Arunthathiyar in India

The Arunthathiyar have only been reported in India
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The Arundhatiyar are also called the Madiga and include the Madiga, Madari and Pagadai communities. Their name is derived from the mythical woman Arundhaty.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Their traditional occupation is making leather goods. The villagers compensate them for their services by giving them a fixed quantity of grain. They are also engaged in rearing pigs, goats and sheep, or working in industries, construction and other kinds of manual work. Some of the Arundhatiyar are artists, painters, craftsmen, and engaged in leather and embroidery work, while others are teachers, businessmen and in the defense industry. Today their occupations are much more varied and include jobs in many areas. Arundhatiyar women participate in economic activities and also contribute to the family income.
They permit marriages between cross-cousins and uncle and niece. Their marriage rituals are performed at the bridegroom's place. The elders of the community officiate at the social functions.
The majority of the Arundhatiyar are treated as having low status. They have separate wells and burial grounds.
In spite of the implementation of various developmental programs for education, they have not made much progress and have a literacy rate of only 15 percent. They are known to adorn their bodies with tattoo designs. Both men and women consume local made alcohol.


What Are Their Beliefs?

They worship their community deity Matamma. The Arundhatiyar people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians or Jews. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins.
Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring / Diwali, the festival of lights / Navratri, the celebration of autumn / and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

The Arundhatiyar people need to accept the warm embrace of the only savior so they can enjoy spiritually meaningful lives.


Prayer Points

Pray for the authority of Christ to bind hindering spiritual forces to lead them from darkness to light.
Pray for signs and wonders among them and for great breakthroughs with a rapid multiplication of disciples and house churches.
Pray for bold workers who are driven by the love of the Holy Spirit to go to them.
Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.


Scripture Prayers for the Arunthathiyar in India.


References

India Missions Association - Edited by Philipose Vaidyar, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Arunthathiyar
People Name in Country Arunthathiyar
Pronunciation aroon-DAH-dee-yur
Alternate Names Arundathi; Arundhatiya; Arundhatiyar; Arundhatiyulu; Arundthatiyar; Chakkiliyan; Madiga; अरूणततियार
Population this Country 1,213,000
Population all Countries 1,213,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 24
People ID 16242
ROP3 Code 111364
ROP25 Code 300512
ROP25 Name Aruntatyar
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 8
Largest States
Tamil Nadu
1,163,000
Andhra Pradesh
36,000
Puducherry
7,600
Kerala
3,300
Karnataka
2,800
Delhi
300
Telangana
100
Goa
20
Districts Interactive map, listing and data download
Specialized Website South Asia Peoples
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 8
  Tamil Nadu 1,163,000
  Andhra Pradesh 36,000
  Puducherry 7,600
  Kerala 3,300
  Karnataka 2,800
  Delhi 300
  Telangana 100
  Goa 20
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.01 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.98 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Tamil (796,000 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
Telugu
224,000
Malayalam
1,400
Kannada
900
Konkani, Goan
20
Primary Language Tamil (796,000 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
  Telugu 224,000
  Malayalam 1,400
  Kannada 900
  Konkani, Goan 20
People Groups Speaking Tamil

Primary Language:  Tamil

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1714-1956)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1715-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1727-2021)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings General Ministry Resources General / Other
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Tamil Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Comprehensive list of Tamil Resources General / Other
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
Photo Source Palaniswamy Ramaswamy 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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