Each year, girls as young as 10 from the Devadasi caste are dedicated to a temple goddess, Uligamma, in a wedding ceremony that begins a lifetime of prostitution. Devadasis believe that when the girl is wed in the temple, the spirit of Uligamma inhabits her for a lifetime.
Actual possessions have been reported, but girls have been known to be set free by Jesus. When Hindu priests and other men sleep with these girls, they believe they are actually sleeping with the goddess herself. The girls are used until they are too sick or too old to be desirable. Then they are expected to fend for themselves as best they can through menial labor or begging on the streets. There are official laws against child prostitution, but traditions die hard, and girls in remote villages don't even know about laws enacted hundreds of miles away.
There are people who greatly profit by this practice that ruins many lives, and they will do whatever they can to keep this lucrative trade in place. It is highly secretive, since most people in India, including most Hindus, disapprove of temple prostitution.
There are ministries like Mission India that help women from the Devadasi caste learn new trades while teaching them the ways of Christ.
Officially these women are Hindu. As you can imagine, they probably have a very negative view of their religious system and the gods they worship.
Devadasis need to understand the dignity and worth God gives them because they are created in his image. This dignity has been stripped from them by the degrading lifestyle forced on them for generations.
Pray that these women will be able to overcome the trauma, bitterness, hatred, and fear that they have had to deal with in their past life.
Pray that many will live victorious lives in Christ that will draw others to Him.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to empower and embolden outreaches to the Devadasis.
Pray that more and more Devadasi women will hear the good news of Jesus and be free and healed to serve Him.
Scripture Prayers for the Devadasi in India.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Devadasi |
People Name in Country | Devadasi |
Alternate Names | Atumpatram; Bogam; Guni; Kalavanthu; Kalavathu Devadasi; Kurmapu; Sani; देवदासी |
Population this Country | 25,000 |
Population all Countries | 25,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 16683 |
ROP3 Code | 111904 |
ROP25 Code | 302031 |
ROP25 Name | Devadasi |
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 | 5 | ||||||
Largest States |
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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 | 5 |
Andhra Pradesh 10,000 | |
Karnataka 8,500 | |
Tamil Nadu 3,900 | |
Kerala 1,800 | |
Odisha 600 | |
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 | Kannada (8,400 speakers) | ||||||
Language Code | kan Ethnologue Listing | ||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||
Total Languages | 5 | ||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Kannada (8,400 speakers) |
Language Code | kan Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 5 |
Secondary Languages | |
Telugu 8,300 | |
Tamil 2,300 | |
Malayalam 1,400 | |
Odia 500 | |
People Groups | Speaking Kannada |
Primary Language: Kannada
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1812-1988) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1823-2023) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1827-2023) |
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 |
Map Source | People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |