Rajput Bargujar (Hindu traditions) in India

The Rajput Bargujar (Hindu traditions) have only been reported 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

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 800CE 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 did not note 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.


Where Are they Located?

Rajputs are concentrated in India's northwestern state of Rajasthan, though there are Rajputs all over the country. Pakistan has Rajput communities, mostly in Punjab Province.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Though Bargujar Rajputs are still in the armed forces or own land, some have moved on to other livelihoods. Wealthy Rajputs now own impressive hotels in Rajasthan where tourists can be introduced to their history and culture. Rajputs who aren't so fortunate work as small businessmen or wage laborers.

Rajputs try to marry their daughters into clans of higher rank than their own. The Rajput clans in Rajasthan have the highest status, so families want their daughters to marry men from that state. Unfortunately, Rajputs often marry their daughters off while they are very young.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Forward caste Hindus often become devotees of a couple of 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.

Many Rajput Hindus are looking for self-realization and self-awareness. To find spiritual answers, Hindus often turn to gurus, who are experts in spirituality.


What Are Their Needs?

Bargujar Rajputs are going through an identity crisis. They can no longer depend on land ownership or military careers, especially with the Indian government reserving prestigious jobs for "backward" (ie, underprivileged) castes. Believers with the right skills can help them during this time of transition.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Bargujar Rajput community to increasingly grow in awareness of Jesus, his life and his sacrifice for them.
Pray the Lord will give Bargujar Rajputs 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.


Scripture Prayers for the Rajput Bargujar (Hindu traditions) in India.


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/20377/IN
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bargujar
http://www.jairajputana.com/list-of-rajput-clans-and-vansh.html
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


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

The Rajputs

Source:  Asia Harvest      Download

People Name General Rajput Bargujar (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Rajput Bargujar (Hindu traditions)
Alternate Names Bargujar; राजपूत, बरग़ुजार
Population this Country 221,000
Population all Countries 221,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 4
PeopleID3 20377
ROP3 Code 116161
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 17
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Uttar Pradesh
119,000
Bihar
22,000
Haryana
20,000
Rajasthan
16,000
Madhya Pradesh
10,000
Gujarat
9,600
Uttarakhand
8,100
Himachal Pradesh
4,100
West Bengal
3,100
Delhi
2,500
Maharashtra
2,200
Jharkhand
1,800
Jammu and Kashmir
1,800
Punjab
300
Chhattisgarh
300
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 17
  Uttar Pradesh 119,000
  Bihar 22,000
  Haryana 20,000
  Rajasthan 16,000
  Madhya Pradesh 10,000
  Gujarat 9,600
  Uttarakhand 8,100
  Himachal Pradesh 4,100
  West Bengal 3,100
  Delhi 2,500
  Maharashtra 2,200
  Jharkhand 1,800
  Jammu and Kashmir 1,800
  Punjab 300
  Chhattisgarh 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 India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (165,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 23
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Bhojpuri
8,700
Gujarati
6,500
Marwari (India)
5,300
Wagdi
2,600
Garhwali
1,600
Dhundari
1,400
Dogri
1,300
Bengali
1,200
Haryanvi
1,200
Marathi
900
Kanauji
800
Kangri
700
Shekhawati
500
Braj Bhasha
500
Maithili
500
Primary Language Hindi (165,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 23
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Bhojpuri 8,700
  Gujarati 6,500
  Marwari (India) 5,300
  Wagdi 2,600
  Garhwali 1,600
  Dhundari 1,400
  Dogri 1,300
  Bengali 1,200
  Haryanvi 1,200
  Marathi 900
  Kanauji 800
  Kangri 700
  Shekhawati 500
  Braj Bhasha 500
  Maithili 500
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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General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / 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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