Namassej (Hindu traditions) in Nepal


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

Introduction / History

As documented in British India Gazetteers and surveys and hearsay they are like many population groups of Bengal who were made outcast during the Sen Dynasty due to their defiant nature and hunted to southern swamps till the Europeans came and they started migrating to the middle part of Bengal. The caste apartheid which ostracized them also to some extent protected them from mixing. However nowadays they are accepted, particularly among uprooted Bengali Hindu settlements.
They identified themselves by their mythical clan Rishi Buddhas. The major clan is identified after Rishi-Buddhah Kashyap. Mythologically, they have the gotra name Kashyapa and follow the rituals of Hindu Sanatan according to the Kashyap gotra name.
They were named Namasudra during British Regime and the use of the sanction term "Chandala" was restricted by an Official Order of British-India Government. Now the community has gained acknowledgement by the name "Namassej" after the Namas Rishi, son of the great clan Rishi Buddha Kashyapa. All other clans like Goutam, Lomasha, Sandilya and Bhardwaj have adopted the rituals of the Kashyapa clan. The community is Namassej Jati now and follows the Avarna Sanatan Matua path. They are ideologically also influenced by Reverend Mead and other missionaries. The discourse "Namassejsantokotha" highlights the influences of different spiritual ideologies.
They are found all over West Bengal, northeast Indian states and to some extent all over India. But very few are found in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Naru and in Bangladesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Their cultural life is very much like an average Bengali. They are hard-working, very lively, enthusiastic and conscious of their own identity. They were also very honest but after the division of India there has been great deterioration. Their economic condition is very bad. Average literacy is observed among them. The number of people with higher education has not been high. They are engaged in all kinds of professions but those living in villages are engaged in agriculture. A very small number of their population is doing government and private jobs.


What Are Their Beliefs?

They believe in traditional Hinduism. But their community reformation started with one religious leader who believed in Monist Hinduism. His son and other descendants took charge of his unfinished work.


What Are Their Needs?

Their basic need is for economic restoration and socio-political rehabilitation. After the division of British India this community has mainly become uprooted refugees. A large section of this community is living below poverty line, lacking all kinds of infrastructural facilities. They need economic boosting, jobs, better accommodations and better social acceptance.


Prayer Points

Ask God to raise up Namassej who are more desirous to know the truth than to stay on the broad road to death.
Ask God to send loving, committed workers to the Namassej soon.
Pray the Namassej would no longer be hidden away from the influence of Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Namassej (Hindu traditions) in Nepal.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Namassej (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Namassej (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation NAY-muh-sez
Alternate Names Canana; Chanao; Chandal; Chandel; Chanral; Chattri; Khanda-Khatriya; Nama; Namassut; Namasud; Namo; Verhudti; नमास्सेज
Population this Country 1,500
Population all Countries 4,490,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 17756
ROP3 Code 113215
ROP25 Code 305843
ROP25 Name Namasudra
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Jhapa District of Mechi Zone, Morang and Sunsari districts of Koshi Zone, and Saptari District of Sagarmatha Zone.   Source:  www.ethnologue.com
Total States on file 4
Largest States
Kosi
700
Mechi
300
Janakpur
300
Bagmati
300
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Jhapa District of Mechi Zone, Morang and Sunsari districts of Koshi Zone, and Saptari District of Sagarmatha Zone..   Source:  www.ethnologue.com
Total States 4
  Kosi 700
  Mechi 300
  Janakpur 300
  Bagmati 300
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 Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Maithili (1,100 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Bengali
200
Primary Language Maithili (1,100 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Bengali 200
People Groups Speaking Maithili

Primary Language:  Maithili

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2010)
Bible-Complete No
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 Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Maithili Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
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 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
Mobile App Android Bible app: Maithili YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Maithili YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Maithili Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Create International  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
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.



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