Kuravan (Hindu traditions) in Sri Lanka


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

Introduction / History

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.


What Are Their Lives Like?

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.


What Are Their Beliefs?

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.


What Are Their Needs?

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.


Prayer Points

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.


Scripture Prayers for the Kuravan (Hindu traditions) in Sri Lanka.


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Kuravan (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Kuravan (Hindu traditions)
Alternate Names Adekar Kala Koran; Kulavan; Kuruva; Kuruvan; Malai Kuravan; Manga Nadisuvavaru; Sidhanar; Sidhnar; Vedar; Veduvar; कुरवाँ
Population this Country 4,100
Population all Countries 509,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 17341
ROP3 Code 112724
ROP25 Code 304411
ROP25 Name Kurawan
Country Sri Lanka
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 5
Largest States
Central
2,300
Uva
1,000
Sabaragamuwa
400
Western
400
Southern
50
Country Sri Lanka
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 5
  Central 2,300
  Uva 1,000
  Sabaragamuwa 400
  Western 400
  Southern 50
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 Sri Lanka census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Tamil (4,100 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Tamil (4,100 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  (1727-2021)
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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