The Shakaldwipi Brahmans originally came to India from Central Asia. It is believed that they may be descendants of the soldiers of Alexander the Great, who conquered a small part of India over 2000 years ago. Some of these soldiers married Indian women, and their children became the Shakaldwipi. No one knows when this people group migrated to their present locations in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
Brahmans (often in the past spelled Brahmins) are the highest of the four varna (major caste groupings) in Hinduism. The historical developments of various Brahman castes are not clear, as the history of the caste system itself is unclear. There was perhaps a caste system based on personal merit at one time before the hereditary caste system became dominant, as is seen in modern history. Brahman castes became powerful in the early centuries of the Christian Era through alliances with kings, who granted them landed estates related to temples and temple service. There has never been a comprehensive analysis of all the different types and subgroups of Brahmans.
Traditionally Brahmans have five daily duties; to the gods, to ancestors, to all creatures, to humans, and to study. Thus, daily worship (duty to gods) and chanting of sacred texts (duty to study) are an integral part of many Brahmans' lives, even if this is only a token routine for many.
Most live in India's northern state of Bihar, and other parts of northern and eastern India. However, a smaller number live in Nepal or Bangladesh.
Traditionally in the varna system Brahmans are considered as priests, but a temple priest is a lowly position that no Sawaria Brahman family wants their sons to aspire towards. Rather, there is strong pressure for higher education, particularly in computer science and engineering. Shakaldwipi Brahmans have a strong work ethic and are often leaders, whether politically, intellectually, spiritually or socially.
Shakaldwipi Brahmans are deeply influenced by the traditional four stages of life; the first student stage is followed by the householder stage, where marriage, raising a family and being a productive member of society is the primary obligation of an individual. Once children are married there is time for spiritual concerns in the third stage of reclusiveness, which is followed (this is rarely practiced) by itinerant homeless wandering (sannyasa).
Often a busy Brahman will put off spiritual discussions as an issue for later in life. The famous Bhagavad Gita text does not support this, however, as it calls for all humanity to engage in doing good to all without thought of merit or reward for such actions.
Some of the Shakaldwipi Brahmans are noted for worshipping the sun. They have their own clan deities.
Like other Brahman communities, the Shakaldwipis need to find the humility to accept that only a supreme, holy God can save them from sin.
Pray that the Lord will show the Sakaldwipi Brahman communities of Nepal their need for forgiveness of sin, and that he offers life to the full.
Pray for disciple making movements to emerge among Sakaldwipi Brahmans in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
Scripture Prayers for the Brahmin Sakaldwipi in Nepal.
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/19974/IN
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakaldwipiya
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/2012/10/15
https://www.bandhan.com/female/brahmin+sakaldwipi/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Brahman-caste
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmin
http://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/brahmins-in-india/234783
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/16521/IN
http://induhistory.blogspot.com/p/brahmins-history.html
http://traceyourlineage.blogspot.com/2008/04/origin-of-gotras.html
https://thehindus.org/faqs/what-types-of-brahmins-are-there/
http://hinducaste.blogspot.com/2009/06/divisions-among-brahmins.html
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
Brahmin of India profile for Children and Family Missions Activities |
People Name General | Brahmin Sakaldwipi |
People Name in Country | Brahmin Sakaldwipi |
Natural Name | Sakaldwipi Brahmin |
Alternate Names | Bhojak; Brahman Terai; Brahmin Terai; Mag; Mihir; Sakdipi; Shak Dwipi Brahman; Shak Dwipi Brahmin; Shakdipiniya; ब्रह्मन, सकल्द्विपि |
Population this Country | 3,400 |
Population all Countries | 596,000 |
Total Countries | 3 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 19974 |
ROP3 Code | 115755 |
Country | Nepal | ||||||
Region | Asia, South | ||||||
Continent | Asia | ||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||||||
National Bible Society | Website | ||||||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | ||||||
Total States on file | 6 | ||||||
Largest States |
|
Country | Nepal |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Total States | 6 |
Lumbini 1,600 | |
Janakpur 700 | |
Bheri 400 | |
Kosi 200 | |
Sagarmatha 200 | |
Narayani 200 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
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 Nepal census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Maithili (1,400 speakers) | ||||||
Language Code | mai Ethnologue Listing | ||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||
Total Languages | 5 | ||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Maithili (1,400 speakers) |
Language Code | mai Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 5 |
Secondary Languages | |
Awadhi 1,200 | |
Bhojpuri 300 | |
Hindi 60 | |
Nepali 30 | |
People Groups | Speaking Maithili |
Primary Language: Maithili
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (2010) |
Bible-Complete | No |
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 |
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. |