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Brahmin Bengali in India



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Brahmin Bengali in India map

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Population [2] Language Religion % Christian % Evangl Online NT Jesus Film Progress
247,000 Bengali Hinduism 0.00 % 0.00 %   

Brahmin Bengali in India

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Introduction / History
Brahmins are the highest of the four varna (major caste groupings) in Hinduism. The historical developments of various Brahmin castes are not clear, as the history of the caste system itself is unclear. There was perhaps a caste system based on personal merit at one time before the hereditary caste system became dominant, as is seen in modern history. Brahmin castes became powerful in the early centuries of the Christian Era through alliances with kings, who granted them landed estates related to temples and temple service. There has never been a comprehensive analysis of all the different types and subgroups of Brahmins.

Traditionally Brahmins have five daily duties; to the gods, to ancestors, to all creatures, to humans, and to study. Thus daily worship (duty to gods) and chanting of sacred texts (duty to study) are an integral part of many Brahmins' lives, even if this is only a token routine for many.

Where are they located?
Bengali Brahmins live not only in their home state of West Bengal, but also in neighboring state of Tripura and the adjoining nation state of Bangladesh. A high percentage of them speak English also as higher education in India is mostly English medium.

Brahmins are disproportionately represented among overseas Indians due to their higher educational attainments, so those who reach out to Indian nationals in the West are very likely reaching out to people who are extremely difficult to reach in South Asia.

What are their lives like?
Unlike most Brahmin communities that are strictly vegetarian, the Bengalis eat fish. Many of them consider fish to be an appropriate part of a vegetarian diet.

Traditionally in the varna system Brahmins are considered as priests, but a temple priest is a lowly position that no Bengali Brahmin family wants their sons to aspire towards. Rather, there is strong pressure for higher education, particularly in computer science and engineering. This is likely to be especially true for Brahmins in West Bengal, which has a long history of great literature and intellectual pursuits.

Bengali 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 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!

What are their needs?
Bengali 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 Bengali Brahmin leaders.
Pray for the eyes of Bengali Brahmin hearts to be open to Jesus Christ as Lord and king.
Pray for Holy Spirit directed Christ followers to go to Bengali 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.

References
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/19931/IN
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_Brahmins
http://www.brahminpedia.com/2010/03/on-food-habits-of-bengali-brahmins.html
https://www.reddit.com/r/india/comments/3hkdi2/why_are_most_bengali_brahmins_non_vegetarian/
https://ramanan50.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/kulin-brahmins-bengali-brahmins/

View Brahmin Bengali in all countries.

Prayer Links  
PrayerGuard.net
Brahmin of India profile for Children and Family Missions Activities
  Submit Update:
Country: India
Continent: Asia
Region: Asia, South
Persecution Rank:11 (Only top 50 ranked, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
10/40 Window: Yes
Population in Country:247,000
Largest States:
Jharkhand (77,000)Tripura (72,000)
Uttar Pradesh (24,000)Odisha (20,000)
Chhattisgarh (8,000)Delhi (6,800)
Bihar (6,700)Maharashtra (5,500)
Madhya Pradesh (4,900)Nagaland (4,400)
   
 
Maps
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Ethnolinguistic Map:University of Texas or other map
 
  Peoples [3]
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People Name in Country: Brahmin Bengali
People Name General: Brahmin Bengali
Alternate People Names:
BahunBajey
Brahman TeraiBrahmin Terai
ब्रामिन, बिंगाली
ROP3 Code: 115701
Joshua Project People ID: 19931
Indigenous: Yes
Population in Country: 247,000
Population all Countries: 247,000
Least-Reached: Yes
   
 
Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples
People Cluster: South Asia Forward Caste - Brahmin
People Name General: Brahmin Bengali
Ethnic Code: CNN25
Ethnic Relationships: Affinity Bloc -> People Cluster -> Peoples Ethnicity Tree
   
 
Language
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Primary Language: Bengali (207,000 Speakers)
Language Code (ISO): ben    Ethnologue Listing
Secondary Languages:
Hindi (50)
Total Languages: 2
   
