Panditattan 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 Malayalam-speaking Hindu Panditattan people live in Kerala, India, and have historically served as religious scholars, priests and temple workers. Their role in the community revolves around religious service, guiding spiritual practices and maintaining temple rituals. Over time, the Panditattan have continued these responsibilities while adapting to the changing social and economic landscape of Kerala.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Panditattan people primarily work in religious services, performing rituals, conducting ceremonies and managing the day-to-day operations of Hindu temples. They oversee various temple activities, including prayers, festivals and religious events, which are central to their livelihood. In addition to their religious duties, some members of the Panditattan community also engage in small businesses or work in local education, providing instruction in Sanskrit and religious texts.

They live in villages and towns near temples, often forming tightly-knit communities. Families typically reside in modest homes made of locally sourced materials, such as brick and wood. While younger generations sometimes seek employment opportunities in education or service sectors, many remain involved in temple work, continuing the traditions passed down through generations.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Panditattan people practice Hinduism, with a strong emphasis on temple worship and religious rituals. They serve as caretakers of temples dedicated to deities like Vishnu, Shiva and Devi. Their religious duties include daily rituals, maintaining the temple grounds, and performing ceremonies for the local Hindu community. Major festivals such as Onam, Vishu and Navaratri hold special significance, with the Panditattan leading the celebrations.

In addition to these duties, the Panditattan people play a key role in religious education, passing down traditional knowledge of Sanskrit scriptures and Vedic rituals. This education helps maintain continuity in religious practices within the community.


What Are Their Needs?

The Panditattan people face challenges related to education, economic development and healthcare. While many members of the community rely on temple work for income, this source of livelihood is often insufficient to meet their needs. Expanding opportunities for skills training and small business development would help diversify their income and improve their economic stability.

Education remains a critical need, particularly for the younger generation. Improving access to quality schooling and expanding educational resources would allow them to explore a broader range of career opportunities. Additionally, healthcare services are often limited, with many families traveling to larger towns or cities for medical treatment. Expanding healthcare access and infrastructure in their communities would significantly enhance their quality of life.


Prayer Points

Pray for open roads for the flow of the gospel among the Panditattan people.
Ask God to raise up laborers to plant churches that will plant more churches among the Panditattan.
Pray that the Kingdom of God would soon come among the Panditattan, that many would find new life in Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Panditattan in India.


References

Ethnologue: Languages of the World
Reports from Indian NGOs on temple service communities
Academic research on rural religious communities in Kerala, India


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Panditattan
People Name in Country Panditattan
Alternate Names Anapattan; Kongu Nadu; Nasivan; Nasuvan; Pandidar; Vellala Nasuvan; Vettuva Nasuvan; पंडीतट्टन
Population this Country 12,000
Population all Countries 12,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 17829
ROP3 Code 113302
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 4
Largest States
Kerala
12,000
Karnataka
200
Tamil Nadu
100
Puducherry
20
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 4
  Kerala 12,000
  Karnataka 200
  Tamil Nadu 100
  Puducherry 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
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 Malayalam (8,400 speakers)
Language Code mal   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
Tamil
2,200
Kannada
100
Primary Language Malayalam (8,400 speakers)
Language Code mal   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
  Tamil 2,200
  Kannada 100
People Groups Speaking Malayalam

Primary Language:  Malayalam

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1811-1968)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1829-1995)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1841-2022)
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Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
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