List of people Converted to Hinduism from other religions

I always says that, why Hinduism is a great religions. Some famous people, who converted to Hinduism.

From Christianity

• Chantal Boulanger - French anthropologist who wrote wide in Tamil culture.
• Claudia Ciesla - German model, actress and singer embraced Hinduism and believes in Karma
• Job Charnock - British trade agent who has been controversially described as the founder of Calcutta.
• llan Chester - Venecuelan singer, keyboardist, arranger and composer.
• Alice Coltrane - Illuminations( raised Baptist but became a follower of Satrya Sai Baba) - American jazz pianist, organist, harpist and composer.
• Michael Cremo - American creationist, author and editor
• Bhagavan Dast - (Born Kermit Michael Riggs) - Western Yogi and former born again Christian
• Roy Eugene Davis - American Kriya Yoga teacher
• Krishna Dharma - British author and convert to Gaudiya Vaishnavism under ISKON
• David Frawley - author on Hinduism, Yoga and Ayurveda 
• Elizabeth Gilbert - author of Eat Pray Love
• George Harrison - popular Musician, best known as a member of THE BEATLES who died chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra in the company of monks from ISKON. He is also known for donating Bhaktivedanta Manor, a Hindu temple to the Hare Krishna community in Britain.
• Lawrence Raghavendra - Tamil and Telugu choreographer, film actor, director, composer and Philanthropist.
• Christopher Isherwood - Anglo-American novelist
• Jomol - Malayali Actress
• Lizy - (born Aliyamma Malayalam of Elizabeth adopted the name Lakshmi) Malayalam Actress
• Swami Kriyananda - (born J. Donald Walters) direct disciple of the yogi Paramahansa Yogananda 
• Timothy Leary - Harvard professor and American writer and psychologist
• Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami - one of the eleven senior American selected to become an initiating guru in ISKON
• Savitri Devi Mukherji - (born Maximiani Portas) French woman who became enamored with Hinduism and Nazism, trying to synthesise Hinduismwith Nazi philosophy and racial ideology.
• Sister Nivedita - (born Margaret Elizabeth Noble) Anglo Irish social worker, author and teacher
• Leelawathy Ramanathan - Australia born, Hindu writer and activist, Converted upon marrying Ponnambalam Ramanathan
• John Levy - British philosopher who translated books on Advaita Vedanta
• Annie - (Actress) and(born Annie Jobbie adopted the name Chitra) Malayalam Actress
• Joseph Ritson - English antiquarian and traveler
• Julia Roberts - American Actress
• Han Snel - Dutch painter of Bali
• Satyananda Stokes - Famous English farmer in Himachal Pradesh 
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami - (Born John E. Favors) American Hindu leader and disciple of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
• Romapada Swami - Preacher of ISKON
• Kenneth R..  Valpey - Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology who studied at Oxford University, St. Cross College
• Shaunaka Rishi Das - (born Timothy Kiernan) Director of the Oxford Center for Hindu Studies
• Nayantara - (born Diana Mariam Kurian) South Indian Actress, model

From Islam

• Bukka I - king of Vijayanagara Empire who converted to Islam, then reconverted.
• Nargis - noted Bollywood actress, politician and social workers.  Mother of actor Sanjay Dutt. She converted to Hinduism and took the name of Nirmala Dutton on her marriage to actore Sunil Dutt
• Annapurna Devi - (born Roshanara Khan) surbahar player and music teacher in the North Indian classical tradition.
• Harilal Mohandas Gandhi - son of Mahatma Gandhi. Upon converting to islam he adopted the name Abdullah Gandhi,  but later again reverted back to Hinduism.
• Asha Gawlik - (Born Ayesha) wife of Arundel Gawlik,  notorious gangster turned politician from Mumbai. 
• Harihara I - King of Vijayanagara Empire who converted to Islam, then reconverted.
• Aashish Khan - (born Ustad Aashish Khan Debsharma) Indian musician
• Hassan Palakkode - Malyali writer on Islam
• Netaji Palkar - Maratha noble and commander-in-chief of the army of Shivaji, 19 June 1676
• Sarmad - 17th century mystical poet and sufi saint, arrived from Persia to India, beheaded from assumed heresy by the Mughal emperor, Aurungzebe's.  Sarmad renounced judaism, briefly converting to Islam and then Hinduism. He later denounced all religion and rejected belief in God.
• Anwar Shaikh - British Author
• Ifa Sudewi - Chief Judge for the 2002 bombing trails.
• Khusbhoo Sundar - Tamil movie actress. She converted to Hinduism upon Marriage.
• Haridas Thakura - Prominent Vaishnavite saint, instrumental in the early appearance and spread of Hare Krishana Movement.
• Zubeida - Hindi film actress, on whose life story the film Zubediaa was based. She converted to Hinduism upon marriage.
• Nalini Patel - Page( Born Nayyara Mirza) Miss India Finalist of 1967, was the first Muslim to participate in the pageant. She converted to Hinduism after marriage. She is settled in teh USA.
• Sonam - (Born Bakhtawar Murad) wife of Bollywood directore Rajiv Rai. She converted to Hinduism upon marriage.
• Fatima Ghadially - Wife of ajith agarkar

