People group profile · PG041234
The Lingayat (Kannada) of India
The Lingayat (Kannada) of India, numbering about 3,695,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a major religious community centered in Karnataka and also found in Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. They follow a Shaiva tradition associated with the 12th-century philosopher, poet, and social reformer Basavanna (Basaveshwara).
They are an indigenous people in the Kanarese people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Hinduism, and they primarily speak Kannada.
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 3,695,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Kanarese
- Primary language
- Kannada (kan)
- Primary religion
- Hinduism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, Dispersed CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Mainly Goa and Karnataka states; Andhra Pradesh: Anantapur; Maharashtra: Latur district; Tamil Nadu and Kerala states; small border areas of last 4 states
Where they live
Gospel status
The Lingayat (Kannada) are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical but there has been dispersed church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years Dispersed Church Planting
Next steps for the Lingayat (Kannada)
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Gospel resources in Kannada
- Bible available, published 2024
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories available
Films
Bibles
- Easy-to-Read Version · audio, text
- Indian Revised Version · audio, text
- Kannada Contemporary Translation · video
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Lingayat (Kannada)
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
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