Iruliga in India

The Iruliga have only been reported in India
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The Iruliga are a small tribal people who live in south India. The Iruliga were traditionally hunters and gatherers of forest products. They call themselves the devotees of the forest. They used to live in caves but with the help of the government have built houses of stone with tile roofs. The Iruliga used to catch and eat rats and snakes, which gained them the distain of others. As the wildlife of the forests declined, the Iruliga became agricultural workers.

The Iruliga are a Scheduled Tribe meaning that they are eligible for public jobs and special university admissions. The literacy of the Iruliga is quite low although this is beginning to change with access to government schools for their children. The main language of the Iruliga is Kannada. A whole Bible and many Christian resources are available in Kannada.


Where Are they Located?

The Iruliga people live in the south Indian state of Karnataka.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Like most tribal peoples of India, the Iruliga live in poverty. The government gave their forestlands to others. Most Iruliga, including their children, now work as landless farm workers. They work on land that produces tea, coffee, rice, bananas, palm products, and nuts. Some collect and sell firewood. The Iruliga marry within their group. Marriage to one spouse is the normal practice. Sons inherit the property of their father. Families arrange marriages. Girls are often married at a young age. The Iruliga are not vegetarian but as Hindus will not eat beef. Rice and vegetables are their stables.

Dancing plays a large part in Iruliga life rituals. Both the men and women dance to drums in funerals, weddings and births.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Iruliga people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods whom they believe will give them favor and protection. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods as Christians do. The Iruliga make statues of their gods with mud.

As with other tribal peoples, the Hinduism of the Iruliga is heavily mixed with animism, the belief that spirits inhabit the objects of nature. These spirits must be appeased or they can bring disaster upon the Iruliga community.


What Are Their Needs?

The Iruliga have many needs. They need access to modern medicine and schools for their children. Solar panels can bring electricity for appliances. They need to learn new job skills so they can advance in Indian society. Most of all, they need to hear and respond to the message of Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and deliver them from their fear of evil spirits.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to raise up a strong disciple making movement to saturate the hearts and minds of the Iruliga people.
Pray for God's blessing, strengthening and healing of Iruliga families and communities within this people group through the abundant life Jesus offers to all who call on His name.
Pray for God's blessing on the leaders in this people group, along with their families, and for their communities to welcome and enjoy God's blessing.
Pray for the Lord to multiply the reception and influence of His Word among this people group, leading them to love Him with their whole being.


Scripture Prayers for the Iruliga in India.


References

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330523614_Socio-Economic_Life_of_Iruliga_Tribe_in_Karnataka
https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Oral-health-status-and-treatment-needs-of-Iruligas-Kadanakuppe-Bhat/90da44bd1459a1287d3a3f1be5c9eea47922d1ca


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Iruliga
People Name in Country Iruliga
Alternate Names इरूलिगा
Population this Country 16,000
Population all Countries 16,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 18776
ROP3 Code 114455
ROP25 Code 303238
ROP25 Name Iruliga
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)
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 1
  Karnataka 16,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.01 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.97 %
Islam
0.11 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
0.89 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Kannada (13,000 speakers)
Language Code kan   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
Telugu
400
Tamil
200
Tulu
30
Malayalam Marathi
Primary Language Kannada (13,000 speakers)
Language Code kan   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
  Telugu 400
  Tamil 200
  Tulu 30
  Malayalam 0
  Marathi 0
People Groups Speaking Kannada

Primary Language:  Kannada

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1812-1988)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1823-2023)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1827-2023)
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 Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Scripture / Bible General / Other
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
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 Jesus Film: view in Kannada 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 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 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 Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
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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