... you can call that a conversion if you want.

But in due time, things reached ridiculous levels and ppl started to deny right to conversion to Hinduism. Ever though why the Hindus who were forced to convert never tried to reconvert? Just think an invader comes and forcibly converted some hindus into some other religion. Now the Hindus at that time knew that they were converted forcibly, so what stopped them from coming back the moment the invader is gone? It was this mental block against reconversion. For example, during the Goa inquisition, Portuguese used to throw beef into village wells. If some Hindu drinks that water, the rest of the Hindu society used to throw him out. He was left with no other option but to convert.

But in later times many Hindu thinkers felt the need to introduce the idea of conversion. This is the best part of Hinduism.. its dynamic nature. It never shies away from recognizing its mistakes and correcting them. To my knowledge in the modern times Swami Dayananda was the first to introduce it. Swami Shraddhananda actively converted many Muslims to Hinduism in 1920's.

Anyhow he did not call it conversion, but called it re-conversion or ghar vaapsi of converted Hindus back to Hinduism. And he was right to an extent, coz there are only two types of religious groups in India - Hindus and ex-Hindus. He thus named it Shuddhi

It has to be kept in mind that principles are more important that the name tag of religion one carries. So if one is really interested in Hindu way of life and calls himself a Hindu, he readily becomes a Hindu. For example, our Kalam is a better Hindu than many Hindus in my view.

There are no formal need of any ritual or declaration. Anyhow these “suddhi” type of things were designed keeping the masses in view. If you tell a normal villager, “instead of identifying yourself with a different religion from today, call yourself a Hindu, you will become a hindu” he will not be satisfied and he wants to see something concrete to do. So instead frame a simple puja, make him perform it and then tell him he is a Hindu now coz he has performed this puja; he will be satisfied.

In the present days too conversion to Hinduism is an accepted idea and there are many Hindu organizations which do that. Anyhow unlike Missionaries, the change of “name tag of religion” is not their aim. Instead they try to spread the ideas of Hindu ethos, without bothering abt what religion he formally belongs to. The greatest example of this phenomenon can be observed in US. There are LOTs of Yoga seekers in US. But anyhow the Hindus restrict to teaching the principles of the Yoga/Meditation instead of telling them “you have to become a Hindu, only then holy lord will save you.”

In conclusion I will quote another member on Orkut who has put it wonderfully:

how do i become a singer? - sing songs
how do i become a cricketer? - play cricket
how do i become a hindu? - practice hinduism......