Baidya (Hindu traditions) 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

The Baidya or Vaidya are a Hindu people who live in northeast India and Bangladesh. Their traditional occupation is being physicians. Vaidya means one who knows, studies and teaches the Vedas, the Hindu Scriptures. The Baidya are one of the highest Hindu castes equal to the Brahmins in India and Bangladesh. The kings from the Sena dynasty of the 11th and 12th centuries were Baidya. Besides being medical doctors, the Baidya served as high-ranking military officers and as royal advisers. They were often given large tracts of land due to their service to the king.

Today the Baidya continue to become physicians. Frequently, they are trained in both traditional Indian Ayurveda and Western medicine.

The primary language of the Baidya is Bengali. As educated Indians and Bangladeshi, they also speak English and Hindi.


Where Are they Located?

Most Baidya live in the India state of West Bengal. Smaller groups live in other Indian states and in Bangladesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Baidya are one of the most respected castes in the Hindu system. Many of them still serve as physicians and in other professions like law and engineering. Baidya encourage their children to obtain graduate degrees in university. The Baidya own land that is worked by lower castes.

The Baidya are generally monogamous, meaning they only have one spouse. Families arrange marriages with the consent of the young adults. The Baidya often serve as priests in their own important family celebrations.

Most Baidya are not vegetarians but will not eat beef. Their primary foods are rice, grains, vegetables, fruit and dairy products.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Baidya practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Baidya visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers and incense to their gods. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. The Baidya pay special reverence to Vishnu, the preserver god and Surya, the sun god.

The main yearly holidays of the Baidya people are Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

The Baidya need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. They must come to realize that they are sinners who need the Savior.


Prayer Points

Pray that a strong movement to Jesus will bring whole Baidya families and communities into a rich experience of God's blessings.
Pray the Lord will give Baidya families understanding and responsive hearts as they hear about the love of Christ.
Pray that the Lord leads believers to build redeeming relationships with Baidya to show them that money and a high position in society do not bring peace of mind or the forgiveness of sins.


Scripture Prayers for the Baidya (Hindu traditions) in India.


References

wikipedia.org/wiki/Baidya
indpaedia.com/ind/index.php/Baidya,_Vaidya,_Baid,_Vaida


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Baidya (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Baidya (Hindu traditions)
Alternate Names Baid; Baidya; Baidyakar; Bediya; Munida; Vaidya; Vaidya/Bede; Vaidyansi; बैदया (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 352,000
Population all Countries 483,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 7
People ID 16295
ROP3 Code 111421
ROP25 Code 300712
ROP25 Name Baiddo
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 18
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
West Bengal
282,000
Tripura
35,000
Jharkhand
16,000
Bihar
11,000
Odisha
3,200
Maharashtra
800
Meghalaya
800
Delhi
800
Chhattisgarh
600
Andaman and Nicobar
400
Nagaland
300
Uttar Pradesh
200
Madhya Pradesh
100
Uttarakhand
90
Manipur
90
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 18
  West Bengal 282,000
  Tripura 35,000
  Jharkhand 16,000
  Bihar 11,000
  Odisha 3,200
  Maharashtra 800
  Meghalaya 800
  Delhi 800
  Chhattisgarh 600
  Andaman and Nicobar 400
  Nagaland 300
  Uttar Pradesh 200
  Madhya Pradesh 100
  Uttarakhand 90
  Manipur 90
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.31 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.69 %
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 Bengali (249,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
Hindi
39,000
Bhojpuri
3,300
Kok Borok
2,400
Odia
1,200
Maithili
500
Magahi
300
Assamese
300
Primary Language Bengali (249,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 39,000
  Bhojpuri 3,300
  Kok Borok 2,400
  Odia 1,200
  Maithili 500
  Magahi 300
  Assamese 300
People Groups Speaking Bengali

Primary Language:  Bengali

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1800-1980)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1801-1984)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1809-2022)
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 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 Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Bengali 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 Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
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
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Copyrighted © 2024  Isudas  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
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.



Joshua Project logo    Joshua Project    Copyright © 2024