Saraswat Brahmin in Bangladesh


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

Introduction / History

The Saraswat Brahmins are named after a river that once flowed in their original homeland. From there they migrated to many parts of South Asia, including what is now Bangladesh.

Brahmin is the highest of the four Hindu varnas or major categories of caste communities. The English word Brahmin is an anglicised form of the Sanskrit word brahmana. "Brahman" refers to the first of the three major Hindu gods whereas "Brahmin" refers to an individual.

Brahmins typically have early morning devotional times which they call pujas which involve prayer, meditation and making offerings to their deities. Though they originated as the priestly varna, today only certain subsets of Brahmins are still involved in priestly duties for others such as teaching, preaching or performing public rituals.
The religious training of Brahmins prepares them well for advanced mathematics. In today's world, the top positions in such areas as computer programming, business, teaching, and politics are often filled by Brahmins. Though there are many wealthy Brahmins, those who perform Hindu rituals for a living are often poor.


Where Are they Located?

Though the Saraswat Brahmins are more numerous in northern India, there are some of them in neighboring Bangladesh where Muslims are the majority.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Brahmins have much status in the Hindu countries of India and Nepal, but they do not have it in Muslim Bangladesh. As leaders in Hindu communities, they are probably viewed as a threat by the Muslim majority.
The Saraswat Brahmins have their own linguistic distinctions. They have always been noted for helping to raise the level of civilization where they live. People associate the Saraswat Brahmins with learning.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Saraswats have five primary gods that they worship.

Since they have the highest status of any Hindu varna, Brahmins believe that they have everything to lose by "converting" to another religious system. A Brahmin believes he is on the verge of reaching nirvana if he earns good karma in this life by doing what he is supposed to do. He believes that it took thousands of years of being reincarnated to reach the high state he now enjoys. Switching to a "different God" would surely result in an inferior reincarnation after he dies.


What Are Their Needs?

Saraswat Brahmins in Bangladesh need believing friends who have the empathy to learn how Brahmins think and what they seek. It may take years for them to accept that Christ has the spiritual answers that all of us need.


Prayer Points

Brahmins are the key community who uphold Hinduism. Pray that the light of the gospel breaks through the veil that blinds this community.
Pray that the true God will reveal Himself to this community and use Brahmins to preach and teach about Jesus Christ.
Pray for a disciple making movement to flourish among every Brahmin community.


Scripture Prayers for the Brahmin Saraswat in Bangladesh.


References

http://creative.sulekha.com/the-saraswat-brahmin-displaced-inhabitant-of-saraswati_112621_blog
https://kashmirblogs.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/saraswat-brahmins/
http://www.infomap24.com/en/point/secondary-school/jagadish-saraswat-girls-high-school/3514366.asp
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-history-of-Saraswat-Brahmins
http://saraswats.blogspot.in/2006/07/saraswat-brahmins.html


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Brahmin Saraswat
People Name in Country Brahmin Saraswat
Natural Name Saraswat Brahmin
Pronunciation sah-rah-WAHT BRAH-min
Alternate Names Brahman Terai; Brahmin Terai; Gawda Saraswat; Rajapura Saraswat; Saras; ब्रह्मन, सरस्वत
Population this Country 6,500
Population all Countries 727,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 19977
ROP3 Code 115758
ROP25 Code 301405
ROP25 Name Brahmin
Country Bangladesh
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 26  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 7
Largest States
Dhaka
2,000
Sylhet
1,500
Chittagong
1,200
Khulna
1,000
Rangpur
500
Barisal
200
Rajshahi
100
Country Bangladesh
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 26  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 7
  Dhaka 2,000
  Sylhet 1,500
  Chittagong 1,200
  Khulna 1,000
  Rangpur 500
  Barisal 200
  Rajshahi 100
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 Bangladesh census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Bengali (5,200 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
Sylheti
1,200
Chittagonian
70
Primary Language Bengali (5,200 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
  Sylheti 1,200
  Chittagonian 70
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)
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Photo Source Pandit Gagan Saraswat - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
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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