Nadar (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.

Subgroups: 5

Subgroup Name Population
Melnatar 25,000
Pulikkapanikkan 24,000
Madurai Unknown
Melnadu Unknown
Panan Unknown

Introduction / History

The Nadar people of southern India cultivated palmyra palm trees in the past. They were "palmyra climbers." Nadar men and women would climb the palm tree, cut a branch and collect the sweet sap. Although all parts of this palm tree are valuable, the sap quickly becomes palm wine in the warm climate of south India. The production of palm wine or toddy was the main occupation of the Nadars until modern times. Today many Nadar obtain higher educations and achieve leadership positions in business and government.


Where Are they Located?

The Nadar people today live primarily in the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Some also live in other areas of south India.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Many Nadar still cling to their old way of life as palmyra climbers. Some Nadar and government leaders are trying to discourage the production of alcohol and encourage the production of sugar from the sap of the palm tree. Some educated Nadar are fully engaged in modern Indian society while others without education work and live like their ancestors in rural villages. The Nadar speak Tamil and other regional languages.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The vast majority of the Nadar people are Hindus. The Goddess Bhadrakali is the chief deity of the Nadar. The Nadar also claim that they are the descendants of Bhadrakali. A Bhadrakali temple is at the center of nearly every Nadar community. She is pictured as a fierce warrior with three eyes and carrying weapons with her many hands. The Nadar also worship Murugan, the god of war and son of Shiva.
A small but significant percentage of Nadar are Christians, both Protestants and Catholics.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Nadar Christians would be trained in discipleship and reach out to their Hindu brothers and sisters with the gospel of Christ.
Pray that the Lord would move Christians to help the Nadar obtain other jobs than the production of palm wine.
Pray that Nadar churches read and study the Tamil Bibles that are available.


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


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Nadar (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Nadar (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation NAH-dar
Alternate Names Chanmar; Channan; Gramani; Mamameri; Marar; Nadar Christian; Sanan; Shana; Shanan; Shanana; Shananar; Torke Nadar; Uppu Nadar; नादर
Population this Country 3,404,000
Population all Countries 3,430,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 5  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 68
PeopleID3 17735
ROP3 Code 113193
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 30
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Tamil Nadu
1,910,000
Kerala
1,367,000
Karnataka
68,000
Maharashtra
13,000
Delhi
8,500
Puducherry
8,300
Andhra Pradesh
8,200
Telangana
5,700
Uttar Pradesh
5,500
Goa
2,800
Rajasthan
1,700
Gujarat
1,200
Andaman and Nicobar
1,200
West Bengal
600
Madhya Pradesh
500
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 30  (only 20 largest shown)
  Tamil Nadu 1,910,000
  Kerala 1,367,000
  Karnataka 68,000
  Maharashtra 13,000
  Delhi 8,500
  Puducherry 8,300
  Andhra Pradesh 8,200
  Telangana 5,700
  Uttar Pradesh 5,500
  Goa 2,800
  Rajasthan 1,700
  Gujarat 1,200
  Andaman and Nicobar 1,200
  West Bengal 600
  Madhya Pradesh 500
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 Tamil (1,861,000 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
Malayalam
1,214,000
English
6,200
Konkani
6,100
Tulu
5,800
Konkani, Goan
1,300
Kannada
1,300
Kodava
300
Primary Language Tamil (1,861,000 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
  Malayalam 1,214,000
  English 6,200
  Konkani 6,100
  Tulu 5,800
  Konkani, Goan 1,300
  Kannada 1,300
  Kodava 300
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 Anonymous 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source David Kugel 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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