Germany's Largest Hindu Temple

Germany's Largest Hindu Temple

completed in Berlin

This topic is related to Current Affairs of IAS/PCS Prelims Exam and Mains Exam General Studies Question Paper 1 Indian Art and Culture.

September 11, 2023

In News:

  • According to European news agencies, Germany's largest Hindu temple is going to open in Berlin.

key points:

  • The idol of Lord Ganesha in this temple will be unveiled in the 6-day Kumbhabhishekam consecration ceremony held during Diwali of the year 2023
  • This temple of Lord Shri Ganesh has been built with the tireless hard work and efforts of 70 year old Vilavanathan Krishnamurthy.
  • This temple was built with the money donated by the Indian community living in Berlin.
  • According to the Indian Embassy, there are about 20,000 people from the Indian subcontinent living in the German capital Berlin.

About Hindu Temple:

  • This temple is located between Tempelhof, Kreuzberg and Neukölln in Berlin where people of different religions from different parts of the world live.
  • More than 200 figures of different deities are painted at the entrance of this temple complex.
  • In Berlin, the capital of Germany, this Hindu temple was completed in 20 years.
  • 50 expert temple craftsmen, called Sthapati, are engaged in the construction of this temple, all from the Indian community.
  • The stones used in the construction of this temple are approximately 5,000 years old.
  • The tallest high-rise building currently under construction in Berlin, known locally as the "Amazon Tower", is about three kilometers (1.9 mi) from the temple.

About other popular Hindu Temples in Germany:

  • Shri Ganesh Hindu Temple in Berlin
  • ISCON Temple in Heidelberg
  • Sri Kamadchi Ampal Temple, Hammam
  • Sri Nagapusani Ambal Temple in Frankfurt
  • Sri Hindu Temple in Hamburg
  • Sri Muthumariamman Temple in Hanover
  • Afghan Hindu Mandli Temple in Cologne

About Vilavanathan Krishnamurthy:

  • Vilavanathan Krishnamurthy is of Indian origin who came to Germany 50 years ago.
  • He worked in an electrical company in Berlin.
  • Vilavanathan Krishnamurthy had established an association in the year 2004 to build a Sri-Ganesha Hindu temple.

About Hindu Majority in Germany:

  • Germany is mainly a Christian country. However, there are also followers of Hinduism in Germany. Actually, about 0.1% of the population of Germany follows Hinduism.
  • Hinduism is a minority religion in Germany. There are about 100,000 Hindus in Germany.
  • There are about 40,000 Hindus of Indian origin in Germany. There are about 7500 Hindus of German or European descent, and about 5000 Hindus originally from Afghanistan. The number of Nepali Hindus in Germany is very less.
  • Also, there are Hindus in Germany who follow new religious movements such as the Hare Krishna movement, Bhakti Yoga and Transcendental Meditation. However, their numbers are very small in Germany.
  • It all started in the 1950s when Indian Hindus started migrating to Germany.
  • In the 1970s, Tamil Hindus from Sri Lanka reached Germany as asylum seekers.
  • According to data from REMID, there were approximately 130,000-150,000 Hindus in Germany in 2017.
  • 700 Bali Hindu families also live in Germany.

Significance:

  • These temples show the Indian culture, richness and solidarity of the Indian community in the European country, Germany.
  • Hindu temples in Germany contribute to the religious and cultural diversity of the country.
  • Building temples and organizing festivals in other countries promotes tourism and employment in the country.

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Mains Exam question

The construction of Hindu temples in Germany has enriched the religious and cultural landscape of India. Discuss.