Vipravindolu Vellalan in India

The Vipravindolu Vellalan 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 Vellalar or Vellalan people of south India have a long and proud history. They served as the landed aristocracy, military officers and court officials in three great Tamil dynasties. They were patrons of Tamil literature and the arts. The Vellalars made up the majority of government leaders and administrators in south India during the British Raj period. Lower castes began calling themselves Vellalars and acting like them in order to gain their high status.

The main language of the Vellalan is Tamil. They also speak other south Indian regional languages. A complete Bible and many Christian resources are available in Tamil.


Where Are they Located?

The Vipravindolu Vellalan people live either in Tamil Nadu or Andhra Pradesh, two states in southeastern India.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Today the Vipravindolu Vellalans continue to be landowners, military officers, businesspersons, Tamil scholars, and Hindu temple patrons. They live at the highest levels of south Indian society. They take pride in their ancient Tamil heritage and are leading scholars in Tamil historical studies. The Vipravindolu Vellalan encourage their children to attend universities and gain graduate degrees.

The Vipravindolu Vellalars are endogamous, that is they marry within their families and clans. Vellalars often marry their cousins. Sons inherit property from their parents. Most prefer to use their own priests rather than Brahmins in important life ceremonies.


What Are Their Beliefs?

As far as we know all Vipravindolu Vellalans are Hindus. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. The Vipravindolu Vellalan people worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Many Vellalan people follow a branch of Hinduism called Saiva Siddhantam. In this Hindu order adherents desire to be enlightened by Lord Shiva or Siva, one of the three main gods of Hinduism. Some Vellalans join monasteries and propagate the teachings of Shiva. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Vipravindolu Vellalan visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods.

The main yearly holidays of the Vellalan people are Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn, and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

The Vipravindolu Vellalans need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. They need to see themselves as sinners in need of the Savior. They need to see Christianity lived out in a real way before them.


Prayer Points

Pray for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done among the Vipravindolu Vellalan people.
Pray for a movement of Vipravindolu Vellalan households to study the Bible and accept the blessings of Christ.
Pray for a spiritual hunger that will drive the Vipravindolu Vellalan peoples to Jesus.
Pray for South Indian workers who are filled with the fruit and the power of the Holy Spirit to tell the Vipravindolu Vellalan people about Jesus.


Scripture Prayers for the Vellalan Vipravindolu in India.


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/18317/IN
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vellalar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Vellalar_sub_castes


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Vellalan Vipravindolu
People Name in Country Vellalan Vipravindolu
Natural Name Vipravindolu Vellalan
Alternate Names Gangeddula; Nokkar; Telagalu; Vipravinodulu; वेल्लालन विप्रविंडोलू
Population this Country 2,000
Population all Countries 2,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 21282
ROP3 Code 118105
ROP25 Code 303347
ROP25 Name Jati Pillai / Nokkar
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 2
Largest States
Tamil Nadu
1,200
Andhra Pradesh
700
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 2
  Tamil Nadu 1,200
  Andhra Pradesh 700
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 Telugu (900 speakers)
Language Code tel   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Tamil
800
Primary Language Telugu (900 speakers)
Language Code tel   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Tamil 800
People Groups Speaking Telugu

Primary Language:  Telugu

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1812-1966)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1818-1989)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1854-2022)
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 Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
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 Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Telugu 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 The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
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 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 Gospel website in this language General / Other
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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