The Kuravans or Kuruvars is the name given to the indigenous peoples who live in the hills and forests of South India and Sri Lanka. Until modern times they were hunter-gathers who also practiced "shifting agriculture." In this type of farming an area of ground is cleared of vegetation and cultivated for a few years and then abandoned for a new area until its fertility has been naturally restored. The name Kuravan may come from the Tamil words meaning fortune telling woman, and their women are still noted for telling fortunes.
Kuruvan women tell fortunes and use herbs to cure ailments. The Kuruvan are known for their ability to reveal the future by reading palms and for their knowledge of herbal medicine. They make household items out of bamboos and palm leaves and sell them to obtain cash. They raise pigs, goats, and chickens for their consumption and to sell. The Kuruvan like to tattoo their bodies and drink toddy, a palm sap wine. They Kuruvan marry within their own community. Families arrange marriages with the consent of the young couple. Village priests and elders officiate at important family functions such as births, weddings and funerals. They bury their dead. Today they speak Tamil or Malayalam, and their own language is dying. Many Kuruvan are unable to read and write so the gospel must be shared with them in oral and visual forms. Though they are officially Hindu, they have a very low position because of their tribal background.
The Kuruvan people claim to be Hindus but a better description of them would be those who practice folk religion. The Kuruvan believe that spirits inhabit the objects of nature. Theses spirits must be appeased by offerings and prayers or they may bring disaster upon the Kuruvan people. They especially worship and serve the spirits of their ancestors.
As a poor, indigenous people, the Kuruvan have many needs. They need to learn how to read and write. Their children need good schools. Solar panels can bring electricity to their villages. Most of all they must hear the good news of Jesus Christ. He alone can free them of their fear of ancestral spirits and can forgive their sins.
* Scripture Prayers for the Kuravan (Hindu traditions) in Sri Lanka.
* Pray that God will send believers to make friends and share the gospel with the Kuruvan. * Pray that the small church among the Kuruvan would grow and be established in the faith. * Pray for a disciple making movement among Kuruvan that will help them to grow spiritually, socially and economically.
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
Global Prayer Digest: 2010-09-07 |
People Name General | Kuravan (Hindu traditions) |
People Name in Country | Kuravan (Hindu traditions) |
Population this Country | 4,000 |
Population all Countries | 429,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
Alternate Names | Adekar Kala Koran; Kulavan; Kuruva; Kuruvan; Malai Kuravan; Manga Nadisuvavaru; Sidhanar; Sidhnar; Vedar; Veduvar; कुरवाँ |
People ID | 17341 |
ROP3 Code | 112724 |
Country | Sri Lanka | ||||||
Region | Asia, South | ||||||
Continent | Asia | ||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||||||
National Bible Society | Website | ||||||
Persecution Rank | 30 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||||||
Total States on file | 5 | ||||||
Largest States |
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Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | Sri Lanka |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 30 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 5 |
Central 2,200 | |
Uva 1,000 | |
Sabaragamuwa 400 | |
Western 300 | |
Southern 50 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Language | Tamil (4,000 speakers) |
Language Code | tam Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Tamil (4,000 speakers) |
Language Code | tam Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
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 (1727-2016) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching (GRN) |
Audio Recordings | Father's Love Letter |
Audio Recordings | General Ministry Resources |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament (FCBH) |
Audio Recordings | Online Scripture (Talking Bibles) |
Audio Recordings | Oral Bible |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | Finding Peace |
Film / Video | Following Jesus (India, JF Project) |
Film / Video | God's Story Video |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Tamil |
Film / Video | Magdalena (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | My Last Day (Jesus Film Project Anime) |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children (JF Project) |
Film / Video | The Prophets' Story |
General | Bible Visuals |
General | Comprehensive list of Tamil Resources |
General | God's Simple Plan |
General | Gospel website in this language |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
100.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest Sri Lanka census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |