The name "Bania" is derived from Vaniji, which means "trader" in Sanskrit, an ancient South Asian language. The Agrahari are a sub-group of the Bania peoples who live in India and Nepal. Of the four major varnas (caste clusters of Hinduism), Banias are in the third one, the Vaishyas. They were usually traders of grain and spices throughout history.
Despite their high incomes, the Banias have only modest status in the Hindu caste pyramid. The Bania tend to resent the higher two varnas, the Brahmins and the Kshatriyas. Thus, Banias have often been leaders in caste reform movements. Mahatma Gandhi is one example, but there have been many others throughout India's long history.
Ironically, the Banias are often resented by others. They are known to charge excessive interest rates. A pre-literate farmer might take a loan from a Bania only to find that a high percentage of his harvest will be taken away as interest. Customers often must put up their land and farms for collateral in case they cannot pay back their loans.
Agrahari Bania children learn early to "never give; always bargain and make money." From an early age, children are drilled in math and detailed calculations with the purpose of “winning” in money transactions. Fathers pass business skills to their sons. Agrahari Bania parents strongly encourage their children to obtain graduate degrees related to business.
Monogamy or marriage to one spouse is the norm among Bania groups.
Agrahari Banias who feel a need for God in a Hindu context are likely to try to fill it with Hindu rituals. An Agarwal Bania might visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. Others might try to fill the God-shaped void with philosophy.
Any efforts to bring the message of Jesus to the Agraharis must remain sensitive to their history. It is not enough to be sensitive to Hindu culture. The evangelist must respect the differences between groups like the Agrahari Banias and those with less wealth and status. One cannot expect someone from a business community to respond to the same thing as someone who is a farm worker, for example.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will win some from the Agrahari Banias to worship the Prince of Peace.
Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send believers from the Agrahari group to reap souls from other Bania groups.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will stir a hunger and thirst for a righteousness that can only come from the true God of the universe.
Scripture Prayers for the Bania Agrahari in India.
Some information from “The Scheduled Castes” K. S. Singh, ed. Oxford University Press, USA (1994)
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Bania Agrahari |
People Name in Country | Bania Agrahari |
Natural Name | Agrahari Bania |
Alternate Names | Agrahari bania; Agrahari Baniya; Agrahri; Agrari; बनिया, आग्रहरी |
Population this Country | 385,000 |
Population all Countries | 388,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 8 |
People ID | 19689 |
ROP3 Code | 115141 |
ROP25 Code | 300836 |
ROP25 Name | Bania |
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 | 17 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
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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 | 17 |
Uttar Pradesh 295,000 | |
West Bengal 22,000 | |
Bihar 19,000 | |
Assam 18,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 11,000 | |
Delhi 6,800 | |
Uttarakhand 4,200 | |
Chhattisgarh 3,300 | |
Maharashtra 2,000 | |
Jharkhand 1,900 | |
Tripura 1,300 | |
Andhra Pradesh 700 | |
Telangana 400 | |
Chandigarh 200 | |
Odisha 90 | |
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 | Hindi (256,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 17 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Primary Language | Hindi (256,000 speakers) |
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 17 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Bhojpuri 40,000 | |
Bengali 11,000 | |
Awadhi 6,300 | |
Assamese 6,200 | |
Bundeli 1,300 | |
Kanauji 1,100 | |
Angika 800 | |
Chhattisgarhi 700 | |
Marathi 500 | |
Garhwali 300 | |
Malvi 200 | |
Gujarati 100 | |
Kumaoni 100 | |
Meitei 100 | |
Konkani 30 | |
People Groups | Speaking Hindi |
Primary Language: Hindi
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1806-1962) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1811-1998) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1818-2022) |
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 |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
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. |