Hindus warmly welcome Julia Roberts into the religion

Hindus have extended a warm welcome to Oscar winner Hollywood star Julia Roberts into the Hindu fold.

The September issue of women's fashion magazine Elle, which has Roberts, 42, as the cover girl, reportedly says, "The entire Roberts-Moder family, she reveals, goes to temple together to 'chant and pray and celebrate. I'm definitely a practicing Hindu', says Roberts, who grew up with a Catholic mother and Baptist father."

Since in Hindu cosmology souls can be reincarnated in other bodies, where does Roberts see herself in the next life?

"Golly, I've been so spoiled with my friends and family in this life," she says. "Next time I want to be just something quiet and supporting."

American Hindu leader Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, heartily welcomed Roberts into Hinduism. She would appreciate the rich, diverse and long tradition of Hindu philosophy; and its interpretation of the nature of reality, he said.

Zed, who is the president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, said that if Roberts needed any help with deeper exploration of Hinduism, he or other Hindu scholars would be glad to assist.

Rajan Zed suggested that Roberts realise the self. The Katha Upanishad points out that when the wise realise the self, they go beyond sorrow. Self is supreme and those who meditate on the self are freed from the cycle of birth and death. When one realises the self, there is nothing else to be known.

According to reports, Roberts has been interested in yoga for quite some time. She was in Haryana in September last to shoot Eat, Pray, Love in an ashram (retreat).

In January 2009, she sported a bindi (vermillion mark on the forehead) during her trip to India when she also visited the Taj Mahal with husband Danny Moder.

Roberts has a production company called Red Om Films. Om is the mystical syllable containing the universe.

Roberts's film Eat, Pray, Love is releasing in the USA and Canada next Friday.

Julia Fiona Roberts, one of the most successful Hollywood actresses, producer and fashion model, won the best actress Oscar for Erin Brockovich and earned Oscar nominations for Pretty Woman and Steel Magnolias.

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