Mahishya 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 Mahishya or Sadgop people are also known as Chasa or Chasi. The name Sadgop is derived from the two Sanskrit words: Sad means good and Gop means milkman. They believe they are the descendants of lord Krishna. The titles they use are Sarkar, Roy, Majumdar, Biswas, Mallik, Khan and Mandal. Mahishya have several clans such as Sandilya, Kashyap, Bharadwaj, Moudgulya and Alambayan.

In the varna system, they are known as vaisyas and as the members of Nabashakha group. They live in West Bengal and surrounding states.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Sadgop are a land owning community. Agriculture is their traditional and primary occupation. Rice and wheat are their staple food. They drink alcohol and chew tobacco locally known as Khaine and Guraku. Their mother tongue is Bengali. They are also conversant with the Hindi and Oriya languages.

Marriages are negotiated and monogamy is common among them. Married women have a significant role to play in the ritual performances. The Sadgop are expert in Alpana or floor painting on pujas.


They are Hindu, so they depend on Brahmin priests and astrologers as their sacred specialists on special occasions.
What Are Their Beliefs?

They are Hindu, so they depend on Brahmin priests and astrologers as their sacred specialists on special occasions.

They propitiate Hari and Lakshmi as their family deities. Women worship the goddess Lakshmi each day. Their village deities are Dharmaraj, Manasa and Shiva among others. Gaya and Vrindaban are their pilgrim centers. Durgapuja, Kalipuja and Dharmarajer are their major festivals.


What Are Their Needs?

Like all other peoples of the world, this people group needs the blessings and guidance that only Jesus Christ can offer.


Prayer Points

Pray for a movement to Christ among the Sadgop people.

Pray for God to send several Christian workers among them and meet their spiritual and physical needs.

Pray for them to give up their dependence on alcohol and chewing tobacco.


Scripture Prayers for the Mahishya in India.


References

India Missions Association, Edited by Philipose Vaidyar, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

Additional Info
Global Prayer Digest: 2006-09-13
Global Prayer Digest: 2007-09-01
Global Prayer Digest: 2012-10-10
Global Prayer Digest: 2014-09-15
Global Prayer Digest: 2016-09-29
People Name General Mahishya
People Name in Country Mahishya
Pronunciation mah-hee-shee-AH
Alternate Names Chasa; Chasi; Chasidas; Halidas; Haluadas; Haludas; Kaibarta; Kaibartta; Kurmangiya; Mahisayadas; Mahisya; Matsyadas; Pilwan Mahaout; Sadgop; महिष्या
Population this Country 11,869,000
Population all Countries 12,614,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 3  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 237
People ID 17411
ROP3 Code 112811
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 34
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
West Bengal
7,489,000
Odisha
2,593,000
Assam
957,000
Jharkhand
274,000
Tripura
181,000
Bihar
37,000
Meghalaya
20,000
Chhattisgarh
18,000
Nagaland
18,000
Delhi
17,000
Maharashtra
16,000
Uttar Pradesh
13,000
Arunachal Pradesh
11,000
Madhya Pradesh
9,700
Andaman and Nicobar
8,300
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 34  (only 20 largest shown)
  West Bengal 7,489,000
  Odisha 2,593,000
  Assam 957,000
  Jharkhand 274,000
  Tripura 181,000
  Bihar 37,000
  Meghalaya 20,000
  Chhattisgarh 18,000
  Nagaland 18,000
  Delhi 17,000
  Maharashtra 16,000
  Uttar Pradesh 13,000
  Arunachal Pradesh 11,000
  Madhya Pradesh 9,700
  Andaman and Nicobar 8,300
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.01 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.36 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.60 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.03 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Bengali (6,831,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 26
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Odia
2,063,000
Assamese
544,000
Hindi
437,000
Maithili
13,000
Kok Borok
11,000
Kui
5,500
Magahi
4,000
Santhali
2,700
Mundari
1,600
Kurux
1,400
Sadri
1,200
Kuvi
900
Bhojpuri
900
Andaman Hindi Creole
800
Juang
800
Primary Language Bengali (6,831,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 26
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Odia 2,063,000
  Assamese 544,000
  Hindi 437,000
  Maithili 13,000
  Kok Borok 11,000
  Kui 5,500
  Magahi 4,000
  Santhali 2,700
  Mundari 1,600
  Kurux 1,400
  Sadri 1,200
  Kuvi 900
  Bhojpuri 900
  Andaman Hindi Creole 800
  Juang 800
People Groups Speaking Bengali

Primary Language:  Bengali

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1800-1980)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1801-1984)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1809-2022)
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
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Online New Testament Faith Comes by Hearing
Audio Recordings Online New Testament Faith Comes by Hearing
Audio Recordings Online New Testament Faith Comes by Hearing
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 Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Bengali 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 Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project  
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.