Valluvan 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.

Subgroups: 11 (10 largest shown)  Show all

Subgroup Name Population
Nainar 2,800
Alwar 2,300
Arupathu Katchi 2,100
Narpathu Katchi 2,100
Pandaram 2,100
Dadar 600
Arupathykathi 200
Paraiyan 200
Tavidadari 200
Thavadadari 200

Introduction / History

The Valluvan are Hindu priests by tradition. They live in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Pondicherry. In Tamil Nadu the Valluvan live mainly in villages. They speak Tamil. Because of their high status, their males wear the exclusive sacred thread starting at age 12.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Valluvan people are usually landless. Though there are priests, many have gone into other work such as business and trade. They believe in education for boys and to a lesser degree for girls. They have cross-cousin marriages. They do not allow their widows to marry again.


What Are Their Beliefs?

They are Hindu priests by tradition, but they also do fortune telling and practice astrology. Some are devotees of either Vishnu or Shiva, and these two groups do not intermarry.


What Are Their Needs?

The Valluvan people need to put their faith in the God of Heaven and His son, Jesus Christ so they can enjoy life to the full.


Prayer Points

Pray that God will give the Valluvan dreams and visions leading them to begin a community movement to Christ. Pray for faithful intercessors and workers. Pray that gospel materials will become easily available to them.


Scripture Prayers for the Valluvan in India.


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Valluvan
People Name in Country Valluvan
Alternate Names Ahambadian; Alwar; Ambalakarar; Dadar; Dala; Iyer; Iyyer; Joshiar; Jyotidar; Nainar; Pandaram; Serviar; Thiru Valluvan; Thiru Vallvar; Thiruvalluvar; Thottia Naiker; Valayargal; Vallamban; Vallon; Valluva; Valluvar; Valuvan; Vanji; Vidiyar; Viniar; वल्लुवन
Population this Country 132,000
Population all Countries 135,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 3
PeopleID3 18320
ROP3 Code 113867
Affinity Bloc South Asian Peoples
People Cluster South Asia Dalit - other
People Group Valluvan
Ethnic Code CNN25
Total Subgroups 11
  Nainar 2,800
  Alwar 2,300
  Arupathu Katchi 2,100
  Narpathu Katchi 2,100
  Pandaram 2,100
  Dadar 600
  Arupathykathi 200
  Paraiyan 200
  Tavidadari 200
  Thavadadari 200
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 9
Largest States
Tamil Nadu
103,000
Kerala
21,000
Puducherry
5,200
Karnataka
1,200
Andhra Pradesh
1,100
Uttar Pradesh
300
Telangana
200
Delhi
200
Rajasthan
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 9
  Tamil Nadu 103,000
  Kerala 21,000
  Puducherry 5,200
  Karnataka 1,200
  Andhra Pradesh 1,100
  Uttar Pradesh 300
  Telangana 200
  Delhi 200
  Rajasthan 100
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.08 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.92 %
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 Tamil (96,000 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
Malayalam
19,000
Telugu
1,400
Primary Language Tamil (96,000 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
  Malayalam 19,000
  Telugu 1,400
People Groups Speaking Tamil

Primary Language:  Tamil

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1714-1956)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1715-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1727-2024)
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 General Ministry Resources General / Other
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Tamil 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 Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
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 Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Comprehensive list of Tamil Resources General / Other
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 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 Gospel website in this language General / Other
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
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Pastors Study Bible Tamil Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tamil YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Tamil Bible (தமிழ் பைபிள்) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tamil Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Tamil Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Tamil YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Tamil Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Tamil Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Anonymous 
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.


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