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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/19978/IN
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
Brahmin of India profile for Children and Family Missions Activities |
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-04-08 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-09-05 |
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 | 5,175,000 |
Population all Countries | 5,184,000 |
Total Countries | 3 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 103 |
People ID | 19978 |
ROP3 Code | 115759 |
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 | 18 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
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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 | 18 |
Uttar Pradesh 3,324,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 489,000 | |
Bihar 466,000 | |
Maharashtra 291,000 | |
Rajasthan 162,000 | |
Uttarakhand 140,000 | |
Gujarat 115,000 | |
Chhattisgarh 54,000 | |
Delhi 41,000 | |
Jharkhand 6,400 | |
Karnataka 3,600 | |
Telangana 1,300 | |
Tamil Nadu 700 | |
Daman and Diu 400 | |
Andhra Pradesh 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 India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Hindi (3,290,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 29 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
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Primary Language | Hindi (3,290,000 speakers) |
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 29 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Bhojpuri 407,000 | |
Gujarati 159,000 | |
Marathi 146,000 | |
Kumaoni 40,000 | |
Awadhi 39,000 | |
Bagheli 37,000 | |
Dhundari 32,000 | |
Marwari 29,000 | |
Chhattisgarhi 28,000 | |
Garhwali 27,000 | |
Maithili 21,000 | |
Bundeli 19,000 | |
Konkani 18,000 | |
Shekhawati 12,000 | |
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 (1835-2022) |
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 |
Photo Source |
(Representative photo) Copyrighted © 2023 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. |