The Aiyanavar or Ayyanavar are a Scheduled Caste. This means they have fairly low status. They were once toddy tapper (making alcohol from the sap of palm trees), fishermen and farmers. One of their roles was managing village Hindu temples. They served as caretakers and sometimes as priests.
They live in the southern states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. They speak Telugu.
The livelihoods of the Aiyanavar people have moved towards more lucrative areas: government jobs, business and education. They are still caretakers of Hindu temples.
The Aiyanavar people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians or Jews. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins.
Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring / Diwali, the festival of lights / Navratri, the celebration of autumn / and Rama Navami, Rama’s birthday.
At times the Aiyanavar people face discrimination because of their scheduled caste background.
Pray for a movement of Jesus to heal and strengthen Aiyanavar communities.
Pray for the Aiyanavar people to understand and embrace that Jesus wants to bless their families and neighborhoods.
Pray for Holy Spirit anointed believers from the Aiyanavar people to change their society from within.
Pray for a movement in which the Holy Spirit leads and empowers disciples to make more disciples.
Scripture Prayers for the Aiyanavar in India.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Aiyanavar |
People Name in Country | Aiyanavar |
Alternate Names | Aiyar; Aiyarakam; Aiyaraku Naidu; Aiyaraku Patrulu; Aiyarakulu; Aiyarkula; Aiyeruka; Aiynar; Ayiyarakulu; Ayyanavar; Ayyavar; Eiyanar; Patralu; ऐइयानवर |
Population this Country | 6,400 |
Population all Countries | 6,400 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 16192 |
ROP3 Code | 111300 |
ROP25 Code | 300151 |
ROP25 Name | Ayyanavar |
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 | 4 | ||||||
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 | 4 |
Tamil Nadu 3,200 | |
Kerala 3,100 | |
Andhra Pradesh 70 | |
Maharashtra 60 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
3.87 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
96.13 %
|
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 | Telugu (3,100 speakers) | |||
Language Code | tel Ethnologue Listing | |||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||
Total Languages | 2 | |||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Telugu (3,100 speakers) |
Language Code | tel Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 2 |
Secondary Languages | |
Malayalam 2,400 | |
People Groups | Speaking Telugu |
Primary Language: Telugu
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1812-1966) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1818-1989) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1854-2022) |
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) | Online |
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
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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. |