Purohit Brahmin in India

The Purohit 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

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.


Where Are they Located?

Purohit Brahmins are concentrated in Rajasthan, but they also live in Himachal Pradesh and West Bengal. 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.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Purohit Brahmins have traditionally been family priests. Traditionally in the varna system Brahmins are considered as priests, but a temple priest is a lowly position that no Purohit Brahmin family wants their sons to aspire towards. Rather, there is strong pressure for higher education, particularly in computer science and engineering. This is likely to be a source of stress for a sub-caste that has a tradition of playing the role of family priests.

Purohit 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?

Purohit 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 Purohit 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 Purohit 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 Purohit in India.


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/19970/IN
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purohit


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Brahmin Purohit
People Name in Country Brahmin Purohit
Natural Name Purohit Brahmin
Alternate Names Brahman Terai; Brahmin Terai; Marwari; Rajpurohit; ब्रामिन, पुरोहित
Population this Country 132,000
Population all Countries 132,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 3
People ID 19970
ROP3 Code 115750
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
100,000
Himachal Pradesh
15,000
Jammu and Kashmir
7,500
West Bengal
3,000
Punjab
2,100
Delhi
2,000
Haryana
1,400
Manipur
1,400
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 100,000
  Himachal Pradesh 15,000
  Jammu and Kashmir 7,500
  West Bengal 3,000
  Punjab 2,100
  Delhi 2,000
  Haryana 1,400
  Manipur 1,400
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 Marwari (52,000 speakers)
Language Code rwr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 12
Secondary Languages
Hindi
43,000
Dogri
5,200
Dhundari
4,500
Mandeali
2,200
Kangri
2,000
Bengali
1,400
Mewari
500
Punjabi, Eastern
400
Bagri
300
Shekhawati
200
Kashmiri
100
Primary Language Marwari (52,000 speakers)
Language Code rwr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 12
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 43,000
  Dogri 5,200
  Dhundari 4,500
  Mandeali 2,200
  Kangri 2,000
  Bengali 1,400
  Mewari 500
  Punjabi, Eastern 400
  Bagri 300
  Shekhawati 200
  Kashmiri 100
People Groups Speaking Marwari

Primary Language:  Marwari

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1815-1867)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1820-2023)
Bible-Complete No
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 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 Marwari 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 Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Biswarup Ganguly - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
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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