Hindu Diasporas in Europe

Abstract

The chapter analyses the diversity of religious traditions of the Hindu diasporas in Europe. It identifies the Hindu presence in Europe and describes some of the diversity of these Hindu diasporas and gives an overview of the research literature on Hinduism in Europe. The chapter thereafter divides the encounter of Europe with Indian Hinduism historically into four periods and argues that of any of the continents other than Asia, Europe has the most complex relationship with India and Hinduism. The chapter analyses the history of Hindu migration and the institutionalization of Hinduism in Europe and, finally, suggests Hindu diversity, importance of the temples, sacralization of sites, and the dominance in many countries of Īḻam Tamil Hindus as four characteristics of Hinduism in Europe.