Hinduism in Poland

Hinduism in Poland is a minority religion. Hinduism has spread to Poland through ISKCON missionaries since 1976. First groups of Polish devotees were established in Warszawa and Wrocław. The first Polish Hindu temple was established in 1980 in Czarnów, Lower Silesian Voivodeship (New Shantipur Temple in Czarnów). Main ISKCON temple is New Ramana Reti Temple in Mysiadło (est. in 1989).[1]

The "Om" symbol in Devanagari
Ratha-Yatra in Wrocław, Poland.

The Communist regime in Poland promoted an antireligious campaign. After the breakdown of this regime in 1989, missionaries from other Hindu religious denominations have arrived and met with very limited success.[2]

Hindu organisations in Poland
Hindu festival in Poland.

There are around thirteen Hindu religious movements in Poland.[3] Some of the important organisations are ISKCON, Chaitanya Mission, Satya Sai Baba movement (though it is partially Hindu), Brahma kumaris, Sivananda Yoga, Radha Govind Society of Poland, and Sahaja Yoga.

The Bhakti Marga Foundation led by Swami Vishwananda established its first Polish temple in Warszawa in 2009.[4]

ISKCON in Poland

There are 915 (official sources) ISKCON followers in Poland. There are 3 main temples in Czarnów, Warszawa, and Wrocław.[1] Additionally ISKCON has its centres in almost all important cities.

ISKCON centres/temples in Poland
Further information: List of Hindu temples in Poland
Czarnow temple

New Shantipur Mandir in Czarnków, Poland

Indians in Poland

The Indian community in Poland is relatively small and is estimated at around 20,000 persons. The large majority are NRIs and there not more than 100 PIOs.[5]

Demographics

According to the 2011 Census, there are 866 Hindus in Poland. Among them 341 belongs to the Hindu Bhavan Religious Association,285 belongs to ISKCON, and the remaining belongs to Chaitanya mission, Radha Govind Society of Poland.[6]

According to census data in 2017 provided by Główny Urząd Statystyczny, Poland's Central Statistical Office, ISKCON had 2388 followers, 333 clergy and 24 centres.[7]

Yoga in Poland

Yoga is gaining popularity in Poland.

International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres in Poland

Yoga in daily Life Centre in Poland

  • Centrum Jogi Joga w Zyciu Codziennym, Warszawa.

Recently, Yoga Master Anil Machado from Sieradz had received special honor from the Prime Minister of India Shri. Narendra Modi, for spreading the teachings of Yoga and also presenting Yoga in over 500 schools throughout Poland.

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gollark: It's clearly my alt, don't be ridiculous.
gollark: That would be neat.
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See also

References
  1. Polish ISKCON history (in Polish), accessed 2010.8.4
  2. Dominican Information Centre about New Religious Movements and Sects (in Polish), accessed 2010.09.12
  3. "Adherents.com: By Location". www.adherents.com.
  4. "Bhakti Marga Polska".
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2003-10-31. Retrieved 2008-10-10.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Embassy of India in Poland
  6. "Statistics Poland / National Census / National Census of Population and Housing 2011". stat.gov.pl. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  7. http://stat.gov.pl/download/gfx/portalinformacyjny/pl/defaultaktualnosci/5515/1/19/1/maly_rocznik_statystyczny_polski_2018.pdf
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