Arasu 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: 1

Subgroup Name Population
Kumara Patta 4,300

Introduction / History

The name "Arasu" means ruler or royalty in the Kannada language. In the late Middle Ages, the Arasu or Urs were the rulers of small fiefdoms in south India. The primary language of the Arasu is Kannada. They also speak Tamil and English. Many Christian resources are available in Kannada including the whole Bible and the JESUS Film.


Where Are they Located?

Most Arasu live in the southern Indian of Karnataka while a smaller group resides in Tamil Nadu.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most Arasu people either work for the government or they own farmland that is worked by lower castes. Although they are a relatively small people today, they make up a large proportion of the politicians and government administrators of Karnataka. They occupy some of the highest places in south Indian society as educators and teachers of Hinduism. They value education and encourage their children to get college degrees and enter the professions. They live a life similar to people in the West in modern Indian cities.

The Arasu have elaborate customs for their weddings with special garb for the bride and groom. They marry within their group with parents arranging marriages with the consent of the young people. Sons inherit property with the eldest son becoming the head of the family upon the death of his father. Marriage to one spouse is the norm but a man may have more than one wife if he can afford them.

A caste council promotes their interests and settles any legal disputes among the Arasu. The Arasu try to follow their ancient traditions and customs to maintain their cultural identity as high caste members of south India.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Arasu people consider themselves to be devout Hindus and see their religion as part of their cultural identity. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. 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 many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs.

The main yearly holidays of the Arasu people are 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.


What Are Their Needs?

The Arasu will need humility to trust in Jesus as their Savior and Lord. They need to realize that their Hindu rituals and wealth will not get them right with the one, true God or have their sins forgiven.


Prayer Points

Pray for gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Arasu people for Jesus and that in God's sovereign timing their hearts would be open and ready to follow Him.
Pray for Jesus movements to bless extended Arasu families so the gospel will spread rapidly among this people group.
Pray for the spiritual lives of the Arasu people to become fruitful as they follow Christ.
Pray for the lives and culture of the Arasu people to evidence the rule and reign of the Kingdom of God as they open to the gospel, and for the beauty of Jesus to be seen in them.


Scripture Prayers for the Arasu in India.


References

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Castes_and_Tribes_of_Southern_India/Arasu_or_Rājpinde
https://trainingmasters.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/meet-mr-india-m-arasu/


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Arasu
People Name in Country Arasu
Pronunciation ah-RAH-soo
Alternate Names Rajpinde; Urs; Ursu; अरासू
Population this Country 53,000
Population all Countries 53,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 16227
ROP3 Code 111342
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 2
Largest States
Karnataka
50,000
Tamil Nadu
3,700
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 2
  Karnataka 50,000
  Tamil Nadu 3,700
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 (47,000 speakers)
Language Code kan   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Tamil
500
Primary Language Kannada (47,000 speakers)
Language Code kan   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Tamil 500
People Groups Speaking Kannada

Primary Language:  Kannada

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1812-1988)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1827-2023)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1827-2024)
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
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Scripture / Bible General / Other
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Kannada Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kannada YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kannada Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible App: Kannada Bible (ಕನ್ನಡ ಬೈಬಲ್) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kannada Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Pastors Study Bible Kannada Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Kannada Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Kannada YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Kannada Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Kannada Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Karthik Arasu - 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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