Hinduism in Greece
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hinduism has a small following in Greece.
On March 1, 2006, the Government passed a law allowing cremation as reported inInternational Religious Freedom Report 2006, Greece
This law was welcomed by the Indian community in Athens.
Contents |
[edit] Indians in Greece
There is a considerable Hindu and Sikh Community in Athens.
There are 25 PIOs and 12,000 NRIs in Greece [1]
Indians comprise 0.05% of the Greek population of 10 million. Till the 1970s, one route of entry was for Indian seamen jumping ship to slip into the country illegally. Following the deteriorating conditions in Lebanon, more than 2,000 Indians living there left for Greece and stayed on quietly after the expiry of their visas. On January 1, 1998, the Greek government granted a general amnesty to all illegal immigrants, thus legalizing the status of Indian immigrants also.
Most Indians hold low to middle-level positions in shipping companies, banks and other companies. Some of them have their own businesses. Illegal Indian immigrants are working in agriculture, industry and shops or as domestic help.
As permission of the Greek government is required for setting up any place of worship by foreigners, there are only make-shift gurudwaras in a few areas. Indians in Greece have no role in the country’s politics [2]
[edit] Indian Organisations in Greece
Greek Indian Cultural and Welfare Association and
Indo-Greek Business Foundation [3]
[edit] Hindu Organisations in Greece
ISKCON, Satyananda Yoga, Sahaja Yoga, Brahma Kumari and Sathya Sai Baba organizations exists in Greece.
[edit] Satyananda Yoga in Greece
Yoga is gaining popularity in Greece especially Satyananda Yoga and Sahaja Yoga.
Satyananda Yoga was founded by Swami Satyananda. Swami Satyananda assigned Swami Sivamurti to carry the message of yoga to Greece.
Through his inspiration and guidance, in 1978 Swami Sivamurti instituted Satyanandashram Hellas (beginning at Kalamata and then expanding to Athens, Thessaloniki and other parts of the Greek mainland and islands).
The present Ashram of Satyanandashram Hellas was established in 1984 outside the town of Paiania and inaugurated by Swami Satyananda the following year.
[edit] ISKCON in Greece
ISKCON or Hare Krishnas has few devotees in Greece.
In Greece, new members of the Krishna consciousness movement have been regularly subjected to overwhelming harassment by family, press, and government, making it almost impossible for them to practice Krishna consciousness in Greece.
ISKCON established Rupanuga Vedic College in Athens, Greece.
Address of Rupanuga Vedic College- 20 Pinthu St. Nea Filadelfia, Athens, Greece 14342
ISKCON's Athens Preaching Center is located in Pinthou 20, N. Filadelfia.
[edit] Brahma Kumaris in Greece
Brahma Kumaris have 6 Centres in Greece. They are
Centre1- 12A Thasou Str. - Amerikis square, 112 57 Kipseli, Athens
Centre2- Thanou Siokou Road, No. 16,Aghia Paraskevi , Athens 15341
Centre3- Tatoiou St. 56, 14561 Kifissia, Athens
Centre4- Al. Pachnou 11, Chios 82100
Centre5- Andreopoulou 37, Thessaloniki 54643
Centre6- Klemanso 86, Xanthi
