As we have been saying for years that most of the damage done to Hinduism is often done within by Hindus themselves who don’t even know the ABC of Hinduism. This idiocracy often revolves around wanting to sound highly virtuous, morally and spiritually superior, which often works in the enemies’ favour who want to destroy Hinduism.
In this latest example where a white British Hindu, William Seaborn @will_seaborn is told by a brown Indian Hindu, Nandita Thhakur @nanditathhakur that you can only be Hindu if you are born a Hindu, so you can’t enter the Jagannath Puri temple.
This experience of white and other non Indian Hindus not allowed in the temple is also experienced by other Indians, something HHR members also experienced at two temples some years ago,
One of us who was visiting Bhuvaneshwar Temple was refused entrance at the door by the immigration border control for not being Indian or Hindu, and was even asked for a passport to prove she’s indian and having Hindu written in it which led to a big argument even though she was born in India and had gone to the West some years before.
Even other devotees in the queue protested, taking her side, saying, “How can you stop a Hindu, regardless of what race they are, not to be allowed in to get Darshan”? Eventually, the door person apologised, and she was allowed in.
The same thing happened in Kerala, where two of our group members went to the Rudra Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. At the entrance, the doorkeeper bouncer said, “You aren’t Hindu, so you are not allowed in,” which again led to an argument. This time, the head of security came and told off the doorkeeper and said it’s okay; you both can go in.
But what was the criminal link to face no entry? All 3 were fair-skinned, so somehow that means ‘non-Hindu, ” even though within India itself, there are Indian Hindus of all skin tones.
But according to these confused Hindus, Krishna was telling Arjun on the Kurukshetra battlefield that Dharma should be only spread to Indian passport holders who are proven to be Indian and born in Hindu families, But if they don’t look ‘Indian’ or have the right skin tone they need to take a DNA test to prove they are Indian. Then, they can enter Jaganatha Puri and other ancient Hindu temples..
So what next, Sri Krishna, being blue, and the other gods being of many other colors, wouldn’t be allowed in either or worse Lord Jagananth who is very dark and black probably wont be let in either if we apply this Hindoo no-entry logic?
But then the excuses of no entry get worse when it’s pointed out by another hindoo enlightened expert that it’s not racism or any discrimination, but the rules came into place because of the invasions by Islamic armies through history who looted the temples.
Right, so the Islamic armies disguised themselves as Hindus with tilaks on wearing saffron dothies and then joined the long queues to get darshan, and after entering the doors, they stole everything, did they?
Or if they turn up now with their armies with tanks and weapons, they will be told by the temple doorkeeper keeperJee that they are not allowed in because they don’t look indian or Hindu, resulting in them peacefully leaving and riding back to Afghanistan, would they?
This weird logic may be the reason these confused Hindus continue to pay more temple donation jizya tax now than in Mughal times because the tax man looks indian and has a Hindu name like the ones running the temple.
As Hindu activist Shawn Binda @ShawnBinda calls out,
“Born Hindu is simply NOT good enough. How many born Hindus do you know that don’t give one lick if Hinduism survives or not? HINO = “Hindu in name only” will be the downfall of Hindus.”
This is totally true, which is why the most powerful weapon the Hinduphobes have in their arsenal is Hindoo Stupidity, reflected by the HINO.
This is why it’s common to see Christian missionaries of Indian descent walk into temples to start preaching because they look the same as the doorkeeper. Also, the most Hinduphobic propagandists in academia and media, especially in the West, often come from India, are Indian and are born in ‘Hindu’ families.
Further, Hinduphobes use these myths to promote the ‘see you can only be born Hindu because the Brahmins are the most superior, and the other castes below them have to take orders while no one else is allowed to enter. The truth is it is racism, which these Hindus laying down these rules need to be to be educated with real Hinduism or be kicked out of these temples. Also, if these Hindus really were following Hindu teachings, then by now, no temple would be getting looted by the Government because Hindus would be out there in their millions, bringing the government down to its knees, who out of fear would stop stealing money from temples within minutes.
But the big question is, does Hinduism back all this ?
These myths of “You can’t convert to Hinduism,“You have to be born Hindu, preferably Indian,” and “We don’t accept ‘Mleccha’ – foreigners ”have become a whispered doctrine, repeated with pride, superiority, or sometimes just ignorance.
But it’s not spiritual truth. It’s not scriptural truth. It’s a colonial hangover dressed up as tradition. repeated by not just from outsiders, but from Indians themselves who suffer from deep-down inferiority complexes trying to act highly virtuous because Muslims and Christians do conversions to expand, but we don’t because we are so nice and good, so give us the nice people’s award. So what next ?, Christians and Muslims breathe air, but we don’t, so give us the oxygen mask award.?
Nowhere in any Hindu scriptures has it ever said you can only be Hindu if you are born Hindu, especially as Hindus also believe in reincarnation, so Hindus can be born anywhere in the world and even across the universe, meaning if aliens want to be Hindus, they should be allowed. History also shows that Hindu gurus had gone out of India during ancient times also to spread the teachings of Hinduism as Dharma has to be established everywhere. This is why Buddhist monks also went out to preach as it was already there in Hindu culture to do so.
Hindus do have the concept of conversion, which is why it has the most initiation rituals than any other religion to welcome others to Hindu traditions. Far back to the ancient Greeks and others who came to India were initiated into Hindu paths by Vedic Gurus.
But the biggest difference between Hindu conversion and Abrahamic conversion is that Hinduism leads to freedom and not enslavement like these other two imperilists disguised as religion do.
These myths are some of the greatest distortions of Sanatana Dharma -Hinduism, and it’s time to tear them down.
So, what are the historical roots of these myths ?.
The Myth of “No Conversion” You can’t convert to Hinduism.
Remember, Hindus were one of the hardest indigenous people to fully be conquered because of their fierce resistance via strong faith and warrior fight back. This is why they suffered some of the worst genocides in history, resulting also in a third of them being converted to be enslaved. So, during those centuries of foreign Islamic rule, the Hindu identity was attacked as idolaters, questioned, and nearly erased. So it’s a trauma most Hindus carry knowingly or unknowingly.
As Hindu India was a harder nut to crack, Christian missionaries who came later needed a way to delegitimize the religion they sought to replace. So they began spreading the lie that “Hinduism isn’t a real religion; it doesn’t even allow conversions.” And you have to be born into a caste to be “Hindu”, authorised by the ‘Brahminical supremacist hierarchy’
Over time, many Hindus, especially those who survived arab and western colonization by clinging to what identity they could — internalized the lie. They began to say it themselves, to defend the culture.
And today, even educated Indians — including temple priests, politicians, and diaspora elders — parrot the same lines: “You can’t become one of us.
Even though the majority of Hindus are indigenous but all are welcome to join the Hindu family.
The Myth of “No Conversion”: Born in Colonization, Not in the Vedas
Backed by scripture and tradition, you absolutely can become a Hindu. Spiritual Paths Have Always Been Open to everyone around the world. For example, Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, born as Robert Hansen in California, didn’t just explore Hinduism. He became a Hindu in the most traditional way possible — receiving initiation, adopting vows, and being accepted into a respected Shaiva lineage in Sri Lanka.
His book, “How to Become a Hindu,” exposes the falsehood of exclusivity and lays out a step-by-step traditional process of Hindu conversion that is still in use today:
Namakarana Samskara – Sacred name-giving ceremony
Vedic Affirmation – Written Vows to Sanatana Dharma
Guidance from lineage (sampradaya)
Temple or community blessing
This isn’t a modern invention. It’s rooted in ancient dharmic practice. But you won’t hear that in casual conversations — because too many people are still stuck in the illusion that birthplace equals spiritual legitimacy.
Let’s Talk About the “Mleccha” Misunderstanding
Many Hindus still quote the term mleccha to justify exclusion. But the truth is nuanced. Spiritually, 
mleccha doesn’t mean “foreigner” or “white person” — it refers to one who does not follow dharma or speak the language of sacred life. It’s not about your skin, surname, or passport.
The Mahabharata and Manu Smriti both mention that even a mleccha who follows dharma can rise to the highest spiritual levels — higher even than someone born a Brahmin who lives without righteousness. In other words, Dharma isn’t inherited but has to be earned.
Even once a thief. Vibhishana, a rakshasa by birth, became a devotee of Rama. Nandanar, a so-called “untouchable,” became a saint revered in Shaiva tradition. So when someone tells you, “You weren’t born into it,” remind them:
“Neither was Valmiki. Neither was Subramuniyaswami. And yet, they became torchbearers of dharma.”
Non-Indian Hindus Are Not a Myth — They’re a Movement
Here are just some respected figures who’ve embraced Hinduism without Indian blood, but with deep devotion:
1. Julia Roberts
Hollywood star, practicing Hindu, temple-goer, and devotee of Ganesh.
2. David Frawley (Vamadeva Shastri)
Western-born Vedic scholar, author of over 40 books, formally accepted into a Hindu lineage.
3. Stephen Knapp (Sri Nandanandana Das)
Vaishnava devotee and Hindu author who spent decades promoting Sanatana Dharma globally.
4. Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami
American successor to Subramuniyaswami, currently leading a traditional Shaiva monastery in Hawaii.
5. Baba Rampuri (William A. Gans)
Initiated into the Naga Baba order, accepted by the Juna Akhara — one of India’s oldest ascetic lineages.
6. Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya
Western-born Acharya formally initiated into a Vedic monastic lineage, leading a global Hindu movement. And there are thousands more silently living the dharma across the world — offering puja, chanting mantras, visiting temples, and keeping the eternal flame alive.
So Why Does This Still Matter in 2025?
Because too many people — even inside Hindu communities — are still holding onto colonial scripts that say only Indians can be Hindu, leading to sincere seekers still being turned away, shamed, or looked at with suspicion for simply loving the Vedas, Shiva, Krishna, and Devi.
Sure, we don’t have to disarm ourselves and have to be cautious as missionaries and other hinduphobes undercover do try to claim they are Hindu to push Hinduphobic propaganda, but out there are many who do want to become real Hindus, which is what the Hinduphobes fear the most as Hindu thought is rapidly expanding as real people want true freedom. New Hindus should be given direction on their spiritual path, and like what we did often in the past, give them books from Sita Ram Goel, Ram Swarup and others so they become aware of the Hinduphobia they also can stand up against. Luckily, many other Hindu temples do allow non Indian Hindus also and even do their Shuddi conversion ceremonies, and most Hindus we know do back non-Indian Hindus to be allowed into temples.
Because Sanatana Dharma is eternal, not ethnic.
It’s time to reclaim the truth:
> Hinduism belongs to the soul, not a surname. It welcomes the sincere, not just the born.
If You’re Called — You Are Welcome. If you feel the pull of the divine in this path — whether through yoga, Vedanta, Shaivism, Bhakti, or Tantra then you are not an outsider. You are a soul awakening. And you belong.
Pick up “How to Become a Hindu” by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami. Read it. Reflect. Take steps if you’re ready. Or just keep walking with reverence and joy. The dharma has always had space for those who walk it with their heart on fire.
The lie ends here. The truth walks on.
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