Vanniyan in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Subgroups: 10

Subgroup Name Population
Pallaimar 307,000
Pandamuttu 307,000
Arasa Palli 221,000
Padaiyachi 205,000
Visalakshiamma 93,000
Anjunal 15,000
Pannedunal 15,000
Olai 11,000
Agamudaiyan Unknown
Chekkala Unknown

Introduction / History

The terms Vanniyans and Padayatchi has been used interchangeably because of the same historical origin they claim. In reality, Vanniyars are descendants the medieval Pallava Kings who ruled the South Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Padayatchi and Vanniyan have minor differences as Padayatchi is a class within the Vanniyan castes. Most Vanniyan live in the three adjacent southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, mostly concentrated in the area where these three states intersect. Among the lower castes in the Tamil Nadu, they are the most populous and they are one of the earliest castes to be socially well organized. Today they are the most politically mobilized and well-informed caste in Tamil Nadu. The main language of the Vanniyan is Tamil. A small fraction of them claim to be followers of Jesus Christ.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Vanniyans are officially in Kshatriya caste which gives them good status in the Hindu system. Most Vanniyan engage in agriculture and animal husbandry for a living. Rice is by far the most important crop grown in South India. Educated Vanniyan are politicians, government administrators, college professors, scientists and engineers. The Vanniyan generally marry within their group. Families arrange marriages with the consent of the young people. Sons inherit the property of their deceased father. Caste associations settle legal disputes and enforce social norms.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The overwhelming majority of Vanniyars are Hindu. 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 do.


What Are Their Needs?

The Vanniyan need humility so that they can see themselves as sinners in need of a Savior. In South India where the Vanniyan live, there are many believers who can tell them about Jesus.


Prayer Points

Pray that God will raise up prayer teams to break up the soil in the Vanniyan community through worship and intercession. Ask the Lord to call Indian believers who willing share Christ with the Vanniyars and help them begin their own disciple making movement. Ask the Holy Spirit to soften their hearts of the Vanniyan towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the gospel.


Scripture Prayers for the Vanniyan in India.


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Vanniyan
People Name in Country Vanniyan
Pronunciation VUH-nee-un
Alternate Names Agnikula; Agnikula Kshatriya; Agnikula Kshatriyas; Ambalavasi; Ekera; Ekere; Ekila; Gangaputra; Gangavamsam; Gangavara; Gangavaru; Gounder; Kampanamullu; Kounder; Marakallu; Naicker; Nayullu; Padaichi; Padaiyachi; Padaiyachi Christian; Padaiyaci Christian; Padaiychi; Pallapu Rajulu; Pallelu; Palli; Palli Kapulu; Palli Reddi; Pandamuttu; Penta; Perumal; Thigala; Tigala; Tilvi; Vanne kapulu; Vanne Reddi; Vanniakula Kshatriya; Vannikola; Vannikula Kshatriya; Vanniyan Christian; Vanniyar; Variyar; Vellaiyan; Vontikulgi; वन्नीयाँ
Population this Country 15,149,000
Population all Countries 15,187,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 303
People ID 18323
ROP3 Code 113870
ROP25 Code 308558
ROP25 Name Vanniyan
Affinity Bloc South Asian Peoples
People Cluster South Asia Hindu - other
People Group Vanniyan
Ethnic Code CNN25
Total Subgroups 10
  Pallaimar 307,000
  Pandamuttu 307,000
  Arasa Palli 221,000
  Padaiyachi 205,000
  Visalakshiamma 93,000
  Anjunal 15,000
  Pannedunal 15,000
  Olai 11,000
  Agamudaiyan 0
  Chekkala 0
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 29
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Tamil Nadu
12,887,000
Karnataka
859,000
Puducherry
597,000
Andhra Pradesh
443,000
Kerala
163,000
Maharashtra
82,000
Odisha
52,000
Telangana
32,000
Delhi
13,000
Gujarat
4,200
Andaman and Nicobar
3,200
Madhya Pradesh
2,700
Jharkhand
2,100
Uttar Pradesh
1,800
West Bengal
1,300
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 29  (only 20 largest shown)
  Tamil Nadu 12,887,000
  Karnataka 859,000
  Puducherry 597,000
  Andhra Pradesh 443,000
  Kerala 163,000
  Maharashtra 82,000
  Odisha 52,000
  Telangana 32,000
  Delhi 13,000
  Gujarat 4,200
  Andaman and Nicobar 3,200
  Madhya Pradesh 2,700
  Jharkhand 2,100
  Uttar Pradesh 1,800
  West Bengal 1,300
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
1.37 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.63 %
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 Tamil (12,270,000 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 11
Secondary Languages
Telugu
207,000
Kannada
185,000
Malayalam
78,000
Odia
4,300
Tulu
1,000
English
900
Hindi
700
Konkani
700
Konkani, Goan
100
Desiya
80
Primary Language Tamil (12,270,000 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 11
Secondary Languages
  Telugu 207,000
  Kannada 185,000
  Malayalam 78,000
  Odia 4,300
  Tulu 1,000
  English 900
  Hindi 700
  Konkani 700
  Konkani, Goan 100
  Desiya 80
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 Anonymous 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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