Saraswat Brahmin 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

Saraswat Brahmins are Brahmins who lived on the banks of the former Saraswati River that once flowed in northern India. Saraswats are considered among the oldest and most widespread community in India, still preserving their own culture. Around 1900 BC, the river Saraswati started vanishing underground and the people on its banks started migrating to other parts of India thus forming sub-communities.


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 Saraswat Brahmin family wants their sons to aspire towards. Rather, there is strong pressure for higher education, particularly in computer science and engineering. Saraswat Brahmins have a strong work ethic and are often leaders, whether politically, intellectually, spiritually or socially.

Saraswat 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 Saraswat 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!

But most Brahmins respect the ancient (and many not-so-ancient) traditions of their forefathers. Some work to synthesize modern science and Hindu beliefs and practices. Few today have seriously studied, let alone memorized, the ancient Vedas; but one is more likely to find a person knowledgeable about the Vedas and other Hindu texts and teachings among Brahmins than among any non-Brahmin caste group.


What Are Their Needs?

Saraswat 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 Saraswat Brahmin leaders.
Pray for the eyes of Saraswat Brahmin hearts to be open to Jesus Christ as Lord and king.
Pray for Holy Spirit directed Christ followers to go to Saraswat 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 Saraswat in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Brahmin Saraswat
People Name in Country Brahmin Saraswat
Natural Name Saraswat Brahmin
Pronunciation sah-rah-WAHT BRAH-min
Alternate Names Brahman Terai; Brahmin Terai; Gawda Saraswat; Rajapura Saraswat; Saras; ब्रह्मन, सरस्वत
Population this Country 717,000
Population all Countries 727,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 14
People ID 19977
ROP3 Code 115758
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 21
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Uttar Pradesh
182,000
Bihar
106,000
Maharashtra
100,000
Uttarakhand
61,000
Rajasthan
56,000
Gujarat
53,000
Karnataka
36,000
West Bengal
32,000
Jharkhand
21,000
Tamil Nadu
17,000
Madhya Pradesh
14,000
Assam
8,900
Andhra Pradesh
7,400
Punjab
6,400
Telangana
4,200
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 21  (only 20 largest shown)
  Uttar Pradesh 182,000
  Bihar 106,000
  Maharashtra 100,000
  Uttarakhand 61,000
  Rajasthan 56,000
  Gujarat 53,000
  Karnataka 36,000
  West Bengal 32,000
  Jharkhand 21,000
  Tamil Nadu 17,000
  Madhya Pradesh 14,000
  Assam 8,900
  Andhra Pradesh 7,400
  Punjab 6,400
  Telangana 4,200
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 Hindi (316,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 30
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Marathi
49,000
Konkani
44,000
Gujarati
40,000
Garhwali
27,000
Kannada
18,000
Marwari
16,000
Maithili
14,000
Bhojpuri
14,000
Bengali
14,000
Tamil
13,000
Bagri
8,300
Awadhi
7,900
Braj Bhasha
3,300
Dhundari
2,800
Konkani, Goan
2,000
Primary Language Hindi (316,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 30
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Marathi 49,000
  Konkani 44,000
  Gujarati 40,000
  Garhwali 27,000
  Kannada 18,000
  Marwari 16,000
  Maithili 14,000
  Bhojpuri 14,000
  Bengali 14,000
  Tamil 13,000
  Bagri 8,300
  Awadhi 7,900
  Braj Bhasha 3,300
  Dhundari 2,800
  Konkani, Goan 2,000
People Groups Speaking Hindi

Primary Language:  Hindi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1806-1962)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2022)
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YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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Audio Recordings DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
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 Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
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General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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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
Photo Source Pandit Gagan Saraswat - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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