From Judaism

• Ram Dass - (Born Richard Alpert) syncretist, and followers of the Hindu deity Hanuman, Professor of phychology at Harvard University
• Tamal Krishna Goswami - (born Thomas G. Herzig) governing body commissioner of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

From Buddhism

• Mihirakula - Huna ruler
• Rajasinghe II - Sri Lankan king who conquered Kandy
• Rishabhadata - Satrap viceroy
• Rudradaman I - Starap ruler and conqueror of the Satavahanas
• Vasudeva I - Kushan King and numismatist

From Jainism

• Mahendravarma I - Pallava King and patron of the arts 
• Visnuvardhana - King of Hoysala empire and prominent temple builder
• Tirunavakkarsar - Saivite saint and one of the most prominent of the sixty three Nayanars

Others 

• Charairongba - Manupuri ruler
• Heliodorus - Greek minister of King Bhagabhadra
• Pamheiba - Manipuri King
• Suhungmung - Ahom Kingdom ruler who extended Assam up to the Kamarupa Kingdom
• Annie Besent - (former atheist) Theosophist, orator and feminist
• John dobson - (former athiest who become a believer in Vedanata) astronomer and Telescope designer
• Sita Ram Goel - (former atheist) Indian Commentator, writer and Hindu activist
• Agehananda Bharti - (born Leopold Fischer) academic Sanskrit, a prolific author about religious subjects and a Hindu monk in the Dasanami Sannyasi order
• Alain Danielou - (Converted to Shaivism) French historian, intellectual, musicologist and Indologist
• Ambarish Das - Page( born Alffred Ford) American Businessman, great grandson of Henry Ford, and follower of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (the foundre of ISKON)
• Urmila Devi Dasi - (born Edith E. Best) female ISKON educator
• Geoffrey Guiliano - American Biographer
• Nina Hagen - Follower of Haidakhan babaji, German Singer
• Aldous Huxley - disciple of Swami Prabhavananda, English writer who emigrated to the United States, author of Brave New World
• Joe Don Looney - Follower of Swami Muktananda, Football Player
• J. Mascis - lead Vocalist, guitarist and drummer for Dinosaur Jr. 
• John McLaughlin - become a disciple of Sri Chinmoy, Jazz fusion guitar player
• Lex Hixon - Suncretist and disciple of Swami Nikhilananda, poet, Philosopher, spritiual practitioner and teacher
• Mathias Rusty - German Daredevil Pilot
• J. D. Salinger - American author best known for The Batcher in the Rye
• Kelli Williams - American Actress who played Lindsay Dole Donnel on the ABC legal Drama the Practice.
• Ricky Williams - Miami Dolphins football player 
• Crispian Mills - English rock singer named Krishna Kantha Dasa. He wrote a forward to book by Bhaktivinoda Thakur titled Sri Siksastaka.
• Jeffrey Armstrong - Canadian Author, Speaker, Poet.

Places related to The Ramayana

Places related to The Ramayana

This image shows you the places which are related to the great epic of Hindus, The Ramayana.

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Hollywood diva Brandy Norwood gets Hindu Lord Ganesh tattoo

Brandy Norwood, one of the best-selling female artists in American music history, reportedly gets a new tattoo of Hindu deity Ganesh and is proud of it.

The reports suggest that California tattoo artist Peter Koskela inked elephant-headed Hindu Lord Ganesh on Image Award winner Norwood’s (Moesha) left wrist.

