https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Hinduism_in_RussiaHinduism in Russia - Revision history2026-07-31T17:49:51ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Hinduism_in_Russia&diff=120846&oldid=prev82.30.61.80 at 12:58, 3 May 20212021-05-03T12:58:59Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Hinduism by country}}<br />
[[File:A Russian Hindu girl.jpg|thumb|A Russian Hindu girl.]]<br />
[[File:Ratha Yatra Moscow 2008.jpg|thumb|[[ISKCON]] Moscow Ratha Yatra]] '''Hinduism''' has been spread in [[Russia]] primarily due to the work of scholars from the religious organization [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness]] (ISKCON) and by itinerant [[Swami]]s from [[India]] and small communities of Indian immigrants. While ISKCON appear to have a relatively strong following in Russia, the other organizations in the list have a marginal presence in this country. There is an active [[:ru:Тантра-сангха|Tantra Sangha]] operating in Russia. According to the 2012 official census, there are 140,000 Hindus in Russia, which accounts for 0.1% population of Russia.<ref name="Are naAtlas">[http://sreda.org/en/arena Arena - Atlas of Religions and Nationalities in Russia]. Sreda.org</ref><br />
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==History==<br />
[[File:Hinduism-hram-russia-historical.jpg|thumb|right|Early 19th century engraving depicting Hindu temple in [[Astrakhan]], [[Russia]].]]<br />
[[File:"Free Soviet Hare Krishnas" list of prisoners.jpg|thumb|The Human rights publication list to free Hare Krishnas in Soviet]]<br />
The history of Hinduism in Russia dates back to at least the 16th century. When Astrakhan was conquested in 1556, the small Indian community became part of the Moscow state. In the early 18th century, [[Peter the Great]], the first Russian Emperor, met Astrakhan Hindus and on their request asked the Russian Senate to issue a law for protecting the beliefs of Hindus. This was the first law in Russia to protect foreign religion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hinduism in Europe|url=https://www.erg.su.se/polopoly_fs/1.329209.1492613166!/menu/standard/file/Hinduism%2520in%2520Europe_Abstracts.pdf&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwicjfH9psznAhUlxzgGHYlMBgwQFjAMegQIBBAB&usg=AOvVaw3_PmNyQvfzE2EXVWJNx53c|format=PDF|access-date=12 February 2020}}</ref><br />
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In 1971 [[A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada]], the founder of the [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness]] (ISKCON), introduced it to Russia. In 1988, [[ISKCON]] was first registered as a religion. Later, it was re-registered in 1998. In the same year, there were 120 Krishna communities in Russia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Russia: Treatment of Hare Krishna adherents|url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4e1015.html|publisher=Immigration and refugee board of Canada|access-date=12 February 2020}}</ref><br />
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In 2007, the ancient idol of [[Vishnu]] was excavated in the [[Volga]] region which fueled the interest for Hinduism in Russia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-01-04/rest-of-world/27876299_1_ancient-coins-ancient-village-ancient-town|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811111941/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-01-04/rest-of-world/27876299_1_ancient-coins-ancient-village-ancient-town|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 August 2011|title=Ancient Vishnu idol found in Russian town|date=4 January 2007|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=12 February 2020}}</ref><br />
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==Hindu denominations in Russia==<br />
