Gujarati Brahmin in India

The Gujarati Brahmin 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.

Introduction / History

Brahmins are the highest of the four varna (major caste groupings) in Hinduism. The historical developments of various Brahmin castes are not clear, as the history of the caste system itself is unclear. There was perhaps a caste system based on personal merit at one time before the hereditary caste system became dominant, as is seen in modern history. Brahmin castes became powerful in the early centuries of the Christian Era through alliances with kings, who granted them landed estates related to temples and temple service. There has never been a comprehensive analysis of all the different types and subgroups of Brahmins.

Traditionally Brahmins have five daily duties; to the gods, to ancestors, to all creatures, to humans, and to study. Thus daily worship (duty to gods) and chanting of sacred texts (duty to study) are an integral part of many Brahmins' lives, even if this is only a token routine for many.


Where Are they Located?

Though Gujarati Brahmins have their origins in Gujarat, they live in just about every state throughout India. Since many Indian states have their own language, the Gujarati Brahmins must learn to communicate in local languages. A high percentage of them also speak English as higher education in India is mostly English medium.

Brahmins are disproportionately represented among overseas Indians due to their higher educational attainments, so those who reach out to Indian nationals in the West are very likely reaching out to people who are extremely difficult to reach in South Asia.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Traditionally in the varna system Brahmins are considered as priests, but a temple priest is a lowly position that no Gujarati Brahmin family wants their sons to aspire towards. Rather, there is strong pressure for higher education, particularly in computer science and engineering. Gujarati Brahmins have a strong work ethic and are often leaders, whether politically, intellectually, spiritually or socially.

Brahmins are still deeply influenced by the traditional four stages of life; the first student stage is followed by the householder stage, where marriage, raising a family and being a productive member of society is the primary obligation of an individual. Once children are married there is time for spiritual concerns in the third stage of reclusiveness, which is followed (this is rarely practiced) by itinerant homeless wandering (sannyasa).

Often a busy Brahmin will put off spiritual discussions as an issue for later in life. The famous Bhagavad Gita text does not support this, however, as it calls for all humanity to engage in doing good to all without thought of merit or reward for such actions.


What Are Their Beliefs?

In some cases Brahmin subgroups are defined by their theological distinctions such as Madhva Brahmins, who are defined by their dualist theology, though everyone does not actually hold those beliefs. However, many Brahmin castes are made up of people who adhere to all the various philosophical and theological options espoused by modern Hindus, including hard core secularists and atheists. One can never predict what an individual Brahmin might believe or disbelieve!


What Are Their Needs?

Gujarati Brahmins as an influential and generally well-to-do community are not unlike the middle classes of most places. Their main needs involve relational strains that are usually kept behind closed doors. Modernization is breaking down family units which have been the glue to society for many generations, and loneliness is increasingly a problem. They are expected to "achieve it all," but ironically, achieving it all can be empty.


Prayer Points

Pray for Christ to reveal Himself to Gujarati Brahmin leaders.
Pray for the eyes of Brahmin hearts to be open to Jesus Christ as Lord and king.
Pray for Holy Spirit directed Christ followers to go to Gujarati Brahmin communities.
Pray for a disciple making movement to emerge among every Brahmin community.
Pray for many to be prompted to faithfully pray for Brahmins.


Scripture Prayers for the Brahmin Gujarati in India.


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/19945/IN
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-brahmins-in-gujarat-must-unite-for-development-1655710
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/brahmins-in-gujarat-demand-reservation-salary-for-priests/


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Brahmin Gujarati
People Name in Country Brahmin Gujarati
Natural Name Gujarati Brahmin
Pronunciation goo-jah-RAH-tee BRAH-min
Alternate Names Gujara; Gujjar; Gurjarashtra Brahman; Gurjarashtra Brahmin; Parshuramiye; ब्रामिन, गुजराती
Population this Country 180,000
Population all Countries 180,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 4
People ID 19945
ROP3 Code 115719
ROP25 Code 301405
ROP25 Name Brahmin
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 12
Largest States
Maharashtra
112,000
Uttar Pradesh
31,000
Gujarat
21,000
Rajasthan
8,000
Madhya Pradesh
3,000
Himachal Pradesh
1,700
West Bengal
1,400
Uttarakhand
1,300
Karnataka
500
Kerala
400
Tamil Nadu
300
Jammu and Kashmir
100
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 12
  Maharashtra 112,000
  Uttar Pradesh 31,000
  Gujarat 21,000
  Rajasthan 8,000
  Madhya Pradesh 3,000
  Himachal Pradesh 1,700
  West Bengal 1,400
  Uttarakhand 1,300
  Karnataka 500
  Kerala 400
  Tamil Nadu 300
  Jammu and Kashmir 100
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
100.00 %
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 Gujarati (134,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
Hindi
16,000
Haroti
1,000
Marathi
600
Bengali
400
Primary Language Gujarati (134,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 16,000
  Haroti 1,000
  Marathi 600
  Bengali 400
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
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Scripture / Bible General / Other
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Gujarati Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Gujarati YouVersion Bibles
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.



Joshua Project logo    Joshua Project    Copyright © 2024