Hinduism in Sweden

Out of a population of 8.9 million, persons of Indian origin and non-resident Indians together number 11,000 or 0.12%. A majority of them are Punjabis, Bengalis, Gujaratis, Telugu's, Tamilians and Kannadigas.[1]

Timeline of Arrival of Indians in Sweden

Some Indian students who went to Sweden in the 1950s settled down there. Another stream of Indians came from Uganda in the 1970s. Some Indians sought and obtained political asylum after 1984. The Indian community is culturally very active. Different associations hold cultural functions and observe national days.[2]

Hindus in Sweden

IRF 2005 reports that there are between 7,000 and 10,000 Hindus.

Of the 10,000 Hindus, 2,000 are of Tamil Origin [3] and 1,500 are of Bengali Origin.

Hindu Organisations in Sweden

International Society for Krishna Consciousness in Sweden

International Society for Krishna Consciousness, the Krishna movement or Hare Krishna has its roots in the Hindu religion but perhaps does not see itself as a part of it even if most Hindus accept the Krishna movement as a part of the Hinduism.

The Krishna movement in Sweden functions from few places in Sweden.

Korsnäs gård, main building 2014.
  • Korsnäs Gård, in Botkyrka municipal in the Stockholm county , is an establishment on the countryside with a Hare Krishna temple. Korsnäs has as its main function to work with the publishing company BBT (Bhaktivedanta Book Trust) who translates the Hare Krishna books to various languages for the entire world. The original books in English was translated by Srila Prabhupada who started the movement. Srila Prabhupada visited Sweden in 1973.
  • The Hare Krishna center in Stockholm runs a restaurant, a shop and a small temple.
  • The Almviks gård in the south of Stockholm County is also a country side establishment with a temple. Originally this was an agricultural cooperative but has later changed into a village project combining agriculture with families living there but working elsewhere.

Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha has been in Sweden since mid 1970's. Its primary training center is in Ydrefors,close to Kisa and Vimmerby. It also has been running an organic bakery called Sattva in Stockholm for over past two decades.Ananda Marga has been declared as a Shaivaita branch of Hindu religion by the Supreme Court of India. Ananda Marga prefers to call it as a universal religion based on universal spiritual practices like yoga and meditation. Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiiji was the founder of Ananda Marga and lived from 1922-1990. He visited Stockholm in 1979. The religious teachers of Ananda Marga are called Acharyas and Avadhutas and addressed as Dadas (male teachers) and Didis (female teachers). The weekly service is called Dharma Cakra and is held in Stockholm at 27 Krukmakargatan, Mariatorget,Stockholm. A three hours akhanda Kiirtan is held once a month. Ananda Margiis (members of Ananda Marga) are strict vegetarians and do not eat onion,garlic and mushrooms also. Some margiis chose to be vegan. Ananda Marga recognises Shiva and Krishna as two god men who came on this earth as realized Masters. Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiiji falls in the same category.

Notes

  1. ↑ Indian diaspora
  2. ↑ ibid
  3. ↑ Tamilnation.org
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