[[File:Rath Yatra russia winter.jpg|thumb|Russian Hindus celebrating [[Rath Yatra]].]]<br />
[[File:ISKCON Temple in Yessentuki.jpg|thumb|ISKCON Temple in Yessentuki]]<br />
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===[[Vaishnavism]]===<br />
As of December 2005, the Federal Registration Service recorded 79 Hindu groups with a particular orientation on [[Krishnaism]].<ref name="rdr">{{cite web |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71403.htm|title=Russia, International Religious Freedom Report 2006|publisher=US Gov|access-date=2008-11-01}}</ref> These are the [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness]], [[ISKCON Revival Movement]], [[Science of Identity Foundation]], {{ill|Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math|ru|Шри Чайтанья Сарасват Матх}}, {{ill|Sri Chaitanya Gaudiya Math|ru|Шри Чайтанья Гаудия Матх}}, {{ill|Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mission|ru|Шри Кришна-Чайтанья миссия}}, {{ill|Sri Gopinatha Gaudiya Math|ru|Шри Гопинатх Гаудия Матх}}, {{ill|International Pure Bhakti Yoga Society|ru|Международное общество чистой бхакти-йоги}}, among others.<br />
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===[[Shaivism]]===<br />
The followers of [[Shaivism]] in Russia are the [[Nath]]s, [[Lingayatism|Lingayats]] ([[Veerashaiva]]), and {{ill|Tantra Sangha|ru|Тантра-сангха}}.<ref name="TheReferenceBook">{{cite web|url=http://russiafaiths.blogspot.com/p/hinduism.html|author=Dr. Igor Popov|title=The Reference Book on All Religious Branches and Communities in Russia (Online). ''Chapter 2.1 Hinduism''|access-date=22 July 2018|df=dmy-all|language=ru}}</ref><br />
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===[[Hindu reform movements]]===<br />
[[Hindu reform movements]] which have presence in Russia are the [[Brahma Kumaris]], [[Ramakrishna Mission]], [[Arya Samaj]], [[Sri Aurobindo Ashram]], [[International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres]], [[Ananda Marga]], [[Kriyananda|Ananda Sangha]], [[Self-Realization Fellowship]], [[Sri Ramana Ashram]], [[Sahaja Yoga]], [[Sri Chinmoy]] Centre, [[Sanatan Sanstha]], [[Sathya Sai Baba movement]], [[Science of Identity Foundation]], [[Shri Prakash Dham]], the organizations associated with [[Maharishi Mahesh Yogi]] and [[Haidakhan Babaji]] ({{ill|Haidakhandi Samaj|ru|Хайдакханди Самадж}}), and others. Brahma Kumaris have 20 centres, Ramakrishna Mission has one centre, Ananda Marga has a centre in [[Barnaul]], Tantra Sangha has one registered branch in Moscow and another in [[Nizhniy Novgorod]] was officially recognized in 1993.<ref name="rdr"/>{{sfn|Knorre|2005}}<ref name="TheReferenceBook" /><br />
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===Slavic Vedism===<br />
{{main|Peterburgian Vedism}}<br />
Slavic, Russian or Peterburgian Vedism, Neo-Vedism or simply Vedism<ref>Michael F. Strmiska. ''[[Modern Paganism in World Cultures]]''. ABC-Clio, 2005. '''p. 222''': «In addition to Ukrainian Paganism, Russian and Pan-Slavic varieties of Paganism and "Slavic Vedism" can also be found in Ukraine».</ref><ref name="religionip.ru">Portal "Religion and Law". [http://religionip.ru/news/monastyr-sobranie-tayn-ili-divya-loka-vtoroe-prishestvie-induizma-v-rossii Монастырь «Собрание тайн» или «Дивья лока»: второе пришествие индуизма в России?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602224155/http://religionip.ru/news/monastyr-sobranie-tayn-ili-divya-loka-vtoroe-prishestvie-induizma-v-rossii |date=2013-06-02 }}. 2013-04-30</ref> are terms used to describe the contemporary indigenous development of [[Vedism|Vedic]] forms of religion in [[Russia]], [[Siberia]], other [[Slavic countries]], the [[Commonwealth of Independent States]]' members and generally all the [[post-Soviet states]].<br />