According to her tweets, Norwood knew that it was the image of Ganesh, the “Remover of all obstacles” but mistook him for an “Egyptian god”. On being pointed out by her Twitter followers, she quickly corrected her error and wrote: Ganesh is actually a Hindu deity, not Egyptian :) the tattoo is gorgeous!”

Welcoming Norwood’s interest in Lord Ganesh, well known Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, urged her to go beyond the fashion statement and explore the rich philosophical thought which Hinduism offered. Zed volunteered to gladly provide the Hinduism resources helpful in her exploration and comprehensive understanding of Hinduism.

Rajan Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that Hollywood celebrities needed to have more patience and go beyond the superficial because Hinduism concepts evolved over thousands of years and needed deep study. He urged Norwood to visit a nearby Hindu temple to have firsthand experience of Hinduism.

Brandy Rayana Norwood, 31, singer-songwriter-actress-dancer-film producer-etc., has reportedly sold over 30 million records worldwide and won over 100 awards as recording artist. Raised in a Christian home, Norwood started singing as part of the local church choir, performing her first gospel solo when she was two.

In Hinduism, Lord Ganesh is worshiped as god of wisdom and remover of obstacles and invoked before the beginning of any major undertaking. Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. Tattoos go back in history to at least since Neolithic times.

Europe's biggest Hindu temple in Netherlands

The biggest Hindu temple complex in Europe - consisting of three temples, residential areas and tourist spots - is going to be built in the Dutch city of The Hague.

Three Hindu groups would be building three temples on a site behind the Hollands Spoor railway station, EuAsiaNews reported citing the Netherlands' Trouw newspaper.

The complex will include 45 apartments and is set to open in 2014. There would be rooms for yoga and meditation and tourist spots for foreign guests.

The residential towers are also open to non-Hindus.

The Hague council member Rajesh Ramnewash has designed the plan.

Some one percent of people living in the Netherlands are Hindus. The Hindu community also accounts for the largest immigrant group in the Hague, according to Trouw.

Americans increasingly embracing Hinduism: Newsweek

'Lets all say Om' seems to be the new American mantra with an increasing number of people in this country subscribing to the essentially Hindu belief that there is no one way to salvation and that many religions could lead to eternal peace.

A piece in an upcoming edition of the Newsweek magazine quoting a recent poll says that Americans are slowly becoming more like Hindus "conceptually" and less like traditional Christians in the ways they think about God and eternity.

The article headlined "we are all Hindus now" cites a Newsweek poll in 2009 according to which 30 percent of Americans call themselves "spiritual, not religious," up from 24 percent in 2005.

It shows that the number of people who seek spiritual truth outside the church is growing.

"A Hindu believes there are many paths to God. Jesus is one way, the Quran is another, yoga practice is a third. None is better than any other. The most traditional, conservative Christians have not been taught to think like this," the article says. However, Americans are no longer buying it.

According to a 2008 Pew Forum survey, 65 percent of Americans believe that "many religions can lead to eternal life" including 37 percent of conservative white evangelicals, it says.

The theory of re-incarnation, which is central to Hindu belief, also seems to be finding acceptance, with 24 percent of Americans saying they believe in the concept, the article said quoting a 2008 Harris poll.

According to the Cremation Association of North America, more than a third of Americans were now choosing cremation as the ultimate fate of their bodies, up from six percent in 1975, it says.

This contradicts the traditional Christian belief that bodies and souls are sacred, that together they comprise the "self” and that at the end of time they will be reunited in the Resurrection.

Hinduism spreads in Ghana, reaches Togo

Children chanting Mantras

From just two dozen people in the mid 1970s to 3,000 families now, Hinduism is spreading in Ghana and has also made its way into neighboring Togo.

Hindu worship began to grow in Ghana after African spiritual leader, Essel ji, was initiated by Swami Krishnanda ji Saraswati into the Holy Order of Renunciation in 1976, said Kwesi Anamoah, national president of the African Hindu Temple here.

"Today, there are 2,000 to 3,000 families worshiping all over the country which is a big increase from the 24 people who participated in the first-ever training camp in 1976 to become disciples," Anamoah said.

"We have not achieved this through the winning of souls as other religions do, but have attracted people into the practice of Hinduism simply by the lives we lead," he said, adding: "Our lives shine in the community to attract people."

Christians form nearly 70 percent of the 24 million population of Ghana while the population of six million in Togo includes nearly 30 percent Christians and 20 percent Muslims.

