Telugu Brahmin 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 Telugu Brahmins are among the highest status peoples of southwest India. Brahmin means "one who knows God." There is a disagreement among sources as to whether the Telugu Brahmins were Aryans who came from north India or Dravidians who came north from Tamil Nadu. As their names suggests, they speak the south Indian language of Telugu. They also speak Hindi and English. Some of the Telugu Brahmins have left the priesthood to pursue secular occupations such as being government officials, military leaders and business owners. Some Telugu today continue the traditional Brahmin roles as temple priests, scholars and professors. Telugu Brahmins are also active in the arts as actors, filmmakers, musicians and painters.


Where Are they Located?

Most Telugu Brahmins live in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Smaller numbers live in Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and other regions of India.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Within the Telugu Brahmins, the Niyogi group serves in government, the military and business. They will eat meat except for beef. The Vaidiki group is priests dedicated to the god Vishnu and his temples. They are strict vegetarians. They perform religious ceremonies for other Hindu castes. They also engage in jobs like teaching, administration and science.

The Telugu Brahmin are endogamous. They marry only within their Brahmin caste.

Families arrange marriages with the consent of the young people. Sons inherit property with the eldest son receiving the family home.

Like other Brahmins, they encourage their children to get university educations and graduate degrees so they can obtain high positions in society.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Telugu Brahmins practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. The Telegu Brahmins worship and serve the many gods of the Hindu pantheon. They study the Vedas, the oldest writings of Hinduism. Some see Vishnu as the supreme god and others see Shiva as the chief deity. The Telugu Brahmins often perform the essential rituals of the yearly Hindu holidays such a Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights and Navratri, the nine-day celebration of autumn. The Telugu Brahmin cremate their dead.


What Are Their Needs?

The Telugu Brahmins need humility to see that they are sinners who require God's forgiveness. They need to see that the Bible not the Vedas is the source of true spiritual wisdom and knowledge of God. They need to see Christ's love and mercy lived out before their eyes by His followers.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Telugu receive a hunger for the truth of the Word of God.
Pray that Christians befriend the Telugu Brahmins and show them the love and grace of Christ and tell them the gospel.
Pray that the Lord raises up a disciple-making movement among the Telugu Brahmin community and that Telugu Brahmin churches are planted.


Scripture Prayers for the Brahmin Telugu in India.


References

https://www.quora.com/Who-are-the-Dravida-Brahmins-in-Andhra-Pradesh
http://www.vepachedu.org/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Brahmin Telugu
People Name in Country Brahmin Telugu
Natural Name Telugu Brahmin
Pronunciation TEL-uh-goo BRAH-min
Alternate Names Telugu Brahman; Telugu Brahmin; ब्रामिन, तेलुगु
Population this Country 1,158,000
Population all Countries 1,158,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 23
PeopleID3 19983
ROP3 Code 115766
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 20
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Andhra Pradesh
925,000
Karnataka
63,000
Tamil Nadu
61,000
Telangana
56,000
Maharashtra
30,000
Odisha
12,000
Puducherry
2,800
Chhattisgarh
1,700
Kerala
1,400
West Bengal
1,300
Delhi
800
Gujarat
800
Jharkhand
700
Madhya Pradesh
600
Assam
400
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 20
  Andhra Pradesh 925,000
  Karnataka 63,000
  Tamil Nadu 61,000
  Telangana 56,000
  Maharashtra 30,000
  Odisha 12,000
  Puducherry 2,800
  Chhattisgarh 1,700
  Kerala 1,400
  West Bengal 1,300
  Delhi 800
  Gujarat 800
  Jharkhand 700
  Madhya Pradesh 600
  Assam 400
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.99 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Telugu (1,158,000 speakers)
Language Code tel   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Telugu (1,158,000 speakers)
Language Code tel   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Telugu

Primary Language:  Telugu

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1812-1966)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1818-1989)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1854-2022)
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 Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Telugu 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 Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
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 for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
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 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 Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links (Neethakani) 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 Telugu Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Study Bibles (Multiple Languages) Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Telugu YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Telugu Bible (తెలుగు బైబిల్) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Telugu Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Telugu Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Open Bible Stories (Telugu) 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: Telugu YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Telugu Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Telugu 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 Sissssou - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source David Kugel 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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