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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 [[Hinduism in India|Indian Hinduism]], although [[Krishnaism|Krishnaite]] groups often identify themselves as "Vedic" too.<br />
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Also some syncretic groups within the [[Slavic Native Faith]] ("Rodnovery") such as [[Peterburgian Vedism]] use the term "Vedism"<ref>Robert A. Saunders, Vlad Strukov. ''Historical Dictionary of the Russian Federation''. The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, 2010. '''p. 412'''</ref><ref name="Aitamurto2007">Kaarina Aitamurto. ''[http://www.cesnur.org/2007/bord_aitamurto.htm Russian Rodnoverie: Negotiating Individual Traditionalism]''. Aleksanteri Institute, University of Helsinki, 2007.</ref> and worship Vedic gods, but mainstream Rodnovery is characterised by its use of indigenous Slavic rituals and Slavic names for the gods.<br />
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==Demography==<br />
[[File:Hinduism in Russia (Arena Atlas 2012).png|thumb|Hinduism in Russia]]<br />
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According to the 2012 official census, Hinduism is practised by 140,000 people, or 0.1% of the total population. It constitutes 2% of the population in the [[Altai Republic]], 0.5% in [[Samara Oblast]], 0.4% in [[Khakassia]], [[Kalmykia]], [[Bryansk Oblast]], [[Kamchatka Krai|Kamchatka]], [[Kurgan Oblast]], [[Tyumen Oblast]] and [[Chelyabinsk Oblast]], 0.3% in [[Sverdlovsk Oblast]], 0.2% to 0.3% in [[Yamalia]], [[Krasnodar Krai]], [[Stavropol Krai]], [[Rostov Oblast]] and [[Sakhalin Oblast]], and 0.1% to 0.2% in other federal subjects.<ref name="ArenaAtlas2012">{{cite web|title=Арена: Атлас религий и национальностей|trans-title=Arena: Atlas of Religions and Nationalities|year=2012|publisher=Среда (Sreda)|url=https://docviewer.yandex.com/view/0/?*=rvAv5PGTc%2Fw%2BBFV6QOUZtaf5gYF7InVybCI6InlhLWRpc2stcHVibGljOi8vMWV1aDl5RDFpcnZKeVZNNSswWWFaZktqRFhoOXZDNWhldUlGTU5uQU4zQT0iLCJ0aXRsZSI6IlNyZWRhX2Jsb2tfcHJlc3Nfc20yLnBkZiIsInVpZCI6IjAiLCJub2lmcmFtZSI6ZmFsc2UsInRzIjoxNTI0NDg3NTUzMTcwfQ%3D%3D&page=1|format=PDF}} See also the results' '''[http://sreda.org/arena main interactive mapping]''' and the static mappings: {{cite map|title=Religions in Russia by federal subject|journal=Ogonek|volume=34|issue=5243|date=27 August 2012|url=http://c2.kommersant.ru/ISSUES.PHOTO/OGONIOK/2012/034/ogcyhjk2.jpg|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421154615/http://c2.kommersant.ru/ISSUES.PHOTO/OGONIOK/2012/034/ogcyhjk2.jpg|archive-date=21 April 2017}} The Sreda Arena Atlas was realised in cooperation with the [http://sreda.org/arena/maps?mainsection=census All-Russia Population Census 2010 (Всероссийской переписи населения 2010)] and the [http://sreda.org/arena/maps?mainsection=minust Russian Ministry of Justice (Минюста РФ)].</ref><br />
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In 2006, the Russian capital [[Moscow]] has an estimated 10,000 [[ISKCON|Hare Krishna devotees]] and at least 5,000 Indians, Sri Lankans, Nepalese, and Mauritians following Hindu denominations.<ref>{{cite web |title=International Religious Freedom Report 2006 |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2006/71403.htm|publisher=US Gov|access-date=12 February 2020}}</ref><br />
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The number of [[ISKCON]] followers in Russia is disputed. According to the Sanjeet Jha of the Association of Indians of Russia, Russia's Krishna population is estimated to be as high as 250,000, while Filatov of the Institute of Oriental Studies estimates Russia's Krishna population to be 15,000.<ref>{{cite news |title=Persecuted by Soviets, Russia's Hare Krishnas Still Fight for Acceptance (Video) |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2014/07/11/persecuted-by-soviets-russias-hare-krishnas-still-fight-for-acceptance-video-a37234|date=11 July 2014 |newspaper=The Moscow times |agency=TNN |access-date=12 February 2020}}</ref> According to Bhakti Vijnana Goswami, a Russian [[Iskcon]] guru, there were 50,000 active Hare Krishna devotees in Russia in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |title=Facing 'ban Gita' case, Hindus build Krishna temple in Moscow|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/214265/facing-ban-gita-case-hindus.html|date=25 December 2011 |newspaper=Decan Herald |agency=TNN |access-date=12 February 2020}}</ref><br />
