Bairagi (Hindu traditions) 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

During the British period the Bairagi were known as priests, rulers and landowners. As Brahmins, the Bairagi are the highest caste in the Hindu system. Many Bairagi men serve are priests and teachers of Hinduism to the lower castes.

The first language of the Bairagi is Hindi. As an educated people, they also speak English and the local languages where they live.

Many resources are available in Hindi including a complete Bible, the JESUS Film and radio programs. There are few if any known Bairagi believers.

The Bairagi people live throughout India. Smaller groups live in Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Brahmins are the keepers of Hinduism. When one of the three lower castes has a wedding, funeral, or birth, they hire the services of a Brahmin priest to officiate the ceremonies. The Bairagi own land which is frequently worked by lower castes.

Parents strongly encourage their sons to attend university while their daughters might only have a primary or secondary education. Many Bairgai women stay home, rear children and take care of domestic concerns.

Marriage to one person is the norm. Families and young people choose their spouses. Bairagi marry within their group or with other Brahmins. Besides working as priests, Bairagi work in the professions, in government and in finance. Many prominent gurus, religious leaders and politicians in Indian history have been Bairagi.

A mark (tilak) on the forehead and ear are identification marks of the Brahmin Bairagi.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Bairagi 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. A proper Bairagi is one whose principal deity is either the preserver god Vishnu or any of his incarnations, like Rama and Krishna. They worship Gouranga as their family deity.

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 as Christians do. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among Brahmins like the Bairagi.

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 spiritual pride of the Brahmins can often keep them from coming to Christ. To follow Christ is to risk disturbing family harmony within this Hindu community. Much sustained, focused prayer is needed to prepare the hearts of the Bairagi community to understand and receive the good news of Jesus of Nazareth.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to send Holy Spirit anointed workers to the Bairagi.

Ask the Lord to create a spiritual hunger among the Bairagi and that they might read the Hindi Bible and tune in to radio programs.

Pray that the Lord raises up a growing church among the Bairagi in this decade.

Pray for the Hindu Bairagi community to make schooling for both boys and girls a priority.


Scripture Prayers for the Bairagi (Hindu traditions) in India.


References

https://en.bharatpedia.org/wiki/Bairagi_(caste)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bairagi_Brahmin_(caste)


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bairagi (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Bairagi (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation bay-RAH-ghee
Alternate Names Atit; Babaji; Bairagi; Bairagi Bawa; Bairagi Bostom; Baishnab; Bava; Bavaji; Bhat Brahman; Bhat Brahmin; Boishnavo; Boslom; Bostom; Byragi; Pantaram; Rajpur; Rajput; Ramat; Sadh; Sadhayo; Sadhu; Sanyasi; Shammu; Siddh; Thakur; Udasi; Vairagi; Vairava; Veetasaiva; Vidhi; Vira Saivar; Virasaiva Lingayat; Virasaivar; Vitasaiva; Yogiswaram; बैरागी (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 4,263,000
Population all Countries 4,768,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 85
People ID 16297
ROP3 Code 111424
ROP25 Code 301313
ROP25 Name Bairagi
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 28
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
West Bengal
1,513,000
Rajasthan
642,000
Gujarat
462,000
Bihar
278,000
Madhya Pradesh
275,000
Uttar Pradesh
209,000
Maharashtra
193,000
Odisha
157,000
Chhattisgarh
155,000
Punjab
140,000
Kerala
75,000
Jharkhand
65,000
Tamil Nadu
38,000
Jammu and Kashmir
11,000
Haryana
9,100
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 28  (only 20 largest shown)
  West Bengal 1,513,000
  Rajasthan 642,000
  Gujarat 462,000
  Bihar 278,000
  Madhya Pradesh 275,000
  Uttar Pradesh 209,000
  Maharashtra 193,000
  Odisha 157,000
  Chhattisgarh 155,000
  Punjab 140,000
  Kerala 75,000
  Jharkhand 65,000
  Tamil Nadu 38,000
  Jammu and Kashmir 11,000
  Haryana 9,100
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.02 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.98 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Bengali (1,215,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 49
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Hindi
1,068,000
Gujarati
342,000
Bhojpuri
134,000
Marwari
117,000
Odia
115,000
Chhattisgarhi
82,000
Punjabi, Eastern
72,000
Marathi
69,000
Dhundari
59,000
Malayalam
54,000
Mewari
53,000
Shekhawati
31,000
Telugu
24,000
Tamil
20,000
Bagri
18,000
Primary Language Bengali (1,215,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 49
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Hindi 1,068,000
  Gujarati 342,000
  Bhojpuri 134,000
  Marwari 117,000
  Odia 115,000
  Chhattisgarhi 82,000
  Punjabi, Eastern 72,000
  Marathi 69,000
  Dhundari 59,000
  Malayalam 54,000
  Mewari 53,000
  Shekhawati 31,000
  Telugu 24,000
  Tamil 20,000
  Bagri 18,000
People Groups Speaking Bengali

Primary Language:  Bengali

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1800-1980)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1801-1984)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1809-2022)
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 Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Bengali 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 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
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 Anonymous 
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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