Subgroups: 10
Subgroup Name | Population ▼ | |
---|---|---|
Pallaimar | 307,000 | |
Pandamuttu | 307,000 | |
Arasa Palli | 221,000 | |
Padaiyachi | 205,000 | |
Visalakshiamma | 93,000 | |
Anjunal | 15,000 | |
Pannedunal | 15,000 | |
Olai | 11,000 | |
Agamudaiyan | -1 Unknown | |
Chekkala | -1 Unknown |
The terms Vanniyans and Padayatchi has been used interchangeably because of the same historical origin they claim. In reality, Vanniyars are descendants the medieval Pallava Kings who ruled the South Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Padayatchi and Vanniyan have minor differences as Padayatchi is a class within the Vanniyan castes. Most Vanniyan live in the three adjacent southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, mostly concentrated in the area where these three states intersect. Among the lower castes in the Tamil Nadu, they are the most populous and they are one of the earliest castes to be socially well organized. Today they are the most politically mobilized and well-informed caste in Tamil Nadu. The main language of the Vanniyan is Tamil. A small fraction of them claim to be followers of Jesus Christ.
The Vanniyans are officially in Kshatriya caste which gives them good status in the Hindu system. Most Vanniyan engage in agriculture and animal husbandry for a living. Rice is by far the most important crop grown in South India. Educated Vanniyan are politicians, government administrators, college professors, scientists and engineers. The Vanniyan generally marry within their group. Families arrange marriages with the consent of the young people. Sons inherit the property of their deceased father. Caste associations settle legal disputes and enforce social norms.
The overwhelming majority of Vanniyars are Hindu. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They 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 like Christians do.
The Vanniyan need humility so that they can see themselves as sinners in need of a Savior. In South India where the Vanniyan live, there are many believers who can tell them about Jesus.
Pray that God will raise up prayer teams to break up the soil in the Vanniyan community through worship and intercession. Ask the Lord to call Indian believers who willing share Christ with the Vanniyars and help them begin their own disciple making movement. Ask the Holy Spirit to soften their hearts of the Vanniyan towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the gospel.
Scripture Prayers for the Vanniyan in India.
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
Global Prayer Digest: 2017-10-24 |
People Name General | Vanniyan |
People Name in Country | Vanniyan |
Pronunciation |
VUH-nee-un
|
Alternate Names | Agnikula; Agnikula Kshatriya; Agnikula Kshatriyas; Ambalavasi; Ekera; Ekere; Ekila; Gangaputra; Gangavamsam; Gangavara; Gangavaru; Gounder; Kampanamullu; Kounder; Marakallu; Naicker; Nayullu; Padaichi; Padaiyachi; Padaiyachi Christian; Padaiyaci Christian; Padaiychi; Pallapu Rajulu; Pallelu; Palli; Palli Kapulu; Palli Reddi; Pandamuttu; Penta; Perumal; Thigala; Tigala; Tilvi; Vanne kapulu; Vanne Reddi; Vanniakula Kshatriya; Vannikola; Vannikula Kshatriya; Vanniyan Christian; Vanniyar; Variyar; Vellaiyan; Vontikulgi; वन्नीयाँ |
Population this Country | 13,734,000 |
Population all Countries | 13,771,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 275 |
People ID | 18323 |
ROP3 Code | 113870 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Hindu - other |
People Group | Vanniyan |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Hindu - other |
People Group | Vanniyan |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Total Subgroups | 10 |
Pallaimar 307,000 | |
Pandamuttu 307,000 | |
Arasa Palli 221,000 | |
Padaiyachi 205,000 | |
Visalakshiamma 93,000 | |
Anjunal 15,000 | |
Pannedunal 15,000 | |
Olai 11,000 | |
Agamudaiyan 0 | |
Chekkala 0 |
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 | 29 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 29 (only 20 largest shown) |
Tamil Nadu 11,287,000 | |
Karnataka 843,000 | |
Puducherry 593,000 | |
Andhra Pradesh 439,000 | |
Kerala 162,000 | |
Maharashtra 81,000 | |
Odisha 52,000 | |
Telangana 31,000 | |
Delhi 13,000 | |
Gujarat 4,100 | |
Andaman and Nicobar 3,200 | |
Madhya Pradesh 2,700 | |
West Bengal 2,300 | |
Jharkhand 2,100 | |
Uttar Pradesh 1,700 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
1.37 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
98.63 %
|
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 (12,271,000 speakers) | ||||||||||||
Language Code | tam Ethnologue Listing | ||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||||||||
Total Languages | 11 | ||||||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Tamil (12,271,000 speakers) |
Language Code | tam Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 11 |
Secondary Languages | |
Telugu 207,000 | |
Kannada 185,000 | |
Malayalam 78,000 | |
Odia 4,300 | |
Tulu 1,000 | |
English 900 | |
Hindi 700 | |
Konkani 700 | |
Konkani, Goan 100 | |
Desiya 80 | |
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. |