Introduction / History

The Neo Buddhist or Nav Buddhist are a scheduled caste in India and changed from Hinduism to Buddhism in the latter half of the last century. Many live in Maharashtra and in other Indian States too. They celebrate Buddhist festivals.

In Andhra Pradesh they speak, read and write in Telugu. They are not vegetarians. They have cousin marriages. Divorce is not allowed. The bereaved can marry again. Children inherit equal amounts of property upon the death of the father. They have a
naming ceremony for children that is performed by Buddhist monks. There are marriage rituals and the dead are cremated or buried. Agriculture is their main work. The Buddhist Sangam settles disputes among them.

In Uttar Pradesh, the Neo Buddhists speak Hindi. Many of them do shoe making and leather work for a living. They use modern medicines and family planning.

In Karnataka, they speak with others not in their group in Kannada and read and write in Kannada too. They eat wheat and rice as cereals.

In Gujarat they use Gujarati. In the Punjab they speak Punjabi and Hindi and read and write in Gurmukhi and Devanagari too.

Prayer Points

* Pray that the Buddhist Sangam come to Jesus Christ and lead others of the Neo Buddhists to Him also.
* Pray that they will realize that neither Hinduism nor Buddhism will provide a path orightness with God.
* Pray that gospel materials and the Internet will point them toward salvation.

References

Singh, K. S., ed. "India's Communities A-Z", Oxford University Press, USA 1999