Rajput (Hindu traditions) in Bhutan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

Starting in the 5th century, there was a massive attack by the White Huns in what is now northern and northwestern India and Pakistan. About a century later the reigning Hindu-based Gupta Empire broke up, leaving the Subcontinent vulnerable to Muslim invaders from the north. As time went on, invaders took over land and integrated with the settled peoples of this region. Tribal leaders, especially those involved with defense, were accepted as Kshatrya, the second highest varna (major type of castes) in Hindu society, while their followers became the fourth and lowest varna. Priests became the Brahmins, the highest of the four varnas.

The Rajputs, who were part of the Kshatrya varna, became politically important in the seventh century. From around 800 AD Rajput dynasties ruled northern India. Petty Rajput kingdoms were the main obstacle for Muslim domination of the Hindu subcontinent. For more than 500 years Rajputs were the warriors who defended kingdoms from invaders and conquered others. When possible, Rajputs settled down, became nobles, and enjoyed the lives of landed gentry.

Over a period of a couple hundred years, invaders penetrated the Rajput wall that protected the Subcontinent. Some Rajput subgroups converted to Islam during this time. The British Raj took over the Islamic Moghul Empire in South Asia. During their rule, which ended in 1947, the British recruited Rajputs into their military units. By the 1930s the Indian census stopped noting that someone is Rajput, so Rajput lineage has been less clear ever since.

In the early 1970s, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi abolished Rajput titles and property rights. The Rajputs have kept alive their proud history of conquest, bravery and military might.

You may have noticed that all of this has to do with India, not Bhutan. There are only about 1,000 of them in Bhutan; they are far less known in that country than they are in the country of their origin.


Where Are they Located?

Hind Rajputs are concentrated in India's northwestern state of Rajasthan, though there are Rajputs all over the country. A small number have migrated to Bhutan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

In India and Nepal Rajputs have a privileged position as forward caste Hindus. In Tibetan Buddhist Bhutan, this may not be the case.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Forward caste Hindus often become devotees of several gods. Typically, Rajputs worship Shiva (the destroyer), Surya (the sun god), and Durga (the mother goddess). They also have patron gods to turn to for protection. They celebrate Dasahara, a festival dedicated to Durga. During this festival, they sacrifice a buffalo to celebrate this goddess' victory over a buffalo demon. To find spiritual answers, Hindus often turn to gurus.


What Are Their Needs?

No matter where Rajputs live, they need the humility to recognize their need for a Savior.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Rajput community to increasingly grow in awareness of Jesus and their need for Him.
Pray the Lord will give Rajputs in Bhutan a spiritual hunger, then satisfy that hunger.
Pray that these Rajputs will understand the value of becoming part of God's royal family.
Pray for a Holy Spirit led humility for all Rajput communities to fall at the feet of the King of kings.
Pray for a disciple making movement among every Rajput community in Bhutan and India.


Scripture Prayers for the Rajput (Hindu traditions) in Bhutan.


References

https://joshuaproject.net/unreached/4
https://joshuaproject.net/index.php/people_groups/17928/IN
http://induhistory.blogspot.com/p/rajput-history.html
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rajput
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajput
http://allrajputyouthwing.weebly.com/muslim-rajputs-history.html
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-a-Kshatriya-and-a-Rajpoot
http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Germany-to-Jamaica/Rajputs.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajput_clans
http://www.dawn.com/news/1077113
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Rajput_clans
http://www.jairajputana.com/list-of-rajput-clans-and-vansh.html
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/rajputs-in-odisha/


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

The Rajputs

Source:  Asia Harvest      Download

People Name General Rajput (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Rajput (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation RAHJ-put
Alternate Names Bharadwaja; Chandravamsan; Chhatri; Chhetri; Gorkha; Kashrap Rajput; Kashyap; Khetri; Kshatriya; Kshatriya Raju; Kshattriya; Mavi; Mawi; Musalman Rajput; Musalman Thakur; Muslim Jeer; Muslims of Nepal; Mustigar; Musugu Rajulu; Pardeshi Rajput; Raghubansi; Rajapalayam Raju; Rajput Muslim; Raju; Rangar; Ranghar; Ravikula Kshatriya; Suryavamsa Kshatriya; Suryavamsan; Suryavanshi Kshatriya; Thakur; राजपूत
Population this Country 1,500
Population all Countries 27,768,000
Total Countries 6
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 17928
ROP3 Code 113412
ROP25 Code 306917
ROP25 Name Rajput
Country Bhutan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 36  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 4
Largest States
Western
1,100
Eastern
200
Southern
100
Central
40
Country Bhutan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 36  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 4
  Western 1,100
  Eastern 200
  Southern 100
  Central 40
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 Bhutan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Bengali
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
Assamese Hindi
Primary Language Bengali
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
  Assamese
  Hindi
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 Anonymous 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Video Source Asia Harvest
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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