Hinduism in Azerbaijan
Encyclopedia
Hinduism in Azerbaijan has been tied to cultural diffusion
on the Silk Road
. One of the remnants of once dominant Hindu and Buddhist culture in Caucasus is Surakhani, the site of Atashgah
.
, Hindu
traders visited present-day Azerbaijan
for Silk Road
trade. The area was traversed by Hindu
traders coming mostly from Multan
and Sindh
(Pakistan
). The Atashgah
(in Surakhani) was used by those traders to worship while in the area. Most of the traders left around the advent of the British Raj
. The ceremonies were officiated by a Punjabi
pandit. According to historical sources, the local people also worshipped at Atashgah
because of the "seven holes with burning flame". And thus the name "Surakhani" - holes with burning fountains.
In the 1880s the Czar of Russia
, Alexander III
went to Azerbaijan
to witness one of the last Hindu
ceremonies performed there. After the 1890s nearly all of the original Hindu merchants in Azerbaijan had died or left for South Asia
.
A few Indians are former students now engaged in trading, running catering and restaurant business. Indian Association Azerbaijan is a unique forum for all Indian citizens, people of Indian origin and all other communities, cultures and civilisations across the world residing in Azerbaijan to come together. Mr. Sobi T. Abraham is the President of the Indian Association Azerbaijan. The First Indo-Azeri festival was organised under the chairmanship of Mr. Sobi T. Abraham and the event was organised at the boulevard on 10 July 2004.
Recently, about 36 Indian students have enrolled at the Faculty of Medicine at the Khazar University, a private University
), also known as the Hare Krishnas, are registered in Baku.
Members of the Hare Krishna community have a registered a private room for a temple in Baku but nowhere else in Azerbaijan.
In October 2002, authorities returned 20,000 of the 35,000 books seized in 1996 from the Baku Society of Krishna Consciousness
Cultural diffusion
In cultural anthropology and cultural geography, cultural diffusion, as first conceptualized by Alfred L. Kroeber in his influential 1940 paper Stimulus Diffusion, or trans-cultural diffusion in later reformulations, is the spread of cultural items—such as ideas, styles, religions, technologies,...
on the Silk Road
Silk Road
The Silk Road or Silk Route refers to a historical network of interlinking trade routes across the Afro-Eurasian landmass that connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North and East Africa...
. One of the remnants of once dominant Hindu and Buddhist culture in Caucasus is Surakhani, the site of Atashgah
Atashgah
Atashgah may refer to:*Atashgah, Ardabil, a village in Iran*Atashgah of Isfahan, a tower-like construction located in Iran*Atashgah of Baku, also known as Fire Temple of Baku, is a museum now in Baku Azerbaijan...
.
During the Middle Ages
In the Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
traders visited present-day Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
for Silk Road
Silk Road
The Silk Road or Silk Route refers to a historical network of interlinking trade routes across the Afro-Eurasian landmass that connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North and East Africa...
trade. The area was traversed by Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
traders coming mostly from Multan
Multan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
and Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
(Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
). The Atashgah
Atashgah
Atashgah may refer to:*Atashgah, Ardabil, a village in Iran*Atashgah of Isfahan, a tower-like construction located in Iran*Atashgah of Baku, also known as Fire Temple of Baku, is a museum now in Baku Azerbaijan...
(in Surakhani) was used by those traders to worship while in the area. Most of the traders left around the advent of the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
. The ceremonies were officiated by a Punjabi
Punjabi people
The Punjabi people , ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ), also Panjabi people, are an Indo-Aryan group from South Asia. They are the second largest of the many ethnic groups in South Asia. They originate in the Punjab region, which has been been the location of some of the oldest civilizations in the world including, the...
pandit. According to historical sources, the local people also worshipped at Atashgah
Atashgah
Atashgah may refer to:*Atashgah, Ardabil, a village in Iran*Atashgah of Isfahan, a tower-like construction located in Iran*Atashgah of Baku, also known as Fire Temple of Baku, is a museum now in Baku Azerbaijan...
because of the "seven holes with burning flame". And thus the name "Surakhani" - holes with burning fountains.
In the 1880s the Czar of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Alexander III
Alexander III of Russia
Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov , historically remembered as Alexander III or Alexander the Peacemaker reigned as Emperor of Russia from until his death on .-Disposition:...
went to Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
to witness one of the last Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
ceremonies performed there. After the 1890s nearly all of the original Hindu merchants in Azerbaijan had died or left for South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
.
In Modern Azerbaijan
The Azerbaijan Daily Digest states that very few Azeri people have become Hare Krishna and they are mostly represented by members of ISKCON.Hindu Community in Azerbaijan
There are over 500-600 Indians in Azerbaijan, and since 80% of India is Hindu, it is likely that at least some of the Indian residents are Hindus.A few Indians are former students now engaged in trading, running catering and restaurant business. Indian Association Azerbaijan is a unique forum for all Indian citizens, people of Indian origin and all other communities, cultures and civilisations across the world residing in Azerbaijan to come together. Mr. Sobi T. Abraham is the President of the Indian Association Azerbaijan. The First Indo-Azeri festival was organised under the chairmanship of Mr. Sobi T. Abraham and the event was organised at the boulevard on 10 July 2004.
Recently, about 36 Indian students have enrolled at the Faculty of Medicine at the Khazar University, a private University
ISKON in Azerbaijan
Members of ISKON (International Society for Krishna ConsciousnessInternational Society for Krishna Consciousness
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness , known colloquially as the Hare Krishna movement, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava religious organization. It was founded in 1966 in New York City by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada...
), also known as the Hare Krishnas, are registered in Baku.
Members of the Hare Krishna community have a registered a private room for a temple in Baku but nowhere else in Azerbaijan.
In October 2002, authorities returned 20,000 of the 35,000 books seized in 1996 from the Baku Society of Krishna Consciousness
External links
- ISKCON in Azerbaijan
- AZERBAIJAN: Destruction for Krishna books as religion chief denies censorship
- AZERBAIJAN: Selective obstruction of foreign religious workers
- Krishna stopped from preaching outside Baku
- List of Registered Religions in Azerbaijan
- Rare Hindu temple in Muslim Azerbaijan
- In search for an ancient Hindu temple in Azerbaijan