Anamoah said that the practice of Hinduism as a religion and its unique philosophy is helping to change the lives of those who have accepted the faith.

He said the first ever Hindu monastery has been built in Ghana and it is from here that Hinduism is spreading.

"We do not evangelise like other faiths do, but we have attracted people because they see how we live our lives as Hindus and come to make enquiries and then find their way into our folds," Anamoah added.

He said the monastery annually holds six weeks' training for those interested to become devotees.

"It is a religion that cannot be explained in simple terms...we do not go into the streets to talk to people; rather, they are invited to come and understand."

Anamoah said perceptions about the religion have changed with time.

"We have also been able to change initial perception that Hindu worshipping was cultural enslavement...," he added.

Somnath Temple

Somnath Temple

Somnath temple, located in located in the Prabhas Kshetra near Veraval in Saurashtra, on the western coast of Gujarat, India, is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of the God Shiva. Somnath means "The Protector of (the) Moon God". The Somnath Temple is known as "the Shrine Eternal", having been destroyed six times and rebuilt six times. Most recently it was rebuilt in November 1947, when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel visited the area for the integration of Junagadh and mooted a plan for restoration. After Patel's death, the rebuilding continued under K. M. Munshi, another minister of the Government of India.

Timeline

The first temple of Somnath is said to have existed before the beginning of the common era.

The second temple, built by the Yadava kings of Vallabhi in Gujarat, replaced the first one on the same site around 649CE.

In 725CE Junayad, the Arab governor of Sind, sent his armies to destroy the second temple. The Gurjara Pratihara king Nagabhata II constructed the third temple in 815, a large structure of red sandstone.

Somnath Temple, 1869

In 1024 CE, the temple was once again destroyed by Mahmud Ghazni who raided the temple from across the Thar Desert. The temple was rebuilt by the Gujjar Paramara King Bhoj of Malwa and the Solanki king Bhima of Gujarat (Anhilwara) or Patan between1026 and 1042. The wooden structure was replaced by Kumarpal (r.1143-72), who built the temple of stone.

In 1296 CE, the temple was once again destroyed by Sultan Allauddin Khilji's army. According to Taj-ul-Ma'sir of Hasan Nizami, Raja Karan of Gujarat was defeated and forced to flee, "fifty thousand infidels were dispatched to hell by the sword" and "more than twenty thousand slaves, and cattle beyond all calculation fell into the hands of the victors". The temple was rebuilt by Mahipala Deva, the Chudasama king of Saurashtra in 1308 AD and the Linga was installed by his son Khengar sometime between 1326 and 1351 AD.

In 1375 CE, the temple was once again destroyed by Muzaffar Shah I, the Sultan of Gujarat.

In 1451 CE, the temple was once again destroyed by Mahmud Begda, the Sultan of Gujarat.

In 1701 CE, the temple was once again destroyed by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb built a mosque on the site of the Somnath temple, using some columns from the temple, whose Hindu sculptural motifs remained visible.

Later on a joint effort of Peshwa of Pune, Raja Bhonsle of Nagpur, Chhatrapati Bhonsle of Kolhapur, Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore & Shrimant Patilbuwa Shinde of Gwalior rebuilt the temple in 1783 AD at a site adjacent to the ruined temple which was already converted to a mosque.

Restoration of temple after Independence

Before independence, Prabhas Pattan was part of the princely state of Junagadh. After integration of Jungadh in to Union of India, the Deputy Prime Minister of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel came to Junagadh on November 12, 1947 to direct the stabilization of the state by the Indian Army and at the same time ordered the reconstruction of the Somanath temple.

When Sardar Patel, K. M. Munshi and other leaders of the Congress went to Gandhi with the proposal of reconstructing the Somnath temple, Gandhi blessed the move,but suggested that the funds for the construction should be collected from the public and the temple should not be funded by the state. He expressed that he was proud to associate himself to the project of renovation of the temple But soon both Gandhi and Sardar Patel died and the task of reconstruction of the temple continued under K. M. Munshi, who was the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies in the Nehru Government.

