Yerukula in India

The Yerukula have only been reported in India
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Subgroups: 7

Subgroup Name Population
Katherolu 66,000
Pachhabotla 47,000
Koracha 34,000
Koravar 26,000
Kuncheti 25,000
Kapparallatippa 9,800
Kothula 3,500

Introduction / History

Yerukala people are a tribe found largely in the southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Yerukala are an indigenous people which means they have low status in modern India. They are called Yerukula after their women's traditional profession of fortune telling. This people have a language of its own, Yerukula. Many of them also speak Telugu and Hindi so they can communicate with those outside their group. A small fraction of the Yerukala claim to be followers of Jesus Christ.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The traditional occupations of Yerukala include basket-making, mat weaving, raising pigs and chicken and rope-making. The Yerukala women are specialized in fortune telling and making charms. Today, most of the Yerukala are settled in villages or towns. They are trying to make their way out of poverty by getting an education. Even though they live in a democratic country like India, they are still living under harsh social conditions because of the Hindu caste system. They face daily social and economic discrimination. The sub-divisions of Yerukula include those who make baskets from split bamboo, those who make items from wild date leaves, those who make weaver's combs, and sellers of curry leaves and salt. Most of them live in nuclear families. Descent is along the father's line, and authority comes from his line as well. They prefer cross-cousin marriages. Their marriages are usually between one man and one woman, but they do allow a man to have more than one wife if he can afford it. Marriage through negotiation and exchange are the common modes of acquiring mates. Divorce is permissible on the grounds of adultery, barrenness and incompatibility between the spouses. Widows are permitted to re-marry. The Yerukala tribe has its own social control mechanism to ensure proper observance of prescribed codes of conduct. This traditional council is headed by an elderly man whose office is hereditary. The traditional tribal council decides the domestic disputes and enforces social norms.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Yerukala practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Their brand of Hinduism is heavily influenced by folk religion. 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 Yerukala visit Hindu shrines 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 as Christians do. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. The main yearly holidays of the Yerukala 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. The lowest communities are outside of the caste system. As a tribal people the Yerukala are outside the Hindu caste system.


What Are Their Needs?

The Yerukula people need to put all their trust in Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and free them from their fear of evil spirits. They also need to learn new job skills and good local schools for their children.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to give the Yerukala a desire to investigate the Person and claims of Jesus Christ.
Pray for a disciple making movement among the Yerukala people this decade.
Pray for the Lord to send workers to the Yerukala people to tell them about Jesus and to help them with their physical needs.


Scripture Prayers for the Yerukula in India.


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Yerukula
People Name in Country Yerukula
Alternate Names Erarollu; Erukala; Erukula; Kaikadi; Koracha; Korachollu; Korama; Korama Chetti; Korati; Korava; Koravan; Korcha; Kurru; Pochammalollu; Yarukuli; Yeralu; Yerukala; Yerukollu; येरुकुला
Population this Country 644,000
Population all Countries 644,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 13
People ID 18342
ROP3 Code 113894
ROP25 Code 309003
ROP25 Name Yerukula
Affinity Bloc South Asian Peoples
People Cluster South Asia Tribal - other
People Group Yerukula
Ethnic Code CNN25
Total Subgroups 7
  Katherolu 66,000
  Pachhabotla 47,000
  Koracha 34,000
  Koravar 26,000
  Kuncheti 25,000
  Kapparallatippa 9,800
  Kothula 3,500
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 15
Largest States
Andhra Pradesh
445,000
Telangana
176,000
Tamil Nadu
17,000
Odisha
2,400
Karnataka
1,800
Maharashtra
800
Puducherry
300
Delhi
300
Gujarat
200
Chhattisgarh
100
Kerala
100
Jharkhand
90
Assam
90
Goa
50
Andaman and Nicobar
20
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 15
  Andhra Pradesh 445,000
  Telangana 176,000
  Tamil Nadu 17,000
  Odisha 2,400
  Karnataka 1,800
  Maharashtra 800
  Puducherry 300
  Delhi 300
  Gujarat 200
  Chhattisgarh 100
  Kerala 100
  Jharkhand 90
  Assam 90
  Goa 50
  Andaman and Nicobar 20
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.01 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
1.76 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
97.54 %
Islam
0.25 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.02 %
Unknown
0.43 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Yerukula (336,000 speakers)
Language Code yeu   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 17
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Telugu
170,000
Hindi
17,000
Tamil
17,000
Kannada
1,300
Marathi
200
Kuvi
200
Urdu
80
Koya
70
Odia
60
Bhili
60
Bengali
40
Gujarati
20
English
20
Malayalam
10
Gondi, Northern
Primary Language Yerukula (336,000 speakers)
Language Code yeu   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 17
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Telugu 170,000
  Hindi 17,000
  Tamil 17,000
  Kannada 1,300
  Marathi 200
  Kuvi 200
  Urdu 80
  Koya 70
  Odia 60
  Bhili 60
  Bengali 40
  Gujarati 20
  English 20
  Malayalam 10
  Gondi, Northern 10
People Groups Speaking Yerukula

Primary Language:  Yerukula

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2014)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2021)
Bible-Complete No
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Yerukula Jesus Film Project
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
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.



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