The literary skills of the Kayastha people were in such demand that many of them moved to regions throughout India and Bangladesh. The Kayastha were originally administrators and bookkeepers for the kingdoms of northern India. In recent times the Kayastha have taken advantage of India’s educational system and branched out into many professions that require a high degree of literacy. The primary languages of the Kayastha are Hindi and Bengali. They also speak the local languages of where they live and English. Many resources are available in Hindi and Bengali including a complete Bible, radio broadcasts and the JESUS Film. Only a tiny fraction of the Kayastha claim to follow Jesus Christ.
The Kayastha are well-known in India for being politicians, writers, philosophers, entertainers, and scientists. They are among the most successful and prominent castes in India and Bangladesh. The Kayastha live in cities and encourage their children to attend colleges and graduate schools. Parents and young people join together to find prospective marriage partners. Kayastha tend to marry within their group although some are marrying other higher caste persons. For many Kayastha their Hindu faith has become more cultural than religious.
The large majority of the Kayastha practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of the Indian subcontinent. According to tradition the Kayastha were created by Brahmin to help the god of death Dharamraj keep records of good and bad deeds. 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 Kayastha visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. The main yearly holidays of the Kayastha people are Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn and Rama Navami, Rama’s birthday. The caste system divides Hindus into four main categories - Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and the Shudras. Dalits and tribal peoples are outside of the caste system. The Kayastha fit into the Kshatriya and Vaishyas castes. Both have good status in Hindu society.
The Kayastha people need the blessings of Jesus Christ, the only one who can offer them abundant life and forgiveness for their sins. They need to see the love and mercy of Christ lived out before them in practical ways by higher caste followers of Christ. The Kayastha need to see that money and worldly success will not gain them the joy and peace of God.
* Scripture Prayers for the Kayastha (Hindu traditions) in India.
Pray for a spiritual hunger that will give the Kayastha people a willingness to accept the eternal blessings of Jesus Christ. Pray for a disciple making movement that will bless the Kayastha people this decade. Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers to serve among the Kayastha people.
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
People Name General | Kayastha (Hindu traditions) |
People Name in Country | Kayastha (Hindu traditions) |
Pronunciation | kay-AHS-tah |
Population this Country | 7,761,000 |
Population all Countries | 9,637,000 |
Total Countries | 4 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 3 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 155 |
Alternate Names | Kact; Kaiath; Kait; Kaith; Karan; Kast; Kastha; Kayashtha; Kayasth; Kayath; Lal; Lala; Lalli; कायस्ता (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स) |
People ID | 17124 |
ROP3 Code | 112470 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Hindu - Kayastha |
People Group | Kayastha (Hindu traditions) |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Hindu - Kayastha |
People Group | Kayastha (Hindu traditions) |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Total Subgroups | 23 (only 15 largest shown) |
Asthana 56,000 | |
Bhatnagar 55,000 | |
Unaya 38,000 | |
Kulsarisht 30,000 | |
Nigam 16,000 | |
Bengali 12,000 | |
Gaur 7,600 | |
Ambastha 3,300 | |
Khare Dushre 3,300 | |
Valmiki 500 |
Country | India | |||||||||||||||
Region | Asia, South | |||||||||||||||
Continent | Asia | |||||||||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||||||||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | |||||||||||||||
Persecution Rank | 10 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | |||||||||||||||
Total States on file | 34 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
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Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | India |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 10 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 34 (only 20 largest shown) |
West Bengal 2,502,000 | |
Uttar Pradesh 1,932,000 | |
Bihar 1,330,000 | |
Assam 683,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 405,000 | |
Tripura 247,000 | |
Jharkhand 232,000 | |
Odisha 124,000 | |
Uttarakhand 91,000 | |
Chhattisgarh 44,000 | |
Maharashtra 40,000 | |
Rajasthan 33,000 | |
Delhi 30,000 | |
Haryana 15,000 | |
Andaman and Nicobar 11,000 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Language | Hindi (3,204,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 41 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
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Primary Language | Hindi (3,204,000 speakers) |
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 41 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Bengali 2,751,000 | |
Bhojpuri 611,000 | |
Assamese 478,000 | |
Awadhi 135,000 | |
Magahi 113,000 | |
Odia 108,000 | |
Maithili 102,000 | |
Kanauji 91,000 | |
Garhwali 45,000 | |
Bundeli 32,000 | |
Chhattisgarhi 32,000 | |
Kok Borok 12,000 | |
Bagheli 11,000 | |
Gujarati 7,700 | |
Kumaoni 7,100 | |
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 (1835-2012) |
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 |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching (GRN) |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament (FCBH) |
Audio Recordings | Online Scripture (Talking Bibles) |
Audio Recordings | Oral Bible stories in Hindi |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | A Beautiful Hope (EngSub) |
Film / Video | Coconuts |
Film / Video | Creation to Christ |
Film / Video | Father's Love Letter |
Film / Video | Following Jesus (India, JF Project) |
Film / Video | God's Story Video |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Hindi |
Film / Video | Magdalena (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | My Last Day (Jesus Film Project Anime) |
Film / Video | Rivka (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children (JF Project) |
Film / Video | The Hope Video |
General | Bible Visuals |
General | Four Spiritual Laws |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.03 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.03 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
99.94 %
|
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. |