Posted on 08/12/2010 1:19:22 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Her parents were Baptist and Catholic and she was born in Georgia, part of the US Bible Belt. But Hollywood superstar Julia Roberts says she is now a practising Hindu. Speaking to the September issue of Elle magazine, Roberts said she goes to the temple to "chant, pray and celebrate."
The 42-year-old actress, who won a million hearts with Pretty Woman and an Oscar with Erin Brockowich, took to Hinduism during the shooting of her upcoming film, `Eat, Pray and Love' last year. In the movie, she plays a divorced woman who travels to Italy for food, India for spirituality and Bali, where she finds love. In the interview, Robert also spoke of reincarnation. "I've been so spoiled with my friends and family in this life. Next time I want to be just something quiet and supporting," she said.
Swami Dharamdev of Hari Mandir, Pataudi, where `Eat, Pray and Love' was shot for three weeks in September-October last year, said it is good news if someone accepts Hinduism from the heart. During the film's shooting, he said, a makeshift temple had been constructed nearby where unit members would light lamps and burn incense sticks. "Julia too would pray there, run her hands over the lamp and her hair as we all do," he recalled. "She also got her three kids here. I tied the sacred red thread on their wrists and applied the tilak on their foreheads," he said.
Swami Dharamdev recalled the actress also requested him, through her private assistant, to pray for her mother who was ill. "Before she left I told her, `you may choose not to eat or love. But don't forget to pray. Make that a part of your life, not just acting in this film'. She smiled and nodded affirmatively," he said.
In a statement, Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism in the US, also said he and his fellow practitioners welcome Roberts into the fold.
Julia's move to Hinduism has sparked off a torrent of online response. Some are highly critical of her; others the opposite. "Another confused celebrity trying on the religion "flavour" of the month. Hindu? Does she even know what that means? How can you convert to another religion after making a film? Next thing you know she'll be wearing a Kabbalah bracelet after going to a Madonna concert!," was a comment posted on The Daily Mail's website. However, Anne, Leicester, wrote, "I like Julie Roberts, admire her work on screen and her commitment to her beliefs. If she's living her life to the ideals of Hinduism, that's all to the good. I look forward to seeing her latest film.
Clessie Cummins tested one on whale oil before installing
in in a ship for arctic research. If they needed, they could
harvest their own fuel. Bet that smelled great!
which will last about 15 minutes
It is so good it was used in tranny fluid up until the late 60's I think, simply because they couldn't synthesize anything better yet.
The whalers put up a good fight, but nobody plays as down and dirty as the Rockefeller's Petrogang.
They even bankrolled Prohibition just to get rid of the rest of the alternative fuels (same reason Hearst & co. demonized hemp).
It could be a whole lot worse.
She could be a muslim.
I don’t think Hindus wish death upon everyone else.
Marvin the Martin
Keep in mind that Star Trek promoted Socialism - a soft form of it, but still socialism.
http://www.myleftwing.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=354
http://colossus.mu.nu/archives/287079.php
No it ain’t.
I like horsies, don’t you? /s
So that’s why the long face...
"Me and my big mouth ..."
I don’t get those weirdo spiritual switchers.
My mom’s cousin’s ex-wife went from Wicca to ISLAM. Talk about a 180.
Julia will soon be in Kabala then Scientology before embracing tribal ancestor worship and finally the Church of Obama (it’s coming).
If she had rejected it, we’d have to call her a Hindon’t.
I'm sure you both must be wrong; India outlawed the Caste System quite some time back. It is only Christians and Conservatives who discriminate or practice elitist non-egalatarian racisism/classism/chauvaism/sexism/ageism, anywhere in the world. Not counting the Joooos, of course, but then everyone knows they are just plain baby-eating Evil Incarnate. /sarc>
JR == Pataudi Woman
I wonder if she came up with this from Richard Geer, a Budhist. Budhism can be thought of as a Hindu cult.
I’ve hated her ever since she said that the word Republican is between reptile and repulsive in the dictionary.
Isn’t she in O. this week? You think she is hard to stomach alone. Wait til you see the love fest between those two. It’s absolutely nauseating.
Heard that the movie is BORING!!! I don’t go to Lib featured movies..so I’ll just have to be happy with having read the book, which I wouldn’t have read had I known that Elizabeth Gilbert is flaming as well.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.