The Terai is a plains region which straddles India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal where it is the country's most productive district. Until the mid 1700s the Terai was composed of a number of small kingdoms. A large part of the economy now involves logging, which began in the 1920s. Typically they strip away the logs for lumber then replace the trees with farmland. Today agriculture is foundational to the economy. Major crops include rice, wheat, sugarcane, jute, tobacco, and maize. Beekeeping and honey are also important parts of the local economy.
There are many ethnic communities and social groups including Brahmins. The Brahmins are small enough that they are hardly mentioned in the context of this region of Nepal, but they are undoubtedly a leading community in the local economy.
Terai Brahmins are located in India and Nepal.
The rate of literacy among Brahmin men, whose traditional priestly role required them to read sacred Hindu texts, is well above Nepal's national average.
Since they have the highest status of any Hindu varna, Brahmins believe that they have everything to lose by "converting" to another religious system. A Brahmin believes he is on the verge of reaching nirvana if he earns good karma in this life by doing what he is supposed to do. He believes that it took thousands of years of being reincarnated to reach the high state he now enjoys. Switching to a "different God" would surely result in an inferior reincarnation after he dies. To reach them for Christ someone will have to enter their world and learn how to communicate in the Brahmin way.
It will take people who are well educated and have a good grasp of Brahmin thinking to successfully reach them for Christ. They will need to have enough empathy to explain the ways of Jesus in a manner that would make sense to Terai Brahmins.
Brahmins are the key community who uphold Hinduism. Pray that the light of the gospel breaks through the veil that blinds this community.
Pray that the true God will reveal Himself to this community and use Terai Brahmins to preach and teach about Jesus Christ.
Pray for a disciple making movement to flourish among every Brahmin community.
Scripture Prayers for the Brahmin Terai in Nepal.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309416202_Dowry_a_contemporary_landscape_in_the_Brahmin_community_of_the_Terai_in_Nepal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_in_Nepal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terai
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/16521/NP
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3458000468.html
http://www.greathimalayatrails.com/ght-about-nepal/brahmin-chhetri-people/
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
People Name General | Brahmin Terai |
People Name in Country | Brahmin Terai |
Natural Name | Terai Brahmin |
Alternate Names | Brahman Terai; ब्रामिन, टेराई |
Population this Country | 121,000 |
Population all Countries | 121,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 2 |
People ID | 20057 |
ROP3 Code | 115767 |
ROP25 Code | 301405 |
ROP25 Name | Brahmin |
Country | Nepal | |||||||||||||||
Region | Asia, South | |||||||||||||||
Continent | Asia | |||||||||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||||||||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | |||||||||||||||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | |||||||||||||||
Total States on file | 14 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States |
|
Country | Nepal |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Total States | 14 |
Janakpur 63,000 | |
Narayani 15,000 | |
Lumbini 12,000 | |
Sagarmatha 10,000 | |
Mechi 4,200 | |
Bheri 4,000 | |
Bagmati 3,900 | |
Kosi 3,800 | |
Rapti 2,900 | |
Seti 1,100 | |
Mahakali 500 | |
Gandaki 400 | |
Dhaulagiri 30 | |
Karnali 20 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
98.80 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
1.20 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest Nepal census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Maithili (72,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | mai Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 17 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Primary Language | Maithili (72,000 speakers) |
Language Code | mai Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 17 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Bhojpuri 9,100 | |
Nepali 6,900 | |
Awadhi 5,700 | |
Hindi 5,200 | |
Marwari 2,600 | |
Bengali 1,100 | |
Magahi 1,000 | |
Sanskrit 500 | |
English 200 | |
Dotyali 100 | |
Nepalese Sign Language 80 | |
Haryanvi 80 | |
Angika 40 | |
Rangpuri 20 | |
Gujarati 20 | |
People Groups | Speaking Maithili |
Primary Language: Maithili
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (2010) |
Bible-Complete | No |
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 |
Photo Source |
(Representative photo) Copyrighted © 2023 Isudas All rights reserved. Used with permission |
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. |