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==Prominent Russian Hindus==<br />
*[[Indra Devi]], Russian [[yoga]] teacher<br />
*[[Yekaterina Lisina]], Russian basketball player who competed for the Russian National Team at the 2008 Summer Olympics<br />
*[[Sati Kazanova]], Russian singer<br />
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==See also==<br />
* [[Bhagavad Gita trial in Russia|''Bhagavad Gita'' trial in Russia]]<br />
* [[Hindu Council of Russia]]<br />
* [[Hinduism by country]]<br />
* [[Religion in Russia]]<br />
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==References==<br />
<references/><br />
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==Sources==<br />
* {{cite contribution|year=2005 |chapter=Индуизм |trans-chapter=Hinduism |surname=Knorre |given=Boris |editor-surname1=Bourdeaux |editor-given1=Michael |editor-surname2=Filatov |editor-given2=Sergey |title=Современная религиозная жизнь России. Опыт систематического описания |trans-title=Contemporary religious life of Russia. Systematic description of experiences |place=Moscow |publisher=[[Keston Institute]]; Logos |volume=3 |pages=335–454 |language=ru |isbn=5-98704-044-2}}<br />
* ''Kotin, I. U.'' Индийцы в России=Indians in Russia. — Саарбрюкен: [[OmniScriptum|LAP]], 2011. — 97 p. {{in lang|ru|en}}<br />
* {{cite journal|last=Tkatcheva |first=Anna|title=Neo-Hindu Movements and Orthodox Christianity in Post-Communist Russia|journal=India International Centre Quarterly |volume=21|number=2/3|pages=151–162|date=1994|jstor=23003642}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
* {{official website|anandamarga.ru|Ananda Marga in Russia official website}}<br />
* {{official website|ananda-sangha.ru|Ananda Sangha in Russia official website}}<br />
* {{official website|brahmakumaris.ru|Brahma Kumaris in Russia official website}}<br />
* {{official website|babaji.ru|Haidakhandi Samaj ashram in Omsk official website}}<br />
* {{official|hindu.ru|[[Hindu Council of Russia]] official website}}<br />
* {{official website|purebhakti.ru|International Pure Bhakti Yoga Society in Russia official website}}<br />
* {{official website|yamunastudio.ru|International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in Moscow official website}}<br />
* {{official website|vaishnavism.ru|International Society for Krishna Consciousness in Russia official website}}<br />
* {{official website|saiorg.ru|International Society Satya Sai in Russia official website}}<br />
* {{official website|nathas.org|Naths in Russia official website}}<br />
* {{official website|russia-sahajayoga.ru|Sahaja Yoga in Russia official website}}<br />
* {{official website|shri-prakash-dham.org|Shri Prakash Dham in Russia official website}}<br />
* {{official website|harekrishna.ru|Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Russia official website}}<br />
* {{official website|veerashaiva.ru|Veerashaiva in Russia official website}}<br />
* [http://www.advayta.org/ Collection of Mysteries Monastery] - Slavic Vedism<br />
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{{Asia topic|Hinduism in}}<br />
{{Hinduism in Europe}}<br />
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[[Category:Hinduism in Russia| ]]<br />
[[Category:Hinduism by country|Russia]]<br />
[[Category:Hinduism in Europe|Russia]]</div>82.30.61.80