Palliwal Brahmin in India

The Palliwal Brahmin 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

According to their beliefs, Palliwal Brahmins have a history that goes back 6,000 years. They were traditionally a Brahmin community that excelled in business and in agriculture. They have their origins in a town in Rajasthan named Pali.

There was a tragic incident that happened about 200 years ago that scattered them all over India. A powerful chief treasury official wanted to take a beautiful 16-year-old Palliwal girl as his bride against the will of the Brahmin community. Rather than face the wrath of the powerful Muslims, Palliwal Brahmins from 84 villages left all at once, and scattered throughout India. According to legend, there is a curse on anyone who tries to re-inhabit these villages.


Where Are they Located?

Palliwal Brahmins are still scattered across India where they speak a variety of local languages. A high percentage of them also 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.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Traditionally in the varna system Brahmins are considered as priests, but a temple priest is a lowly position that no Palliwal Brahmin family wants their sons to aspire towards. Rather, there is strong pressure for higher education, particularly in computer science and engineering. Palliwal Brahmins have a strong work ethic and are often leaders, whether politically, intellectually, spiritually or socially.

Palliwal Brahmins are still 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.


What Are Their Beliefs?

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!


What Are Their Needs?

Palliwal 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.


Prayer Points

Pray for Christ to reveal Himself to Palliwal 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 Palliwal 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 Palliwal in India.


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/19968/IN
http://www.paliwalbrahmins.com/common/about
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Nobody-wants-to-leave-in-84-cursed-villages/articleshow/6128901.cms
http://kunzum.com/2009/08/paliwal-brahmins-of-kuldhara-near-jaisalmer-vanished-into-the-night/


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Brahmin Palliwal
People Name in Country Brahmin Palliwal
Natural Name Palliwal Brahmin
Alternate Names Brahman Terai; Brahmin Terai; ब्रामिन, पल्लीवाल
Population this Country 105,000
Population all Countries 105,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
People ID 19968
ROP3 Code 115747
ROP25 Code 301405
ROP25 Name Brahmin
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 8
Largest States
Rajasthan
69,000
Uttar Pradesh
25,000
Maharashtra
5,000
Uttarakhand
2,800
Madhya Pradesh
1,900
Gujarat
1,100
Delhi
900
Chhattisgarh
200
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 8
  Rajasthan 69,000
  Uttar Pradesh 25,000
  Maharashtra 5,000
  Uttarakhand 2,800
  Madhya Pradesh 1,900
  Gujarat 1,100
  Delhi 900
  Chhattisgarh 200
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 (47,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 12
Secondary Languages
Marwari
28,000
Mewari
7,900
Marathi
1,600
Bhojpuri
1,400
Gujarati
1,100
Dhundari
700
Garhwali
600
Shekhawati
100
Awadhi
70
Kumaoni
50
Kanauji
30
Primary Language Hindi (47,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 12
Secondary Languages
  Marwari 28,000
  Mewari 7,900
  Marathi 1,600
  Bhojpuri 1,400
  Gujarati 1,100
  Dhundari 700
  Garhwali 600
  Shekhawati 100
  Awadhi 70
  Kumaoni 50
  Kanauji 30
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  (1818-2022)
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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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