The ruins were pulled down in October 1950 and the mosque present at that site was shifted few miles away. In May 1951, Rajendra Prasad, the first President of the Republic of India, invited by K M Munshi, performed the installation ceremony for the temple. Rajendra Prasad said in his address "It is my view that the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple will be complete on that day when not only a magnificent edifice will arise on this foundation, but the mansion of India's prosperity will be really that prosperity of which the ancient temple of Somnath was a symbol.". He added "The Somnath temple signifies that the power of reconstruction is always greater than the power of destruction"

This episode created a serious rift between the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who saw the movement for reconstruction of the temple as an attempt at Hindu revivalism and the President Rajendra Prasad and Union Minister K. M. Munshi, who saw in its reconstruction, the fruits of freedom and the reversal of past injustice done to Hindus.

The present temple, which was built by Patel and Munshi, is managed by Shree Somnath Trust.

Architecture

The present temple is built in the Chalukya style of temple architecture or Kailash Mahameru Prasad Style and reflects the skill of the Sompura Salats, Gujarat's master masons.

The temple is situated at such a place that there is no land in straight-line between Somnath seashore till Antarctica, such an inscription in Sanskrit is found on the Arrow-Pillar called Baan-Stambh erected on the sea-protection wall at the Somnath Temple. This Baan-Stambh mentions that it stands at a point on the Indian landmass, which happens to be the first point on land in the north to the south-pole on that particular longitude.

Hollywood diva Miley Cyrus gets Hindu ''Om'' tattoo

Miley Cyrus

American singer-actress Miley Cyrus has reportedly got a new tattoo of Hindu religious symbol "Om" on her right wrist. 

Cyrus is known to get tattoos in the past when she felt passionate about something. She already had "karma" tattooed on her right index finger. She has reportedly said in the past, "I could never get a meaningless tattoo." 

Apparently expressing belief into the concept of reincarnation, Cyrus' July 17 tweet said: Dear Universe, For my next life can I please come back as some form of marine life? Such a great day. The water makes me feel so free :) 

Welcoming Cyrus' interest in "Om" and other concepts/symbols of Hinduism, acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) on Wednesday, urged her to go beyond the fashion statement and explore the rich philosophical thought which Hinduism offered. 

He or other Hindu scholars would gladly provide the Hinduism resources helpful in her exploration and comprehensive understanding of Hinduism, Zed said. 

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that Hollywood celebrities needed to have more patience and go beyond the superficial because Hinduism concepts evolved over thousands of years and needed deep study. 

He urged Cyrus to visit a nearby Hindu temple to have firsthand experience of Hinduism. 

"Om", the mystical syllable containing the universe, is used in Hinduism to introduce and conclude religious work. Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. Sanskrit is considered a sacred language, the language of the gods. Tattoos go back in history to at least since Neolithic times.

Foreigners flock to Haridwar for love of Hinduism

They don't allow questions. They don't reply to questions. You have to obey them. This repels many.

They come here from Russia, Malaysia, Belarus, South Korea and the US, lured by Hinduism which they say answers questions that have plagued them for years.

The eclectic nature of the Hindu religion - one of the world's oldest - has attracted foreigners from time immemorial. However, those enticed by it now are no more the dope-smoking hippy variety of the 1970s.

Foreigners flocking to Haridwar, one of the holiest Hindu holy spots, are mostly the educated, both men and women, from all parts of the globe, and have a spiritual commitment that amazes many Indians.

Moscow resident Victor Shevtsov, who at 56 looks at least a decade younger, explained why Russians like him have taken to Hinduism in such large numbers.

"Today the Orthodox Church in Russia is like the old Communist rulers," the tour operator said. "They don't allow questions. They don't reply to questions. You have to obey them. This repels many."

A fan of Indian religious philosophy, Shevtsov said in fluent English: "Many Russians are coming here because they don't have answers (to their questions) in Orthodox Christianity.

"Here, in India and in the East, religious leaders talk to you, they answer questions."

Fellow Russian Prokhor Bashkatov, a 37-year-old real estate agent, also blamed the Russian Church for his decision to embrace Hinduism.

"The Church is too rigid," said the Russian who can't understand or speak English. "It is not keeping pace with the time. I feel that my coming here is going to improve relations between Russia and India."

Both Victor and Prokhor have close links with Gayatri Parivar, a grassroots group that is organising a mammoth event here Nov 6-10 with a view to propagating the sacred 'Gayatri Mantra'.

Dmitri Kozhemyakin, in his 20s and from Belarus, has another view. He feels that the Church traditions are similar to the Vedic teachings. "And we are part of the Aryan culture too," he added.

