Devanga in India

People Name:	Devanga
Country:	India
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	552,000
World Population:	552,000
Primary Language:	Kannada
Primary Religion:	Hinduism
Christian Adherents:	2.38 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Ministry Resources:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	South Asia Hindu - other
Affinity Bloc:	South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

Devanga people trace their origins to the sage Devala Maharishi.

Devanga used to be the same community as the Padmashali, but later they became two separate people groups when the Devanga began Shivite practices.

Where Are they Located?

Devanga people live mainly in Karnataka, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Pondicherry.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Devangas are weavers and fine craftsmen by tradition. They weave many different types of clothing. They weave ultrafine cotton clothes which are of good quality. Men usually do the loom weaving and the women yarn and spin the thread. Children also help. They are very good at selling their products. Others are involved in the grocery trade.

Most Devanga people do not eat vegetables; those who eat vegetables are considered Brahmins.

Devanga people speak Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam. Bible resources exist in written, audio, and visual forms in their primary language of Kannada, yet Devanga people are considered unreached.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Their religion is Hindu. In northern Karnataka, the Devanga have two groups who are the Kulachaar Devanga and the Shivachar Devanga. They both worship the goddess Banashankari in the Godavari region of Andhra Pradesh.

What Are Their Needs?

Devanga people need open hearts to hear God's answers to their many spiritual problems.

These unusually creative people need to ask the questions, "Who created what we see?" and "What was the origin of our creativity?" Someone needs to reach out to Devanga people with the available Bible resources in the Kannada language which they understand.

Prayer Points

Pray that Devanga people will be liberated by God's Holy Spirit from the many ties that bind them to lives devoid of Christ's blessings.
Pray that Devanga people will see past their respective traditional worship to the futility of it all, and experience a growing desire to know the truth of God's Word.
Pray for the Lord to multiply the reception and influence of His Word among the Devanga, leading them to love Him with their whole being.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to anoint Devanga families, especially the children and youth, and to raise up a new generation of fruitful, multiplying witnesses of Christ's mercy and love.