Terai Brahmin in Nepal

The Terai 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

The Terai is a plains region which straddles India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal where it is the country's most productive district. Until the mid 1700s the Terai was composed of a number of small kingdoms. A large part of the economy now involves logging, which began in the 1920s. Typically they strip away the logs for lumber then replace the trees with farmland. Today agriculture is foundational to the economy. Major crops include rice, wheat, sugarcane, jute, tobacco, and maize. Beekeeping and honey are also important parts of the local economy.

There are many ethnic communities and social groups including Brahmins. The Brahmins are small enough that they are hardly mentioned in the context of this region of Nepal, but they are undoubtedly a leading community in the local economy.


Where Are they Located?

Terai Brahmins are located in India and Nepal.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The rate of literacy among Brahmin men, whose traditional priestly role required them to read sacred Hindu texts, is well above Nepal's national average.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Since they have the highest status of any Hindu varna, Brahmins believe that they have everything to lose by "converting" to another religious system. A Brahmin believes he is on the verge of reaching nirvana if he earns good karma in this life by doing what he is supposed to do. He believes that it took thousands of years of being reincarnated to reach the high state he now enjoys. Switching to a "different God" would surely result in an inferior reincarnation after he dies. To reach them for Christ someone will have to enter their world and learn how to communicate in the Brahmin way.


What Are Their Needs?

It will take people who are well educated and have a good grasp of Brahmin thinking to successfully reach them for Christ. They will need to have enough empathy to explain the ways of Jesus in a manner that would make sense to Terai Brahmins.


Prayer Points

Brahmins are the key community who uphold Hinduism. Pray that the light of the gospel breaks through the veil that blinds this community.
Pray that the true God will reveal Himself to this community and use Terai Brahmins to preach and teach about Jesus Christ.
Pray for a disciple making movement to flourish among every Brahmin community.


Scripture Prayers for the Brahmin Terai in Nepal.


References

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309416202_Dowry_a_contemporary_landscape_in_the_Brahmin_community_of_the_Terai_in_Nepal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_in_Nepal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terai
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/16521/NP
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3458000468.html
http://www.greathimalayatrails.com/ght-about-nepal/brahmin-chhetri-people/


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Brahmin Terai
People Name in Country Brahmin Terai
Natural Name Terai Brahmin
Alternate Names Brahman Terai; ब्रामिन, टेराई
Population this Country 120,000
Population all Countries 120,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
PeopleID3 20057
ROP3 Code 115767
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
Janakpur
63,000
Narayani
15,000
Lumbini
12,000
Sagarmatha
10,000
Mechi
4,200
Bheri
3,900
Bagmati
3,800
Kosi
3,700
Rapti
2,900
Seti
1,100
Mahakali
500
Gandaki
400
Dhaulagiri
30
Karnali
20
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 14
  Janakpur 63,000
  Narayani 15,000
  Lumbini 12,000
  Sagarmatha 10,000
  Mechi 4,200
  Bheri 3,900
  Bagmati 3,800
  Kosi 3,700
  Rapti 2,900
  Seti 1,100
  Mahakali 500
  Gandaki 400
  Dhaulagiri 30
  Karnali 20
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.80 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
1.20 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Maithili (72,000 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 17
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Bhojpuri
9,100
Nepali
6,900
Awadhi
5,700
Hindi
5,200
Marwari (India)
2,600
Bengali
1,100
Magahi
1,000
Sanskrit
500
English
200
Dotyali
100
Nepalese Sign Language
80
Haryanvi
80
Angika
40
Rangpuri
20
Gujarati
20
Primary Language Maithili (72,000 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 17
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Bhojpuri 9,100
  Nepali 6,900
  Awadhi 5,700
  Hindi 5,200
  Marwari (India) 2,600
  Bengali 1,100
  Magahi 1,000
  Sanskrit 500
  English 200
  Dotyali 100
  Nepalese Sign Language 80
  Haryanvi 80
  Angika 40
  Rangpuri 20
  Gujarati 20
People Groups Speaking Maithili

Primary Language:  Maithili

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2010)
Bible-Complete No
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 Oral Bible stories One Story
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Maithili Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
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 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 Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
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: Maithili YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Maithili Bible General / Other
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Maithili YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Maithili Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Copyrighted © 2024  Isudas  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
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.


Joshua Project logo    Terms of Use   Privacy Policy   Contact Us   Copyright © 2024