Subgroups: 3
Subgroup Name | Population ▼ | |
---|---|---|
Pancholi | 145,000 | |
Maruvankar | 33,000 | |
Vankar | 33,000 |
The Mahyavanshi people are found in many parts of India but are mainly located in South Gujarat and north Maharashtra. The Mahyavanshi were originally residents south Gujarat, but upper castes took their land and persecuted them. Many of the Mahyavanshi went to Mumbai to work for the British as butlers, cooks, drivers, etc. Now the Mahyavanshi community is well educated by self development and also with the help of goverment.
The Mahyavanshi mother sat stone-faced before her grown children. She said, "Before your father died my needs as your mother were always met. Now you children are arguing over the inheritance. Remember our custom, that the inheritance is to be equally divided by the sons and unmarried daughters, and sometimes," she paused and swallowed hard, "the widow is also given a share. I need that share, since there is no one to care for me."
Among the Mahyavanshi communities of Mumbai, widow re-marriage is not allowed. Most of their practices are Animistic, though they call themselves Hindu. Like many Hindu communities in this materialistic city, the Mahyavanshis have a special devotion to Ganesh, the Hindu god whom they believe helps them overcome obstacles and achieve prosperity.
As one of the low class communities, they have a certain number of jobs reserved for them in government offices. They are a diligent people who have a high literacy rate, two factors that make them desirable employees. Most of them speak Gujarati and either Marathi or Hindu, all of which are important languages in Mumbai.
The Mahyavanshi are Hindu in religion. They are proud to be Hindu and have not changed their religion even though there have been aggressive attacks of Islam.
Legend says Yug Purush (Man of an age) Mahya (because of his name the caste became known as Mahyavanshi) was born in Patan of north Gujarat. His parent's names were King Karnadev and Minal Solanki. Because of an unfavorable forecast by state astrologers, King Karnadev abandoned his son in the desert. Yug Purush was found by a man named Dharamsinh who called the boy Mahyo. Dharmsinh raised and trained Mahyo. Mahyo sacrificed himself for the life of people, animals and birds.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will soften hearts as Christian workers use the JESUS Film, gospel cassettes and Christian radio to reach them, showing them Jesus, the only One Who can give true prosperity in this life and the life to come.
Pray that God will use Mahyavanshi people to lead other low class groups to the Savior.
Scripture Prayers for the Mahyavanshi in India.
Profile Source: Hasmukh Barot / Global Prayer Digest |
People Name General | Mahyavanshi |
People Name in Country | Mahyavanshi |
Alternate Names | Dhed; Ganeshya; Ganishya; Harijan; Mahya Bansi; Mahya Vanshi Vankar; Mahyavansi Vankor; Maru Vankar; Meghwal; Muru Vankal; Vankar; महयवंशी |
Population this Country | 1,976,000 |
Population all Countries | 2,000,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 4 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 40 |
People ID | 17410 |
ROP3 Code | 112810 |
ROP25 Code | 304948 |
ROP25 Name | Mahyanvanshi |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Dalit - other |
People Group | Mahyavanshi |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Total Subgroups | 3 |
Pancholi 145,000 | |
Maruvankar 33,000 | |
Vankar 33,000 |
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 | 23 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 23 (only 20 largest shown) |
Gujarat 1,932,000 | |
Maharashtra 18,000 | |
Tamil Nadu 6,200 | |
Daman and Diu 4,200 | |
Madhya Pradesh 2,600 | |
Dadra and Nagar Have 2,500 | |
West Bengal 1,700 | |
Odisha 1,600 | |
Delhi 1,600 | |
Rajasthan 1,500 | |
Telangana 1,400 | |
Jharkhand 900 | |
Uttar Pradesh 700 | |
Andhra Pradesh 300 | |
Chhattisgarh 200 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.42 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.51 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
99.07 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.01 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Gujarati (1,586,000 speakers) | ||||||||||||
Language Code | guj Ethnologue Listing | ||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||||||||
Total Languages | 13 | ||||||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Gujarati (1,586,000 speakers) |
Language Code | guj Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 13 |
Secondary Languages | |
Hindi 44,000 | |
Marathi 13,000 | |
Kacchi 9,400 | |
Sourashtra 3,800 | |
Koli, Wadiyari 1,300 | |
Konkani 1,000 | |
Bengali 500 | |
Odia 500 | |
Nimadi 300 | |
Marwari 200 | |
Malvi 90 | |
Chhattisgarhi 40 | |
People Groups | Speaking Gujarati |
Primary Language: Gujarati
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1809-1965) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1820-1985) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1823-2021) |
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 |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Hasmukh Barot / Global Prayer Digest |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |