Michael Brooks
Tulsi Gabbard is a practicing Hindu. She was born in Samoa and raised in Hawaii and the Philippines. Her mother is Hindu, and her father, who is of European and Samoan ancestry, is Catholic. Gabbard was raised with both religions but chose Hinduism as her predominant faith. She follows the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism and has been referred to as a Hindu Zionist. Gabbard is the first Hindu member of the United States Congress and has been nominated for director of national intelligence by President Donald Trump.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Religion | Hindu |
| Childhood religion | Catholic and Hindu |
| Religious text | Bhagavad Gita |
| Spiritual guide | Karma Yogi |
| Religious criticism | Cult |
| Religious criticism | Hindu Zionist |
| Parents' religion | Father: Catholic, Mother: Hindu |
| Husband's religion | Abraham Williams: Hindu |
| Previous husband's religion | Eduardo Tamayo: N/A |
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What You'll Learn
Tulsi Gabbard's parents and their religious influence
Tulsi Gabbard was born on April 12, 1981, in Leloaloa, Maoputasi County, on American Samoa's main island of Tutuila. She was the fourth of five children born to Carol (née Porter) and G. Michael Gabbard (Mike Gabbard). In 1983, when Gabbard was two years old, her family moved back to Hawaii, where they had lived in the late 1970s. Her mother was born in Decatur, Indiana, and grew up in Michigan, and her father, who is of Samoan and European ancestry, was born in American Samoa; he grew up in Hawaii and Florida. Her father is a member of the Hawaii Senate and a practicing Catholic, who has also embraced certain Hindu practices. Her mother, who is of German descent, was initially raised Catholic but converted to Hinduism before Tulsi's birth. Gabbard was raised in a multicultural and multireligious household and adopted the Hindu faith as a teenager.
Gabbard's parents have been associated with the Science of Identity Foundation (SIF), a Vaishnava-affiliated organization. When Gabbard's parents moved to Hawaii, they joined the circle of disciples around the founder of the SIF, which is connected with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. She described the SIF's leader, Chris Butler, as a guide/spiritual leader and "essentially like a Vaishnava Hindu pastor" during her early years. Gabbard grew up in Honolulu and participated in surfing, martial arts, and yoga as a child. She was mostly homeschooled except for two years at a girls' school in the Philippines. Gabbard learned spiritual principles like karma from the ancient Indian text Bhagavad Gita. She has worked on several efforts for military veterans and also noted being inspired by President John F. Kennedy.
Gabbard has been serving as the eighth director of national intelligence (DNI) since 2025. She has held the rank of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve since 2021 and previously served as the U.S. representative for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district from 2013 to 2021. She was the first Hindu member of the United States Congress. In 2012, Gabbard was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii's 2nd congressional district. She became the first Samoan American and Hindu American member of U.S. Congress. Gabbard is a yoga enthusiast and regularly practices morning yoga and meditation. She has talked about being a vegetarian, although some sources have reported her as being vegan. She follows the Vaishnava tradition of the Hindu faith and values the Bhagavad Gita as her spiritual guide.
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Gabbard's Hindu name
Tulsi Gabbard is the first Hindu member of the United States Congress. Gabbard was born in Samoa and brought up in Hawaii and the Philippines. She is of Samoan and European ancestry and was born to an American-Samoan family. She adopted the Hindu faith as a teenager.
Gabbard's mother, Carol Porter Gabbard, is of Caucasian descent and follows Hinduism. She gave all her children Sanskrit names—Bhakti, Jai or Jay, Aryan, Tulsi, and Vrindavan. Gabbard is named after Tulsi, a sacred plant in Hinduism. The name is derived from the word tulasi, an herb.
Gabbard has often mentioned that the teachings of selfless action from the Bhagavad Gita motivated her toward social work. She follows the Vaishnava tradition of the Hindu faith and values the Bhagavad Gita as her spiritual guide. She took the oath of office in 2013 with her personal copy of the Bhagavad Gita. She has also been participating in the celebration of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, along with members from the Hindu American community.
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Gabbard's criticism of her Hindu faith
Tulsi Gabbard, a practicing Hindu, has been the target of criticism and scrutiny due to her religious beliefs. As the first Hindu member of the United States Congress, Gabbard has faced questions and accusations regarding her specific branch of Hinduism, which some have labeled as a "cult." Her nomination as Director of National Intelligence by President Donald Trump sparked intense criticism and scrutiny, with some accusing her of being a Russian agent and a "Hindu Zionist."
