Aghori in India

The Aghori 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

We know very little about the history of the Aghori people.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The main source of subsistence for the Aghori has been begging and consuming leftovers from feasts or hotels. Some are rickshaw-pullers or laborers. However, today there are some in government and private service. Social control is maintained by a headman (mukhia). The priest (sardar-naya) and the treasurer (bhandari) are the other officials. Unless the council's decisions are obeyed, the offender is usually excommunicated.


What Are Their Beliefs?

They worship family deities (gosai) such as Bhairals, Bishahar, and Panchunath.


What Are Their Needs?

Some of the people in this community speak a language (Hindi, Maithili) that has many Christian resources available. Scripture and the JESUS Film are available in these languages, as examples. Workers are needed to carry these resources to the people.


Prayer Points

Pray for them to understand and respond to Christ.
Pray God will have mercy on the Aghori, doing whatever it takes to place them in a position to receive him.
Ask God to open the hearts of the Aghori to the gospel leading entire families to the foot of the cross and the empty grave.
Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.


Scripture Prayers for the Aghori in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Aghori
People Name in Country Aghori
Alternate Names Aghorapanthi; Aghore; Bhatuk; Bhatuk Gulgulia; Giri; Gosain; Gulgulia; Karkarmunda; Karkarmundi; Sarbhangi; Surbhang; अघोरी
Population this Country 76,000
Population all Countries 76,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
PeopleID3 16178
ROP3 Code 111282
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 10
Largest States
Madhya Pradesh
33,000
Uttar Pradesh
25,000
Bihar
14,000
Jharkhand
2,300
Uttarakhand
1,100
Rajasthan
600
West Bengal
500
Maharashtra
100
Karnataka
40
Odisha
20
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 10
  Madhya Pradesh 33,000
  Uttar Pradesh 25,000
  Bihar 14,000
  Jharkhand 2,300
  Uttarakhand 1,100
  Rajasthan 600
  West Bengal 500
  Maharashtra 100
  Karnataka 40
  Odisha 20
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 (59,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 11
Secondary Languages
Bhojpuri
5,700
Bundeli
1,700
Maithili
1,200
Dhundari
1,000
Garhwali
700
Wagdi
80
Angika
60
Marwari (India)
50
Telugu
40
Mewari
Primary Language Hindi (59,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 11
Secondary Languages
  Bhojpuri 5,700
  Bundeli 1,700
  Maithili 1,200
  Dhundari 1,000
  Garhwali 700
  Wagdi 80
  Angika 60
  Marwari (India) 50
  Telugu 40
  Mewari 10
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)
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 DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
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 Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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 Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
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
Photo Source AKS.9955 - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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