Hinduism in Russia

Russian Hindus celebrating Rath Yatra.

Early 18th century engraving depicting Hindu temple in Astrakhan, Russia.

Hare Krishna devotees distributing free vegetarian meals.

Hare Krishna devotee with books.

Hinduism has been spread in Russia primarily due to the work of missionaries from the Vaishnava Hindu organization International Society for Krishna Consciousness and by itinerant Swamis from India and small communities of Indian immigrants. There is an active Tantra Sangha operating in Russia. According to a 2010 religious census, there are 140,000 Hindus in Russia, which account for 0.1% population of Russia.

Hindu organizations in Russia

Hindu groups which have presence in Russia are the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Brahma Kumari, Ramakrishna Mission, Ananda Marga, the organizations associated with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Sahaja Yoga, Chinmaya Mission, Satya Sai Baba and Osho Rajneesh. While ISKCON and Brahma Kumari appear to have a relatively strong following in Russia, the other organizations in the list have a marginal presence in this country. As of December 2005, the Federal Registration Service recorded the number of registered Hindu groups listing Hindu group and Hindu groups with particular orientation on Krishna (78) and Tantric sects (2).

Krishnaism

As of December 2005, the Federal Registration Service of Russia has registered 78 Krishnaite communities.

Slavic Vedism

Slavic Vedism, Slavic Hinduism, or Neo-Vedism or simply Vedism are terms used to describe the contemporary indigenous development of Vedic forms of religion in Russia, Siberia, other Slavic countries, the Commonwealth of Independent States' members and generally all the post-Soviet states.

Slavic Vedism involves the use of Vedic rituals and worship of ancient Vedic deities, distinguishing from other groups which have maintained a stronger bond with modern Indian Hinduism, although Krishnaite groups often identify themselves as "Vedic" too. Also some syncretic groups within Rodnovery (Slavic Neopaganism) use the term "Vedism" and worship Vedic gods, but mainstream Rodnovery is characterised by its use of indigenous Slavic rituals and Slavic names for the gods.

Other Hindu groups

Brahma Kumaris has 20 centres in Russia. Ramakrishna Mission has one centre in Russia. Ananda Marga has a centre in Barnaul. Tantra Sangha has one registered branch is in Moscow, and another in Nizhniy Novgorod was officially recognized in 1993.

Excavation of Vishnu deity

During an excavation in an abandoned village in the Volga region, archaeologist Alexander Kozhevin excavated an ancient Vishnu idol. The idol dates from between the 7th and 10th centuries. Before this discovery, Kozhevin had already unearthed ancient coins, pendants, rings and weapon fragments. The village, Staraya Maina, had been a dense population center approximately 1700 years ago.

The Times of India reported that this discovery raised questions about the prevalent view of the origin of ancient Russia. In an interview Kozhevin stated that, "We may consider it incredible, but we have ground to assert that Middle-Volga region was the original land of Ancient Rus. This is a hypothesis, but a hypothesis, which requires thorough research."

Controversy over construction of a Hindu temple in Moscow

The Russian government is consistently opposing the building of a Krishna temple in Russia. A temporary temple was made in 2003, which the authorities asked devotees to vacate their temple in exchange for a piece of land on which they could build a bigger temple. Finally, in November 2005, the Mayor of Moscow canceled the land order and took away the piece of land given for the construction of the Hindu temple. When the Hindu temple situated near the Begovaya metro station (in the centre of Moscow) was demolished in 2004, the Moscow government allotted land for construction of a new temple at the Leningradsky Prospekt (north of Moscow). This land was subsequently taken away. In 2006, the Moscow government promised to build a temple in the Molzhaninovo district (10 km from the Moscow ring road) as part of the joint declaration signed by the Moscow and New Delhi governments. A Russian Orthodox Church has since been built in Delhi. On January 14, 2006, Mayor of London Ken Livingstone handed over letters expressing concern about the harassment of Russian Hindus by the Moscow government and the Russian Orthodox Church to the visiting Mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov in London, even as British Parliamentarians led by MP Ashok Kumar Das got ready to host the launch of the Defend Russian Hindus campaign at the House of Commons on 18 January of the same year. Later Shiela Dixit, the Chief Minister of Delhi, prominently raised the issue during her visit to Moscow. Many intellectuals have expressed concerns at the discrimination being committed by Russians given the tolerance to Christians in India. A joint statement was passed by Indian parliament which denounced the persecution of Russian Hindus.

"Our temple is the only place to fulfil not only the religious, but also the cultural and social needs of Indians, Sri Lankans, Bangladeshis, Mauritians and Nepalese", Priya Das, an ISKCON representative said. "This also helps their children to keep in touch with their culture and religion."

See also

• Bhagavad Gita trial in Russia
• Hindu Council of Russia
• Hinduism by country

External links

• International Society for Krishna Consciousness in Russia
• Brahma Kumaris in Russia
• Ananda Marga in Russia
• Collection of Mysteries Monastery - Slavic Vedism