Baidya (Hindu traditions) in Bangladesh


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 Baidya or Vaidya are a Hindu people who live in northeast India and Bangladesh. Their traditional occupation is being physicians. Vaidya means one who knows, studies and teaches the Vedas, the Hindu Scriptures. The Baidya are one of the highest Hindu castes equal to the Brahmins in India and Bangladesh. The kings from the Sena dynasty of the 11th and 12th centuries were Baidya. Besides being medical doctors, the Baidya served as high-ranking military officers and as royal advisers. They were often given large tracts of land due to their service to the king.

Today the Baidya continue to become physicians. Frequently, they are trained in both traditional Indian Ayurveda and Western medicine.

The primary language of the Baidya is Bengali. As educated Indians and Bangladeshi, they also speak English and Hindi.


Where Are they Located?

Most Bangladeshi Baidya live in the states of Chittagong, Dhaka and Barisal.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Baidya are one of the most respected castes in the Hindu system. Many of them still serve as physicians and in other professions like law and engineering. Baidya encourage their children to obtain graduate degrees in university. The Baidya possess land that is worked by lower castes.

The Baidya are generally monogamous, meaning they only have one spouse. Families arrange marriages with the consent of the young adults. The Baidya often serve as priests in their own important family celebrations.

Most Baidya are not vegetarians but will not eat beef. Their primary foods are rice, grains, vegetables, fruit and dairy products.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Baidya practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of the Indian subcontinent. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. 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 Baidya visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers and incense to their gods. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. The Baidya pay special reverence to Vishnu, the preserver god and Surya, the sun god.

The main yearly holidays of the Baidya people are Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

The Baidya need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. They must come to realize that they are sinners who need the Savior.


Prayer Points

Pray that a strong movement to Jesus will bring whole Baidya families and communities into a rich experience of God's blessings.
Pray the Lord will give Baidya families understanding and responsive hearts as they hear about the love of Christ.
Pray that the Lord leads believers to build redeeming relationships with Baidya to show them that money and a high position in society do not bring peace of mind or the forgiveness of sins.


Scripture Prayers for the Baidya (Hindu traditions) in Bangladesh.


References

wikipedia.org/wiki/Baidya
indpaedia.com/ind/index.php/Baidya,_Vaidya,_Baid,_Vaida
joshuaproject.net/people_groups/16295/IN


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Baidya (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Baidya (Hindu traditions)
Alternate Names Baid; Baidya; Baidyakar; Bediya; Munida; Vaidya; Vaidya/Bede; Vaidyansi; बैदया (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 133,000
Population all Countries 468,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 3
PeopleID3 16295
ROP3 Code 111421
Country Bangladesh
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 26  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 6
Largest States
Chittagong
59,000
Dhaka
30,000
Barisal
19,000
Rangpur
9,400
Khulna
9,300
Rajshahi
6,100
Country Bangladesh
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 26  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 6
  Chittagong 59,000
  Dhaka 30,000
  Barisal 19,000
  Rangpur 9,400
  Khulna 9,300
  Rajshahi 6,100
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.07 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.93 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Bangladesh census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Bengali (89,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
Chittagonian
42,000
Sylheti
400
Kok Borok
50
Punjabi, Eastern
20
Primary Language Bengali (89,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
  Chittagonian 42,000
  Sylheti 400
  Kok Borok 50
  Punjabi, Eastern 20
People Groups Speaking Bengali

Primary Language:  Bengali

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Bible-Complete Yes  (1809-2022)
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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 David Kugel 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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