Hill Brahmin in Nepal

The Hill Brahmin have only been reported in Nepal
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

In South Asia, there are two countries with a Hindu majority: India and Nepal. Both share a long history involving the caste system, which involves four major groupings. Brahmins are a the highest of the four; they are known as a "forward" caste. The English word brahmin is an anglicized form of the Sanskrit word Brahmana. Brahman refers to the "Supreme Self" in Hinduism or the first of the gods.
Brahmins have many subgroups. In Nepal the major ones are the Upadhyaya, Jaisi, and Kumai. From there they are subdivided even further by location. That includes the so-called "Hill Brahmins," who usually reside in the southern and central parts of Nepal. They speak Nepali, the main language.


What Are Their Lives Like?

As needed, Hill Brahmins perform their traditional priestly duties, but they are more likely to be involved with other activities. Most are involved in agriculture, usually as landowners. Living in houses with walls made of stone or of mud bricks, they keep cattle and grow crops. Some of their villages rise as high as three thousand meters.
Hill Brahmins make up a little over 10 percent of Nepal's population and about 40 percent of the government administrators and workers. There are reasons for that. Brahmins often enjoy special privileges, and they excel in academics. Brahmin parents drive their children to excel academically. Even their religious upbringing trains their minds for advanced mathematics.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most modern Gaur Brahmins do not espouse a doctrine of their superiority by birth above other peoples. Many are now secularists. 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. There are hundreds of "denominations" of Hinduism and Brahmins have a presence in many; so it is not easy to generalize on what Brahmins believe. Some would be devotees of Vishnu or his avatars of Krishna or Ram, some would be devotees of Shiva, and some would be devotees of the goddess in one of her manifestations. Others are followers of modern gurus. Few today have seriously studied, let along 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?

Though the civil war with communist factions is over, those with wealth and power are vulnerable to guerillas in remote areas.


Prayer Points

Pray for the protection of Hill Brahmins.
Pray for Nepal's Hill Brahmins to become enlightened with the understanding of the supremacy of Jesus Christ.
Pray for a movement within Hill Brahmin families of disciples who make more disciples.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out the right workers to take Jesus Christ to the Hill Brahmins.


Scripture Prayers for the Brahmin Hill in Nepal.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Brahmin Hill
People Name in Country Brahmin Hill
Natural Name Hill Brahmin
Pronunciation hill BRAH-min
Alternate Names Brahman Terai; Brahmin Terai; ब्रामिन, हिल
Population this Country 3,704,000
Population all Countries 3,704,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 74
PeopleID3 20056
ROP3 Code 115722
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 14
Largest States
Bagmati
847,000
Lumbini
557,000
Gandaki
378,000
Narayani
321,000
Mechi
305,000
Kosi
264,000
Seti
195,000
Mahakali
188,000
Bheri
169,000
Dhaulagiri
132,000
Janakpur
115,000
Rapti
101,000
Sagarmatha
80,000
Karnali
54,000
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 14
  Bagmati 847,000
  Lumbini 557,000
  Gandaki 378,000
  Narayani 321,000
  Mechi 305,000
  Kosi 264,000
  Seti 195,000
  Mahakali 188,000
  Bheri 169,000
  Dhaulagiri 132,000
  Janakpur 115,000
  Rapti 101,000
  Sagarmatha 80,000
  Karnali 54,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
97.42 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
2.57 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Nepali (2,932,000 speakers)
Language Code npi   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 29
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Dotyali
128,000
Awadhi
54,000
Bhojpuri
33,000
Maithili
31,000
Bantawa
16,000
Bengali
3,600
Hindi
3,200
Chamling
2,600
Kumaoni
2,300
Nepalese Sign Language
1,700
Musasa
1,500
Sanskrit
1,400
Sonha
1,000
Humla
700
Marwari (India)
500
Primary Language Nepali (2,932,000 speakers)
Language Code npi   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 29
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Dotyali 128,000
  Awadhi 54,000
  Bhojpuri 33,000
  Maithili 31,000
  Bantawa 16,000
  Bengali 3,600
  Hindi 3,200
  Chamling 2,600
  Kumaoni 2,300
  Nepalese Sign Language 1,700
  Musasa 1,500
  Sanskrit 1,400
  Sonha 1,000
  Humla 700
  Marwari (India) 500
People Groups Speaking Nepali

Primary Language:  Nepali

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1850-1961)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1821-2010)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1914-2024)
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 Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Nepali 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 New Way (Naya Goreto) Create International
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
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 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 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 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
Mobile App Android Bible app: Nepali YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Nepali Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible app: Nepali Bible The Love Fellowship
Mobile App Android Bible app: TBS Nepali Bible General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Nepali Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Ek Rasta Nepali General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Nepali Bible Stories Internet Publishing Sevice
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Nepali 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 Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Nepali 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 Harvey Blustain 
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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