 
Religion [4]
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Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religions:
Buddhism0.00 % 
Christianity0.00 %(Evangelical: 0.00 %)
Ethnic Religions0.00 % 
Hinduism100.00 % 
Islam0.00 % 
Non-Religious0.00 % 
Other / Small0.00 % 
Unknown0.00 % 
Christianity Segments:
Anglican0.00 %
Independent0.00 %
Protestant0.00 %
Orthodox0.00 %
Other Christian0.00 %
Roman Catholic0.00 %
 
(Evangelicals distributed across Christianity segments)
   
 
Progress Indicators [5]
Progress Scale[6]   Few evangelicals and few who claim to be Christians. Little, if any, history of Christianity.
Least-Reached: Yes
GSEC Status:Level 2   Less than 2% Evangelical. Initial (localized) church planting within past 2 years
 
 
Bible Translation Status
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Bible Portions: 1800-1980
New Testament:
1801-1984Audio
Complete Bible: 1809-2022
Possible Bible Sources: Forum of Bible Agencies
 World Bible Finder
 World Christian Resource Directory
 Gospel Go
 
 
Ministry Resources [7]
Audio RecordingsMegaVoice Audio Bible and Stories
Audio RecordingsAudio Bible teaching
Audio RecordingsOnline Audio Scripture
Audio RecordingsOnline New Testament
Audio RecordingsOnline New Testament
Audio RecordingsOnline New Testament
Audio RecordingsOral Bible stories
Audio RecordingsStory of Jesus audio
Film / VideoFollowing Jesus video
Film / VideoGod's Love Story
Film / VideoGod's Story video
Film / VideoIndigitube.tv Video / Animation
Film / VideoJesus Film: view in Bengali
Film / VideoLUMO film of Gospels
Film / VideoMagdalena video
Film / VideoMy Last Day video, anime
Film / VideoRivka video
Film / VideoStory of Jesus for Children
Film / VideoWorld Christian Videos
GeneralBible for Children
GeneralBiblical answers to your questions
GeneralFour Spiritual Laws
GeneralGospel resources links
GeneralWalk with the Prophets and meet the Mess ...
GeneralZume Resources
GeneralZume Training
Mobile AppDownload audio Bible app as APK file
Mobile AppDownload audio Bible app as APK file
Mobile AppDownload audio Bible app as APK file
Mobile AppDownload audio Bible app as APK file
Mobile AppDownload audio Bible app from Google Pla ...
Mobile AppDownload audio Bible app from Google Pla ...
Mobile AppDownload audio Bible app from Google Pla ...
Mobile AppDownload Bible from Google Play Store
Text / Printed MatterBible: Bengali
Text / Printed MatterBible: Bengali
Text / Printed MatterBible: Bengali
Text / Printed MatterBible: Comic Book Version
Text / Printed MatterChildren and youth resources
Text / Printed MatterChrist for the Nations
Text / Printed MatterJesus Messiah comic book
Text / Printed MatterLiteracy primer for Bengali
Text / Printed MatterOnline New Testament (Bibles India)
Text / Printed MatterThe Ancient Path
Text / Printed MatterTools for faith conversations
Text / Printed MatterTopical Scripture booklets and Bible stu ...
 
 
Ministry Activity
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Description: Register your ministry activity among this people group. Contact the Adopt-A-People Clearinghouse and Unleashed for the Unreached to learn about others that might be focused on this people group.
 
Data Notes
Data Sources
 
 

Brahmin Bengali in India

Peoples
               
Geographic
Global                 Global
           
  Affinity Bloc             Global  
           
   
People Cluster
       
Region
   
    South Asia Forward Caste - Brahmin     Asia, South    
     
People-Group-Across-Countries
   
Country
   
      Brahmin Bengali India    
            People-by-Country (Profile)          
            Brahmin Bengali in India          
      Religion Language  
      Hinduism     Bengali  
    Global    
Language
 
    All Religions                              
   
Religion
                             

Direct link:  http://legacy.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=19931&rog3=IN