Baidya (Hindu traditions) 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.

Introduction / History

The Baidya or Vaidya are a Hindu people who live in northeast India and Bangladesh. Their traditional occupation is being physicians. Vaidya means one who knows, studies and teaches the Vedas, the Hindu Scriptures. The Baidya are one of the highest Hindu castes equal to the Brahmins in India and Bangladesh. The kings from the Sena dynasty of the 11th and 12th centuries were Baidya. Besides being medical doctors, the Baidya served as high-ranking military officers and as royal advisers. They were often given large tracts of land due to their service to the king.

Today the Baidya continue to become physicians. Frequently, they are trained in both traditional Indian Ayurveda and Western medicine.

The primary language of the Baidya is Bengali. As educated Indians and Bangladeshi, they also speak English and Hindi.


Where Are they Located?

Most Baidya live in the India state of West Bengal. Smaller groups live in other Indian states and in Bangladesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Baidya are one of the most respected castes in the Hindu system. Many of them still serve as physicians and in other professions like law and engineering. Baidya encourage their children to obtain graduate degrees in university. The Baidya own land that is worked by lower castes.

The Baidya are generally monogamous, meaning they only have one spouse. Families arrange marriages with the consent of the young adults. The Baidya often serve as priests in their own important family celebrations.

Most Baidya are not vegetarians but will not eat beef. Their primary foods are rice, grains, vegetables, fruit and dairy products.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Baidya practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. 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. The Baidya visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers and incense to their gods. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. The Baidya pay special reverence to Vishnu, the preserver god and Surya, the sun god.

The main yearly holidays of the Baidya people are Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

The Baidya need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. They must come to realize that they are sinners who need the Savior.


Prayer Points

Pray that a strong movement to Jesus will bring whole Baidya families and communities into a rich experience of God's blessings.
Pray the Lord will give Baidya families understanding and responsive hearts as they hear about the love of Christ.
Pray that the Lord leads believers to build redeeming relationships with Baidya to show them that money and a high position in society do not bring peace of mind or the forgiveness of sins.


Scripture Prayers for the Baidya (Hindu traditions) in India.


References

wikipedia.org/wiki/Baidya
indpaedia.com/ind/index.php/Baidya,_Vaidya,_Baid,_Vaida


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Baidya (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Baidya (Hindu traditions)
Alternate Names Baid; Baidya; Baidyakar; Bediya; Munida; Vaidya; Vaidya/Bede; Vaidyansi; बैदया (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 335,000
Population all Countries 468,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 7
PeopleID3 16295
ROP3 Code 111421
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 18
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
West Bengal
268,000
Tripura
33,000
Jharkhand
16,000
Bihar
11,000
Odisha
3,000
Meghalaya
800
Maharashtra
800
Delhi
700
Chhattisgarh
500
Uttar Pradesh
400
Andaman and Nicobar
300
Nagaland
300
Madhya Pradesh
100
Manipur
90
Mizoram
80
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 18
  West Bengal 268,000
  Tripura 33,000
  Jharkhand 16,000
  Bihar 11,000
  Odisha 3,000
  Meghalaya 800
  Maharashtra 800
  Delhi 700
  Chhattisgarh 500
  Uttar Pradesh 400
  Andaman and Nicobar 300
  Nagaland 300
  Madhya Pradesh 100
  Manipur 90
  Mizoram 80
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.31 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.69 %
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 Bengali (250,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
Hindi
39,000
Bhojpuri
3,300
Kok Borok
2,400
Odia
1,200
Maithili
500
Magahi
300
Assamese
300
Primary Language Bengali (250,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 39,000
  Bhojpuri 3,300
  Kok Borok 2,400
  Odia 1,200
  Maithili 500
  Magahi 300
  Assamese 300
People Groups Speaking Bengali

Primary Language:  Bengali

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1800-1980)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1801-1984)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1809-2022)
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 Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Bengali 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 Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
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 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 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 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 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 Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
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 direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Bengali YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Bengali Bangla Version Bible General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Bengali Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible App: Bengali Bible (Common Language Version) Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Android Bible App: Bengali Bible (বাঙালি বাইবেল) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Bengali Mussolmani Bible General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kitabul Muqaddas (Bangla) General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: পবিত্র বাইবেল (Holy Bible) General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Bengali Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
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 Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Bangla Bible Kalaam Media Ltd
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Bengali YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Bible: Comic Book Version Super Bible / Comic Bible Society
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Christ for the Nations General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Bengali Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Online New Testament (Bibles India) Operation Agape
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 (Representative photo)
Copyrighted © 2024  Isudas  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source David Kugel 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


Joshua Project logo    Terms of Use   Privacy Policy   Contact Us   Copyright © 2024