Ambalavasi in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Subgroups: 42 (10 largest shown)  Show all

Subgroup Name Population
Vallambar 6,800
Pisharodi 5,700
Poduval 5,000
Nambiyassan 4,500
Variyan 4,200
Maravan 3,300
Pushpakan 3,200
Adikal 2,300
Daivampali 2,300
Nambidi 2,000

Introduction / History

They lived and worked near Hindu temples, so they are now called, Ambal meaning temple and vasi meaning inmate. Most consider them Brahmins though their roles are even more complex than the Brahmins. They have two groups, one who wears the sacred (Brahmin) thread and one that does not. Some Ambalavasi subgroups include the Chakyar, Pushpakas, Muthatu, Pisharody and the Varyar. In India the Ambalavasi live in Kerala. They speak Malayalam, Kerala's language.


What Are Their Lives Like?

They work in Hindu temples where they often serve as artists. Some are musicians or perform dramas. Others are storekeepers or provide flowers for the Hindu temples.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Hinduism is their religion. Spiritual beliefs of Hindus are very diverse from those who worship only one god to those who worship hundreds of them to those who are philosophical and do not worship any. Brahmins are often in the latter category.


What Are Their Needs?

The Ambalavasi Brahmins need to find their way to the lord of Lords who alone can offer them life to the full.


Prayer Points

Pray against pride getting in the way of the Ambalavasi Brahmins receiving Jesus Christ. Pray that God will give them dreams and visions leading them to begin a Christ-ward movement. Pray for a spiritual hunger that will lead them to the Resurrected Savior. Pray for intercessors and workers.


Scripture Prayers for the Ambalavasi in India.


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Ambalavasi
People Name in Country Ambalavasi
Pronunciation ahm-bah-lah-WAH-see
Alternate Names Adikal; Ahambadian; Ambalagar; Ambalakar; Ambalakaram; Ambalakarar; Ambalakarma; Cholanaickan; Kambalattan; Madi; Maravan; Muthurasa; Naidu; Naiker; Poduval; Sembanattu; Serviar; Terkittiyar; Thottia Naicks; Thottia Nayak; Thottiyan; Valayargal; Vallambar; अंबालवासी
Population this Country 179,000
Population all Countries 195,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 4
PeopleID3 16207
ROP3 Code 111316
Affinity Bloc South Asian Peoples
People Cluster South Asia Hindu - other
People Group Ambalavasi
Ethnic Code CNN25
Total Subgroups 42 (only 15 largest shown)
  Vallambar 6,800
  Pisharodi 5,700
  Poduval 5,000
  Nambiyassan 4,500
  Variyan 4,200
  Maravan 3,300
  Pushpakan 3,200
  Adikal 2,300
  Daivampali 2,300
  Nambidi 2,000
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)
Location in Country Tamil Nadu   Source:  Joshua Project
Total States on file 8
Largest States
Kerala
96,000
Tamil Nadu
72,000
Karnataka
9,500
Andhra Pradesh
500
Delhi
200
Uttar Pradesh
200
Rajasthan
100
Maharashtra
50
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)
Location in Country Tamil Nadu.   Source:  Joshua Project
Total States 8
  Kerala 96,000
  Tamil Nadu 72,000
  Karnataka 9,500
  Andhra Pradesh 500
  Delhi 200
  Uttar Pradesh 200
  Rajasthan 100
  Maharashtra 50
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.30 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.70 %
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 Malayalam (84,000 speakers)
Language Code mal   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
Tamil
71,000
Telugu
2,000
Tulu
1,000
Primary Language Malayalam (84,000 speakers)
Language Code mal   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
  Tamil 71,000
  Telugu 2,000
  Tulu 1,000
People Groups Speaking Malayalam

Primary Language:  Malayalam

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Bible-Complete Yes  (1841-2022)
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Photo Source Thekkemadomveekay - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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