Sawaria Brahmin in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

Brahmins are the highest of the four varna (major caste groupings) in Hinduism. The historical developments of various Brahmin 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. Brahmin 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 Brahmins.

Traditionally Brahmins 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 Brahmins' lives, even if this is only a token routine for many.


Where Are they Located?

Sawaria Brahmins are one of the largest Brahmin communities. They are scattered across India in dozens of jātis (castes) speaking many different local languages. A high percentage of them speak English as higher education in India is mostly English medium.

Brahmins are disproportionately represented among overseas Indians due to their higher educational attainments, so those who reach out to Indian nationals in the West are very likely reaching out to people who are extremely difficult to reach in South Asia.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Traditionally in the varna system Brahmins are considered as priests, but a temple priest is a lowly position that no Sawaria Brahmin family wants their sons to aspire towards. Rather, there is strong pressure for higher education, particularly in computer science and engineering. Sawaria Brahmins have a strong work ethic and are often leaders, whether politically, intellectually, spiritually or socially.

Sawaria Brahmins 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 Brahmin 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.


What Are Their Beliefs?

In some cases Brahmin subgroups are defined by their theological distinctions such as Madhva Brahmins, who are defined by their dualist theology, though everyone does not actually hold those beliefs. However, many Brahmin castes are made up of people who adhere to all the various philosophical and theological options espoused by modern Hindus, including hard core secularists and atheists. One can never predict what an individual Brahmin might believe or disbelieve!


What Are Their Needs?

The Brahmins as an influential and generally well-to-do community are not unlike the middle classes of most places. Their main needs involve relational strains that are usually kept behind closed doors. Modernization is breaking down family units which have been the glue to society for many generations, and loneliness is increasingly a problem. They are expected to "achieve it all," but ironically, achieving it all can be empty.


Prayer Points

Pray for Christ to reveal Himself to Sawaria Brahmin leaders.
Pray for the eyes of Brahmin hearts to be open to Jesus Christ as Lord and king.
Pray for Holy Spirit directed Christ followers to go to Sawaria Brahmin communities.
Pray for a disciple making movement to emerge among every Brahmin community.
Pray for many to be prompted to faithfully pray for Brahmins.


Scripture Prayers for the Brahmin Sawaria in India.


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/19978/IN


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Brahmin Sawaria
People Name in Country Brahmin Sawaria
Natural Name Sawaria Brahmin
Pronunciation sah-VARE-ee-ah BRAH-min
Alternate Names Brahman Terai; Brahmin Terai; Saruyada; Sarvad; Savade; ब्रह्मन, सवरिअ
Population this Country 4,791,000
Population all Countries 4,800,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 96
People ID 19978
ROP3 Code 115759
ROP25 Code 301405
ROP25 Name Brahmin
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 20
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Uttar Pradesh
3,097,000
Madhya Pradesh
468,000
Bihar
443,000
Maharashtra
279,000
Rajasthan
157,000
Uttarakhand
134,000
Gujarat
110,000
Chhattisgarh
52,000
Delhi
40,000
Jharkhand
6,100
Karnataka
3,500
Telangana
1,000
Tamil Nadu
700
Daman and Diu
400
Assam
200
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 20
  Uttar Pradesh 3,097,000
  Madhya Pradesh 468,000
  Bihar 443,000
  Maharashtra 279,000
  Rajasthan 157,000
  Uttarakhand 134,000
  Gujarat 110,000
  Chhattisgarh 52,000
  Delhi 40,000
  Jharkhand 6,100
  Karnataka 3,500
  Telangana 1,000
  Tamil Nadu 700
  Daman and Diu 400
  Assam 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 India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (3,032,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 31
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Bhojpuri
480,000
Gujarati
158,000
Marathi
146,000
Wagdi
34,000
Awadhi
30,000
Garhwali
27,000
Chhattisgarhi
26,000
Maithili
21,000
Konkani
18,000
Bundeli
18,000
Bagheli
18,000
Dhundari
10,000
Marwari (India)
6,400
Shekhawati
5,900
Malvi
5,400
Primary Language Hindi (3,032,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 31
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Bhojpuri 480,000
  Gujarati 158,000
  Marathi 146,000
  Wagdi 34,000
  Awadhi 30,000
  Garhwali 27,000
  Chhattisgarhi 26,000
  Maithili 21,000
  Konkani 18,000
  Bundeli 18,000
  Bagheli 18,000
  Dhundari 10,000
  Marwari (India) 6,400
  Shekhawati 5,900
  Malvi 5,400
People Groups Speaking Hindi

Primary Language:  Hindi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1806-1962)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2022)
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YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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Amazon
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Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
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 Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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
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Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
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Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
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General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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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 (Representative photo)
Copyrighted © 2024  Isudas  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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