Eravallan in India


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

The Eravallan are a small, indigenous people who live in the south Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The Eravallan have isolated themselves from other south Indian peoples due the remote places where they live. They were traditionally nomadic hunter-gatherers but in recent times have settle down to live in villages. The Eravallan are a Scheduled Tribe meaning they are eligible for public jobs and special status for university admissions.

Most Eravallan are unable to read and write. Some have resisted the Indian government's plan to integrate them into mainstream culture. The Eravallan are fearful if they allow government schools and programs into to their villages that they will lose their unique way of life. The government has set up primary schools in the Eravallan villages hoping to educate the children in the Tamil language. Up until a few years ago, linguists considered the language of the Eravallan to be a dialect of Tamil. Now Eravallan has been reclassified at a distinct language. There is no script for the Eravallan language. Some Eravallan can speak standard Tamil. Many Christian resources are available in Tamil but none as of yet in Eravallan.


Where Are they Located?

The Hindu Eravallan people live in the southern tip of India. Most of them live in remote areas of the Western Ghat Mountains.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The primary occupation of the Eravallan is agriculture although they still hunt animals for food and roam the forests and hills looking for edible plants.

The Eravallan live much like their ancestors without the amenities of electricity, indoor plumbing or modern medicine. Their lives are short compared to most Indian peoples. They are one of the most impoverished groups of people in south India. Some Eravallan work on tea and coffee plantations. Some Eravallan own small plots of land where they grow coconuts, palm trees, rice, and vegetables.

The Eravallan live in houses made of wood and mud. A village elder makes the main decisions for the village and settles legal disputes. The Eravallan marry within their group. Monogamy or marriage to one spouse is the norm.
The Eravallan have their own festivals, clothing, dances, and music which they have passed down for many generations.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The official religion of the Eravallan is Hinduism but a devout, educated Hindu would consider them more animistic than Hindu. The Eravallan believe that spirits inhabit the forces of nature. These spirits and their ancestors must be appeased or they can bring disasters upon the people. A village shaman serves as physician and the mediator with the spirit world. The Eravallan utilize magic, spells, charms, and rituals to try to bring good fortune.


What Are Their Needs?

As an isolated tribal people, the Eravallan have many physical and spiritual needs. Solar panels can bring them electricity. Modern medicine would improve their health and increase their lifespans. A team of linguists could create an alphabet for their language. Most of all, the Eravallan need to hear and understand the message of Jesus Christ. He alone can get them right with the one, true God and deliver them from their fear of evil spirits.


Prayer Points

Pray for Eravallan families of believers loving and serving others to grow reproducing churches.
Pray for a chain reaction of Eravallan families reaching families that results in thousands of new believers who share their faith with others.
Pray for grace and truth expanding into the entire Eravallan society as all believers learn to love others.
Pray that churches and believers will bless the entire Eravallan people group in such a way that God's love will change them like yeast changes dough.


Scripture Prayers for the Eravallan in India.


References

https://www.indianetzone.com/9/eravallan_tribe.htm


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Eravallan
People Name in Country Eravallan
Alternate Names Ambuvilluvedar; Eravallar; Villu-Vedan; Vilvedan; एरवल्लां
Population this Country 8,800
Population all Countries 8,800
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 16760
ROP3 Code 112009
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
Kerala
5,400
Tamil Nadu
3,400
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 2
  Kerala 5,400
  Tamil Nadu 3,400
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.23 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.65 %
Islam
0.05 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.06 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Tamil (6,600 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
Malayalam
1,100
Irula
70
Telugu
30
Kannada
20
Primary Language Tamil (6,600 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
  Malayalam 1,100
  Irula 70
  Telugu 30
  Kannada 20
People Groups Speaking Tamil

Primary Language:  Tamil

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1714-1956)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1715-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1727-2024)
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 General Ministry Resources General / Other
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Film / Video Following Jesus video 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 Tamil 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 Rivka video 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 Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Comprehensive list of Tamil Resources General / Other
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 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 Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
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: Pastors Study Bible Tamil Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tamil YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Tamil Bible (தமிழ் பைபிள்) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tamil Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Tamil Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Tamil YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Tamil Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Tamil Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
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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