Gabbard's particular branch of Hinduism is the Science of Identity Foundation (SIF), founded by Chris Butler (also known as Siddhaswarupananda), a teacher of Vaishnava Hinduism. Gabbard's association with Butler and SIF has been used to smear her religion and spread anti-Hindu rhetoric in the media. Some critics have accused her of being a defender of Hindu nationalism and having allegiances to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist party.
Gabbard has defended her Hindu faith, emphasizing religious freedom as enshrined in the US Constitution. She has accused certain senators and critics of attempting to incite religious bias and foment religious bigotry against Hindus and Hinduism. Gabbard's supporters, including Hindu organizations and leaders, have spoken out against the anti-Hindu rhetoric and requested that her faith and the Hindu religion be offered the respect they are due.
Gabbard grew up with Hindu values and adopted the Hindu faith as a teenager. She follows the Vaishnava tradition, valuing the Bhagavad Gita as her spiritual guide. She has talked about the teachings of selfless action from the Bhagavad Gita, which motivated her toward social work. Gabbard has also participated in Hindu festivals like Diwali and supported the declaration of International Yoga Day by the United Nations.
In conclusion, Tulsi Gabbard's criticism regarding her Hindu faith has stemmed from accusations of it being a cult, her association with specific Hindu organizations and leaders, and her political views and foreign policy stances. However, Gabbard has defended her faith, emphasizing religious freedom and speaking out against religious bigotry directed toward Hindus.
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Her husband's religion
Tulsi Gabbard is currently married to Abraham Williams, a freelance cinematographer and editor, and filmmaker. He is of Māori, Samoan, and European ancestry. The couple got married in 2015 in a traditional Vedic wedding ceremony on the eastern shore of Kahaluu, Hawaii. They have been trying to start a family and have undergone several unsuccessful in-vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures.
Williams is Hindu, and Gabbard has described him as highly supportive of her career. The two first met in 2012 when Williams was a volunteer photographer for Gabbard's campaign for a seat in the House of Representatives. They connected over their mutual love for water sports, and Williams proposed to Gabbard while surfing.
Gabbard was previously married to her childhood friend Eduardo Tamayo in 2002. However, her deployment to Iraq from 2004 to 2005 took a toll on their marriage, and they divorced in 2006.
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Her religious political influence
Tulsi Gabbard is a practising Hindu. She is the first Hindu member of the United States Congress. Gabbard's mother is Hindu and gave all her children Sanskrit names. Gabbard is named after Tulsi, a sacred plant in Hinduism. She adopted the Hindu faith as a teenager. Gabbard's parents have been associated with the Science of Identity Foundation (SIF), a Vaishnava-affiliated organisation. Her father, who is of Samoan and European ancestry, converted from Catholicism.
Gabbard has been criticised for her political history and her particular branch of the Hindu faith, which some have referred to as a 'cult'. She has also been accused of having close ties with India and its nationalist organisations. Despite this, Gabbard has worked on several efforts for military veterans and has celebrated Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, with members of the Hindu American community. She has also supported the campaign for a Diwali commemorative stamp in the United States.
Gabbard's religious influence can be seen in her foreign policy stances. She has advocated for a reduced US international presence, questioned American interventionism abroad, and criticised humanitarian interventions. She has also taken a strong stance against Islamic extremism, introducing the Stop Arming Terrorists Act to prohibit the Department of Defense from providing weapons or support to terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda and the Islamic State. Gabbard has also been vocal about her support for yoga and meditation, which are practices rooted in Hindu philosophy.
Gabbard's religious influence is also evident in her choice of reading material. She values the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient Indian text, as her spiritual guide. She took her oath of office in 2013 with her personal copy of the Bhagavad Gita and has presented a copy of the text to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gabbard has stated that the teachings of selfless action from the Bhagavad Gita motivated her towards social work.
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Frequently asked questions
Tulsi Gabbard is a Hindu. She follows the Vaishnava tradition of the Hindu faith.
Tulsi Gabbard was born in Samoa and raised in Hawaii and the Philippines. She was raised in a multi-faith home. Her father is Catholic, and her mother, who was raised in a multicultural household, is Hindu. Gabbard was exposed to both religions as a child but ultimately chose Hinduism as her predominant religion.
Tulsi Gabbard has been criticised for her ties to a politically active Hindu "cult", the Science of Identity Foundation (SIF). Gabbard's parents were early leaders of SIF, a group founded by Chris Butler, a guru now known as Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa.
Tulsi Gabbard is a yoga enthusiast and regularly practices morning yoga and meditation. She has also supported the efforts of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the declaration of an International Yoga Day by the United Nations.
Tulsi Gabbard has talked about being a vegetarian, although some sources have reported her as being vegan. As a child, she participated in surfing, martial arts, and yoga, and her parents owned a vegetarian restaurant in Hawaii.
