Maravan 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: 13 (10 largest shown)  Show all

Subgroup Name Population
Appanad Kondayam Kottai 81,000
Rajavasal 78,000
Sembinattu 45,000
Puluku 39,000
Ambaneri 35,000
Karana 27,000
Vanniyar 27,000
Anjukottu 21,000
Kondaiyam Kottai 9,300
Anil Kottai 8,000

Introduction / History

The Maravans of south India claim to be descendants of ancient Tamil kings. Their name means "warrior" in the Tamil language. Traditionally the Maravans were the army of the Tamil dynasties. The Maravans also owned land and worked as farmers. Most lived in the rural areas, not in cities.

The Indian government has classified the Maravan as an Other Backward Class because of their widespread poverty and lower educational level. As an OBC, the Maravans are guaranteed positions in government and education. Many Maravan young people are taking advantage of their educational opportunities and obtaining careers as military officers and as leaders in business and government.

The large majority of the Maravans speak Tamil as their first language. Many also speak other south Indian languages.


Where Are they Located?

The vast majority of the Maravans live in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Others also live in nearby Kerala and Karnataka.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The main occupations of the Maravans are still farming and the military. Both men and woman work in the fields. Some of the younger educated Maravans are branching into different careers and moving to the large cities of south India.

The Maravan eat meat except for beef and pork. Rice is the main staple along with vegetables, fruits and dairy products.
The Maravans marry within their group, sometimes first and second cousins. The sons inherit the family lands and wealth. Divorce and remarriage is allowed.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The huge majority of Maravans are Hindus. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon and celebrate the major Hindu holidays.

The mother-warrior goddess Durga is given special place among the Maravans. She is pictured as having eight arms with weapons in each of her hands and seated upon a tiger or lion. The festival of Navratri celebrates nine nights dedicated to the nine divine forms of goddess Durga. She is believes to possess divine feminine energy or shakti capable of defeating the power of demons.

A small group of Maravan is Christians.


What Are Their Needs?

The Maravan need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in their Tamil language. They need to see Christ's love lived out before them. Christian schools and Christian teachers would be particularly helpful in meeting the educational needs of the Maravans.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Lord sends Christian teachers and evangelists to the Maravans.
Pray the Maravans see their need for the Prince of Peace and the forgiveness that he offers.
Pray that the Christian Maravans receive training and become leaders in a growing Maravan church.


Scripture Prayers for the Maravan in India.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukkulathor
http://maravar05.blogspot.com/2010/07/maravar.html
http://mudiraja.weebly.com/w2maravars.html


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Maravan
People Name in Country Maravan
Alternate Names Ajupani; Chitikan; Kalla; Kalla Kammar; Manavan; Marayan; Mukkalathoor; Mukkulathan; Thevar; मरवान
Population this Country 3,621,000
Population all Countries 3,723,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 72
PeopleID3 17459
ROP3 Code 112867
Affinity Bloc South Asian Peoples
People Cluster South Asia Forward Caste - other
People Group Maravan
Ethnic Code CNN25
Total Subgroups 13
  Appanad Kondayam Kot 81,000
  Rajavasal 78,000
  Sembinattu 45,000
  Puluku 39,000
  Ambaneri 35,000
  Karana 27,000
  Vanniyar 27,000
  Anjukottu 21,000
  Kondaiyam Kottai 9,300
  Anil Kottai 8,000
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)
Total States on file 21
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Tamil Nadu
3,468,000
Kerala
92,000
Karnataka
25,000
Puducherry
17,000
Maharashtra
7,000
Andhra Pradesh
6,800
Delhi
1,900
Telangana
1,100
Andaman and Nicobar
800
Uttar Pradesh
500
Gujarat
500
Chhattisgarh
200
Madhya Pradesh
200
Jharkhand
200
West Bengal
100
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 21  (only 20 largest shown)
  Tamil Nadu 3,468,000
  Kerala 92,000
  Karnataka 25,000
  Puducherry 17,000
  Maharashtra 7,000
  Andhra Pradesh 6,800
  Delhi 1,900
  Telangana 1,100
  Andaman and Nicobar 800
  Uttar Pradesh 500
  Gujarat 500
  Chhattisgarh 200
  Madhya Pradesh 200
  Jharkhand 200
  West Bengal 100
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
2.45 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
97.55 %
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 Tamil (3,147,000 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
Malayalam
54,000
Telugu
5,900
Kannada
800
English
700
Konkani, Goan
10
Primary Language Tamil (3,147,000 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
  Malayalam 54,000
  Telugu 5,900
  Kannada 800
  English 700
  Konkani, Goan 10
People Groups Speaking Tamil

Primary Language:  Tamil

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1714-1956)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1715-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1727-2024)
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 General Ministry Resources General / Other
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Tamil 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 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 Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Comprehensive list of Tamil Resources General / Other
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 Gospel website in this language General / Other
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: Pastors Study Bible Tamil Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tamil YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Tamil Bible (தமிழ் பைபிள்) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tamil Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Tamil 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 from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Tamil YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Tamil Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Tamil Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  India Missions Association  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.


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