Saraswat Brahmin 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

Saraswat Brahmins are Brahmins who lived on the banks of the former Saraswati River that once flowed in northern India. Saraswats are considered among the oldest and most widespread community in India, still preserving their own culture. Around 1900 BC, the river Saraswati started vanishing underground and the people on its banks started migrating to other parts of India thus forming sub-communities.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Traditionally in the varna system Brahmins are considered as priests, but a temple priest is a lowly position that no Saraswat Brahmin family wants their sons to aspire towards. Rather, there is strong pressure for higher education, particularly in computer science and engineering. Saraswat Brahmins have a strong work ethic and are often leaders, whether politically, intellectually, spiritually or socially.

Saraswat Brahmins are still deeply influenced by the traditional four stages of life; the first student stage is followed by the householder stage, where marriage, raising a family and being a productive member of society is the primary obligation of an individual. Once children are married there is time for spiritual concerns in the third stage of reclusiveness, which is followed (this is rarely practiced) by itinerant homeless wandering (sannyasa).

Often a busy Saraswat Brahmin will put off spiritual discussions as an issue for later in life. The famous Bhagavad Gita text does not support this, however, as it calls for all humanity to engage in doing good to all without thought of merit or reward for such actions.


What Are Their Beliefs?

In some cases, Brahmin subgroups are defined by their theological distinctions such as Madhva Brahmins, who are defined by their dualist theology, though everyone does not actually hold those beliefs. However, many Brahmin castes are made up of people who adhere to all the various philosophical and theological options espoused by modern Hindus, including hard core secularists and atheists. One can never predict what an individual Brahmin might believe or disbelieve!

But most Brahmins respect the ancient (and many not-so-ancient) traditions of their forefathers. Some work to synthesize modern science and Hindu beliefs and practices. Few today have seriously studied, let alone memorized, the ancient Vedas; but one is more likely to find a person knowledgeable about the Vedas and other Hindu texts and teachings among Brahmins than among any non-Brahmin caste group.


What Are Their Needs?

Saraswat Brahmins as an influential and generally well-to-do community are not unlike the middle classes of most places. Their main needs involve relational strains that are usually kept behind closed doors. Modernization is breaking down family units which have been the glue to society for many generations, and loneliness is increasingly a problem. They are expected to "achieve it all," but ironically, achieving it all can be empty.


Prayer Points

Pray for Christ to reveal Himself to Saraswat Brahmin leaders.
Pray for the eyes of Saraswat Brahmin hearts to be open to Jesus Christ as Lord and king.
Pray for Holy Spirit directed Christ followers to go to Saraswat Brahmin communities.
Pray for a disciple making movement to emerge among every Brahmin community.
Pray for many to be prompted to faithfully pray for Brahmins.


Scripture Prayers for the Brahmin Saraswat in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Brahmin Saraswat
People Name in Country Brahmin Saraswat
Natural Name Saraswat Brahmin
Pronunciation sah-rah-WAHT BRAH-min
Alternate Names Brahman Terai; Brahmin Terai; Gawda Saraswat; Rajapura Saraswat; Saras; ब्रह्मन, सरस्वत
Population this Country 680,000
Population all Countries 690,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 14
PeopleID3 19977
ROP3 Code 115758
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)
Uttar Pradesh
173,000
Bihar
101,000
Maharashtra
95,000
Uttarakhand
58,000
Rajasthan
54,000
Gujarat
50,000
Karnataka
34,000
West Bengal
30,000
Jharkhand
20,000
Tamil Nadu
16,000
Madhya Pradesh
14,000
Assam
8,600
Punjab
6,100
Andhra Pradesh
4,600
Telangana
4,100
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)
  Uttar Pradesh 173,000
  Bihar 101,000
  Maharashtra 95,000
  Uttarakhand 58,000
  Rajasthan 54,000
  Gujarat 50,000
  Karnataka 34,000
  West Bengal 30,000
  Jharkhand 20,000
  Tamil Nadu 16,000
  Madhya Pradesh 14,000
  Assam 8,600
  Punjab 6,100
  Andhra Pradesh 4,600
  Telangana 4,100
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 Hindi (316,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 29
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Marathi
48,000
Konkani
44,000
Gujarati
40,000
Garhwali
27,000
Kannada
18,000
Bhojpuri
17,000
Maithili
14,000
Bengali
14,000
Tamil
13,000
Marwari (India)
12,000
Wagdi
5,400
Braj Bhasha
5,000
Telugu
3,100
Konkani, Goan
2,000
Assamese
1,900
Primary Language Hindi (316,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 29
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Marathi 48,000
  Konkani 44,000
  Gujarati 40,000
  Garhwali 27,000
  Kannada 18,000
  Bhojpuri 17,000
  Maithili 14,000
  Bengali 14,000
  Tamil 13,000
  Marwari (India) 12,000
  Wagdi 5,400
  Braj Bhasha 5,000
  Telugu 3,100
  Konkani, Goan 2,000
  Assamese 1,900
People Groups Speaking Hindi

Primary Language:  Hindi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
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Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2022)
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Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Pandit Gagan Saraswat - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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