Like so many foreigners, Dasom Her, a 22-year-old South Korean who studies here, was floored after reading "Autobiography of a Yogi", a gem in spiritual literature that Paramhansa Yogananda authored in 1946 and which still sells.

India, Hindu ethos and yoga had always attracted her parents, who met at a yoga class in South Korea and fell in love. When her father died, her mother decided to move to India with Dasom.

After spending time in Kolkata and Santiniketan, where she mastered Bengali, the daughter and mother moved to Haridwar where both study at the Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyala.

"My mother decided that India is where I will learn the values of life," said Dasom, her hands decorated with henna.

Pranav Pandya, who heads the Gayatri Parivar, says there is more than one reason why foreigners take to Hinduism.

"Meditation has done wonders," Pandya said. "It has provided many foreigners quiet and tranquil lives. Many have accepted 'Gayatri Mantra' too as their own."

The foremost mantra in Hinduism, its chanting is said to remove obstacles and increase spiritual growth. Its syllables are said to positively affect all the chakras, or energy centres, in the human body.

Do the families of foreigners accept their gravitation to the Hindu religion?

Some families are very supportive, others not so. Said Russia's Bashkatov: "Slowly and slowly my family is accepting my interest in Hinduism."

Govt funding 3 Hindu Temples in Malaysia

Government is reportedly allocating funds for building three Hindu temples in Sabah state of Malaysia.

These temples include Sri Murugan Temple in Tawau, Pasupathinath Temple in Kota Kinabalu and Sri Subramaniar Temple in Lok Kawi Camp, reports suggest.

Applauding this government gesture, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) on Tuesday, termed it as “a step in the right direction” and added that it showed the government’s concern for Hindu community.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, requested declaration of Thaipusam as a public holiday in Sabah enabling more community members to celebrate it together. According to reports, presently four states of Malaysia observe Thaipusam Day as a public holiday.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Haji Mohd Yassin reportedly recently attended Deepavali open house. Allocation for Sri Murugan Temple reportedly will go towards preparation of Maha Kumba Bisegam celebration held every 12 years.

On the last Thaipusam festival of Tawau Hindu Temple attended by hundreds, devotees carried decorative kavadi and paal kudam (milk pots) in a procession from river bank to Temple, walking about two kilometers, reports suggest.

Rajan Zed commended the Hindu community in Sabah for keeping the traditions alive and said that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society.

One of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant economies, Malaysia is among the world's biggest producers of rubber, timber and palm oil and offers dense rainforests, great beaches and excellent scenery. Lonely Planet calls it "multicultural buffet of Malay, Chinese and Indian flavours" and "safest, most stable and easiest to manage in Southeast Asia". 

Besides Malay, English and Chinese; Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam are also major languages. Although Islam is the state religion, constitution guarantees freedom of religion. 

Major religions include Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism (about 6.3%), Taoism, Confucianism and Sikhism. Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin is Head of State while Najib Abdul Razak is Prime Minister.

Sabah, second largest of the 13 states, is located in Borneo Island and contains Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in Southeast Asia.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.

Historical Hindu Temple reopens after 60 years in Pakistan

Hindus Celebrated Dipawali at a historic 160 years old temple in Peshawar in Northwest Pakistan after it was reopened to the minority community after six decades on a court's orders.

Scores of Hindus, including women and children, visited the Goraknath temple at Gor Khatri, which was reopened after Phool Wati, teh daughter of the shrine's cleric, petitioned the Peshawar High Court.

Children and youths wearing colorful clothes were part of the gathering. The children burst crackers while the youths sang bhajans and danced.

Phool wati and her son Kaka Ram have claimed that the temple, which has been controlled in past decades by the police, Evacuee Property Trust Board and the provincial archaeology department, belongs to their family.

Though a two judge bench of the High Court ruled last month that Phool wati had failed to provide evidence of her family ownership of the temple, it directed authorities to reopen the shrine for religious purposes.

The court observed that stopping religious activities at a place of worship was against all laws.

Kampla Rani, the daughter of Phool wati, was grateful to the authorities for reopening the temple.

"I am very happy that my mother, though very old, fought a legal battle to reopen this temple for Hindu worshippers." She told to media.

She said she had good relations with Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Muslims in her neighbourhood. "I dont feel that i am different from others living in Peshawar"

Noting that the temple was reopened due to the joint efforts of the Hindu community, Kamla said: "You cant imagine how happy we feel today."