The Valluvan are Hindu priests by tradition. They live in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Pondicherry. In Tamil Nadu the Valluvan live mainly in villages. They speak Tamil. Because of their high status, their males wear the exclusive sacred thread starting at age 12.
The Valluvan people are usually landless. Though there are priests, many have gone into other work such as business and trade. They believe in education for boys and to a lesser degree for girls. They have cross-cousin marriages. They do not allow their widows to marry again.
They are Hindu priests by tradition, but they also do fortune telling and practice astrology. Some are devotees of either Vishnu or Shiva, and these two groups do not intermarry.
The Valluvan people need to put their faith in the God of Heaven and His son, Jesus Christ so they can enjoy life to the full.
Pray that God will give the Valluvan dreams and visions leading them to begin a community movement to Christ. Pray for faithful intercessors and workers. Pray that gospel materials will become easily available to them.
Scripture Prayers for the Valluvan in India.
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
People Name General | Valluvan |
People Name in Country | Valluvan |
Alternate Names | Ahambadian; Alwar; Ambalakarar; Dadar; Dala; Iyer; Iyyer; Joshiar; Jyotidar; Nainar; Pandaram; Serviar; Thiru Valluvan; Thiru Vallvar; Thiruvalluvar; Thottia Naiker; Valayargal; Vallamban; Vallon; Valluva; Valluvar; Valuvan; Vanji; Vidiyar; Viniar; वल्लुवन |
Population this Country | 125,000 |
Population all Countries | 128,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 3 |
People ID | 18320 |
ROP3 Code | 113867 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Dalit - other |
People Group | Valluvan |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Dalit - other |
People Group | Valluvan |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Total Subgroups | 11 |
Nainar 2,800 | |
Alwar 2,300 | |
Arupathu Katchi 2,100 | |
Narpathu Katchi 2,100 | |
Pandaram 2,100 | |
Dadar 600 | |
Arupathykathi 200 | |
Paraiyan 200 | |
Tavidadari 200 | |
Thavadadari 200 |
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 | 7 | |||||||||
Largest States |
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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 | 7 |
Tamil Nadu 93,000 | |
Kerala 22,000 | |
Puducherry 5,400 | |
Karnataka 1,300 | |
Andhra Pradesh 800 | |
Delhi 200 | |
Telangana 100 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.08 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
99.92 %
|
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 | Tamil (96,000 speakers) | |||
Language Code | tam Ethnologue Listing | |||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||
Total Languages | 3 | |||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Tamil (96,000 speakers) |
Language Code | tam Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 3 |
Secondary Languages | |
Malayalam 19,000 | |
Telugu 1,300 | |
People Groups | Speaking Tamil |
Primary Language: Tamil
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1714-1956) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1715-1998) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1727-2021) |
Bible-NT Audio | 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 data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | Keith Carey |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |