Mahesri Bania 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 Maheshwari are one of the Bania trading and business communities. They have high status in India, especially since most earn at least a middle-class wage. However, many people in India feel threatened by any community involved with commerce or money lending, and that includes all Bania groups like the Maheshwari. Some consider them to be one of the Rajput peoples, another community with high caste status. The Maheshwari Banias live in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, and many other states in northern India. Smaller groups live in Nepal and Sri Lanka. The Maheshwari speak Hindi, English and other local Indian languages. Many resources are available in Hindi including a complete Bible, the JESUS Film and radio programs.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Trade and commerce are their main professions of the Bania. Some of them work for the government and some work in private business. The Maheshwari are one of the better educated peoples of India and most speak English as well as Hindi. Families arrange marriages with the consent of the young people. Weddings take place at the home of the bride with a Brahman priest performing the ceremony. Sons inherit the property upon the death of the father with the oldest son becoming the new family head. They have caste councils to look after their needs, promote their interests and to settle legal disputes. Maheshwari parents encourage both their sons and daughters to receive a college education.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Maheshwari practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They pay special devotion to Shiva, the destroyer god. 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 Maheshwari 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 as Christians do. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. The main yearly holidays of the Maheshwar 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. The caste system divides Hindus into four main categories. The lowest communities are outside of the caste system. The Maheshwari fit into the Kshatriya or Vaishya castes.


What Are Their Needs?

The Maheshwari people need to experience the abundant life that only Jesus Christ can offer. As educated and relatively wealthy Indians, the Maheshwari take pride in their Hindu tradition and high status in society. Pride can often prevent a group from seeking the Lord and His grace.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Maheshwari caste council leaders will come to Jesus Christ and lead others among them to Him. Pray that written and online gospel materials will lead them to begin their own disciple making movement in this decade. Pray for higher caste Indian believers to befriend them and tell them about Jesus Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Bania Mahesri in India.


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Bania Mahesri
People Name in Country Bania Mahesri
Natural Name Mahesri Bania
Alternate Names Maheshwari; Mahesri; Maheswari; Marwadi; बनिया, महेसरी
Population this Country 410,000
Population all Countries 410,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 3  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 8
PeopleID3 19712
ROP3 Code 115164
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 24
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Rajasthan
98,000
Uttar Pradesh
81,000
Madhya Pradesh
61,000
Maharashtra
33,000
Gujarat
27,000
West Bengal
26,000
Andhra Pradesh
20,000
Assam
19,000
Telangana
9,600
Chhattisgarh
6,800
Delhi
6,400
Uttarakhand
4,300
Odisha
3,400
Punjab
3,200
Tamil Nadu
3,000
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 24  (only 20 largest shown)
  Rajasthan 98,000
  Uttar Pradesh 81,000
  Madhya Pradesh 61,000
  Maharashtra 33,000
  Gujarat 27,000
  West Bengal 26,000
  Andhra Pradesh 20,000
  Assam 19,000
  Telangana 9,600
  Chhattisgarh 6,800
  Delhi 6,400
  Uttarakhand 4,300
  Odisha 3,400
  Punjab 3,200
  Tamil Nadu 3,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.91 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.09 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (189,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 28
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Marwari (India)
46,000
Wagdi
20,000
Gujarati
19,000
Telugu
18,000
Bhojpuri
13,000
Bengali
13,000
Marathi
9,500
Dhundari
6,200
Assamese
5,400
Mewari
4,100
Shekhawati
2,600
Malvi
1,600
Sourashtra
1,300
Chhattisgarhi
1,100
Punjabi, Eastern
1,100
Primary Language Hindi (189,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 28
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Marwari (India) 46,000
  Wagdi 20,000
  Gujarati 19,000
  Telugu 18,000
  Bhojpuri 13,000
  Bengali 13,000
  Marathi 9,500
  Dhundari 6,200
  Assamese 5,400
  Mewari 4,100
  Shekhawati 2,600
  Malvi 1,600
  Sourashtra 1,300
  Chhattisgarhi 1,100
  Punjabi, Eastern 1,100
People Groups Speaking Hindi

Primary Language:  Hindi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1806-1962)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2022)
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 DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
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 Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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 The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
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 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 Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links (Hindi) 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 direct APK download (Hindi) SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Bibles India Internet Publishing Sevice
Mobile App Android Bible app: Gospel Films (South Asia) Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Bible app: Hindi YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Hindi Bible (हिंदी बाइबिल) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Hindi Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Hindi Word General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Sab Ki Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: पवित्र बाइबिल Hindi Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Hindi Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Ek Rasta (Bible training) General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Ek Rasta Hindi (Bible training) General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: JM Hindi General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Open Bible Stories (Hindi) 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 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: Hindi YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Hindi Unlocked Literal Bible Kalaam Media Ltd
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 Hindi Bible General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Hindi 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 Anonymous 
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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