The Agamudaiyan or Agamudayars were once soldiers and warriors in the kingdoms of south India. For their military service, they were rewarded with land. The name Agamudaiyan means "householder or landowner" in Tamil. The Agamudaiyan also guarded palaces and Hindu temples for the kings of south India. In a famous battle of 1789, they defeated an English-backed army that kept their land free from British control.
Today most Agamudaiyan are agricultural workers. Some continue their military tradition by serving in the Indian army. Some Agamudaiyan own their land while others work on land owned by others. Educated Agamudaiyan have become lawyers, military officers, engineers, physicians, civil servants and politicians.
The vast majority of Agamudaiyan speak Tamil as their first language. Educated Agamudaiyan also speak English.
Most Agamudaiyan live in Tamil Nadu, their traditional home. A small number of them live in other south Indian states.
There is great diversity in the lives of the Agamudaiyan depending on their educational level. Those without a college education live much like their ancestors did, as farmers in the villages of Tamil Nadu. They grow rice, millet, lentils, vegetables and fruits. They raise animals for meat and dairy products. They are not vegetarians. However, as Hindus, will not eat beef. Those with a university education are business and governmental leaders in Tamil Nadu society.
Brahman priests lead important life ceremonies such as birth, weddings and funerals. Families arrange marriages. They prefer endogamous marriages, that is, within their caste and clan. Cousin marriages are common. After the wedding, the newly married couple will live with or near the groom's parents. Monogamy or marriage or one spouse is the general rule. Sons inherit their father's property.
Almost all Agamudaiyan practice Hinduism, the ancient religion and culture of India. They worship and serve the many gods of the Hindu pantheon. Shiva, the destroyer god, and Ganesha, the god of good fortune are given special attention by the Agamudaiyan. They bring offerings of food, flowers and incense to the Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu. They believe that Moksha or freedom from the endless cycles of death and rebirth can be achieved through rituals and good works.
The Agamudaiyan participate in the yearly Hindu holidays of Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights and Navratri, the nine-day celebration of autumn.
The Agamudaiyan need to hear a clear presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. They need to see the love of Christ lived out before them. The few Christians among them need to be trained and motivated to share the good news with their brothers and sisters who have not heard.
Pray that this warrior people would become soldiers for Jesus Christ.
Pray the Lord moves the Indian Christians of Tamil Nadu to befriend and reach out to the Agamudaiyan.
Pray that Bible-believing churches would begin in the Agamudaiyan community.
Scripture Prayers for the Agamudaiyan unspecified in India.
indpaedia.com/ind/index.php/Agamudaiyan
cccowe.org/content.php?id=unreached/srilanka/agamudaiyan
Profile Source: David Kugel |
Global Prayer Digest: 2010-10-04 |
People Name General | Agamudaiyan |
People Name in Country | Agamudaiyan unspecified |
Alternate Names | Achukatlavandlu; Agambadi; Agambadia; Agamudayar; Agamudiyer; Agamundi; Aghambadiar; Aghamudaya; Ambalakaram; Ambalavasi; Barichat; Barichatty; Kondaliyar; Madali; Malayamar; Maruar; Marumaravar; Mudaliyar; Mukkulather; Muppan; Mutharaja; Muthiraja; Mutracha; Muttharayar; Muttiryan; Nainar; Nathamar; Nattaman; Palegaru; Parkavakulam; Parkavakulam Suruthinar; Pillai; Pillaimar; Pillay; Pulle; Raja Kambalattu Naicker/Muthrachar; Raja Kambalattu Nayakkar; Sanagara; Sekkan; Servaikaran; Server; Thozhu; Thuluva Vellala; Udaiyan; Udaiyar; Udayar; Udyar; Valaiyan; Valaiyan/Kambalattan; Valayar; Vellari; आगामुदैईयाँ |
Population this Country | 260,000 |
Population all Countries | 269,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 5 |
People ID | 16172 |
ROP3 Code | 111274 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Hindu - other |
People Group | Agamudaiyan |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Hindu - other |
People Group | Agamudaiyan |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Total Subgroups | 25 (only 15 largest shown) |
Vanniya 9,400 | |
Muthuraja 9,300 | |
Peruntali 9,200 | |
Sirutali 9,100 | |
Malaiman 7,000 | |
Sarahu 2,900 | |
Ambunadu 2,800 | |
Ettarai Koppu 2,800 | |
Kurumba 2,800 | |
Nadunattu 2,800 |
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 | 20 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
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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 | 20 |
Tamil Nadu 772,000 | |
Karnataka 23,000 | |
Puducherry 22,000 | |
Kerala 9,600 | |
Maharashtra 4,800 | |
Andhra Pradesh 2,000 | |
Delhi 1,600 | |
Telangana 900 | |
Andaman and Nicobar 500 | |
Chhattisgarh 200 | |
West Bengal 200 | |
Madhya Pradesh 100 | |
Odisha 70 | |
Chandigarh 60 | |
Uttar Pradesh 60 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.50 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
99.50 %
|
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 | Tamil (869,000 speakers) | ||||||
Language Code | tam Ethnologue Listing | ||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||
Total Languages | 5 | ||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Tamil (869,000 speakers) |
Language Code | tam Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 5 |
Secondary Languages | |
Malayalam 17,000 | |
English 100 | |
Telugu 60 | |
Konkani, Goan 40 | |
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 (1727-2021) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
Map Source | People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | David Kugel |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |