Yeah imma put this in here for fun :)
Names/Titles:
Fumetsu, Bhairab Bēcaina, The Great Asura of Death and Destruction, The immortal, King of Hearts (named by the Perfected Army of Christ).
Age: 1100-200 years
Appearance:
A Sorcerer of unknown origin. His skin tone is a light tan. Despite being 300+ years old, he looks barely a day above 28. He has black short hair and wears a folded sleeved button up everywhere he goes, even in battle. The shirt is stained in blood and his own flesh. When seen by people he constantly looks covered in blood.
Personality:
Bhairab is considered highly sadistic, sociopathic, hedonistic and extremely selfish. He often has large episodes of vanity where he brags to his opponent about how many women and children he has killed. Additionally while he is not killing weak sorcerers and curse spirits he often spends time with his harem. He is also very cunning and manipulative. Capable of tricking even high level foreign Jujutsu agents into giving him valuable information.
Despite this he does have some sort of admiration of humanity. In one fight with an unknown sorcerer, he clearly stated that he is powerful because he can choose to kill. That the reason humans are superior to anything else is because they can choose to ignore their desires or not. He simply chose to follow Kenjaku because he believes that the world he’ll create would be interesting to live in.
Backstory:
A foreign Agent of Kenjaku and notorious curse user. He is considered a key part of his contingency plan if Kenjaku were to die fighting. Not much is known about his origins. Only that he awakened from the mountains as a child; alone. He didn't know how much time had passed, it was so cold that he couldn't feel anything, he could only see the gray sky and snow raining down on his face. He couldn’t even describe the color.
Moving his eyes around he could see two figures approaching him. Both were talking in some foreign language. Just as they were talking, the child had one thought in him, hunger. He tried to walk up to the figures but a snap in his leg was felt, resulting in him falling in front of the figures. They laid flat on the floor and left him. He raises his head up to look at the figures moving away. He still felt hopeful. Believing they would come but they never did. This happened every single time. As time passed more snow enveloped him to which he became invisible to anyone who passed through the mountain. Despite being unable to stand, he could at least hear the voices of those who would rest near him.
At first these were just more foreign voices, but he would eventually understand. He would understand people's conversations, descriptions and dying breaths. A thought would appear in mind as he was trapped in the snow. It said live. He woke up from the snow and proceeded to walk down the mountain. Despite the severe conditions he never wavered, when he spotted a climber. His thought was that he needed clothes so he grabbed the man and gouged his eyes out before stripping him naked and leaving him to die out in the cold. He continued forward until he stopped by a village gate.
The people looked at him with fear. All they said was Fumetsu when looking at him. He didn’t really care, only looking for a place to sleep in. It was when he was surrounded by town guards that he realized he wasn't welcomed here so he grabbed a guards spear and went to it. The result was a bloodbath. With the entire village destroyed in the process. That was the origin of the man that would try his hardest to destroy jujutsu society. Helping Kenjaku further his plot by infiltrating and weakening foreign barriers outside of japan. He is infamous for his ability in Jujutsu and being considered one of the greatest threats to the Perfected Army of Christ, Jagtånder and the Ainu Jujutsu Society. Having multiple encounters with all three of these organizations and repelling some of their smaller forces on some occasions. For each of these organizations, when it is believed that Fumetsu is dead, he seems to appear in a different location, always starting something.
Curse Technique:
The Precepts of Bhairab: The user's atoms are able to contain the user's consciousness. The user can manipulate their atoms with curse energy. This manipulation is not limited to converting elements, creating compounds or creating chemical reactions as long as it is his atoms that he manipulates. This allows the user the potential to manipulate their own body by the atomic level. They can also manipulate objects their body touches though this does take time at around 10 - 15 seconds.
Extension Techniques:
Precept of Protection:
Fumetsu condenses the atoms that compose his skin. Hardening his skin in the process. This makes him highly resilient but reduces his mobility.
Precept of Life:
Fumetsu focuses all his curse energy to multiply his atoms and fully regenerate himself in 3 seconds. Any sort of damage that is done to his body can be fully healed, as long as he has curse energy.
Precept of Insight:
Fumetsu turns any sort of converted material around him into highly complex organs such as eyes, ears, limbs and more. Allowing him to either have extrasensory perception, a better physical constitution or an increased output of curse energy.
Precept of Preparation:
Fumetsu forms any of his converted atoms in nitroglycerin and heats them, leaving only so much to be used as projectiles. Basically creating a pipe bomb out of his flesh. Any projectiles that manage to hit the opponent will slowly begin to convert them. If not removed (Either via amputation or RCT) or reinforced with CE in the next 15 seconds Fumetsu can control and manipulate their bodies.
Precept of Feigned Humility:
A full reworking of his body to create a biological masterpiece for sorcery. Has eyes now on his arms and back. His back muscles constantly contort to produce hand signs and he has mouths on his palms and right chest constantly chanting curses. His perception has greatly increased as he now has a full 360 degree vision and senses even the small vibrations in the air. All his physical attributes have also increased by 250%. However his most notable feature is his increase in CE output by 180%.
Maximum Technique, Broken Precept of Destruction:
By slowly converting the air around him he can create a hydrogen blast that is shown to decimate entire cities. Requires around 2-5 minutes to charge up.
Weakness:

• Curse Energy reinforcement is often effective against being assimilated into him.
• Is killable during curse technique burnout.
• Advanced Reverse Curse Technique can reverse the assimilation.

Binding Vows:
Undying Domain: Through not only forfeiting the barrier but also reducing the radius of the domain’s radius to 3 metres and making it so that the domain is unable to overwhelm anyone elses his domain’s sure hit effects will still be ongoing. This is shown especially during domain clashes. Where the opponent's domain’s effect is cancelled but the user's domain sure hit is still in place. Meaning that if the opponent tries to approach the user in spite of any other external conditions they will now be under the sure hit effect.
Domain Expansion, Eighth Precept of Bhairab: Beautiful Naraka of the Asura
This domain initially depicts several buddhist statues accompanying a black barrier with Fumetsu at the center. Sorcerers are often fooled into believing that he is simply casting a curtain as Fumetsu often says the incantation in a foreign language. When anything is within the domain their atoms are instantly converted to Fumetsu’s atoms, making them susceptible to his manipulation.
The current undying domain does not have this. Instead it is a pure atomisation field destroying anything that comes within a 3 meter radius.

I’ve been doing this display where every week for the month of May I focus on a different region of Asia and the Pacific Islands + some fun facts for the countries and highlighting authors from there ! This week it’s Southeast Asia . Wanted to share because I saw a cool one in here🌷

I listen to this mantra quite a bit; and Om Mane Padme Hum from a CD I was given “Tibetan incantations”
I always thought I was hearing harmonies, depending on the volume I have it at in my car.
But I notice it doesn’t matter; the harmonies are always there. Singing along; on setting 1 sitting in the woods I hear them; cranked in the highway.
They are inaudible.
What is going on?!
I am not Buddhist. With a Buddhist client simply shared in amazement when I told him but we didn’t go into it.

… is just baffling to me. Israel is one of the most ethnically and religiously diverse countries anywhere in the West or Middle East.
Here’s some comparisons.

1. Japan: 98% ethnic Yamato, 70% Buddhist-Shinto
2. Ireland: 95% ethnic white Irish, 76% Christian
3. Morocco: 99% ethnic Moroccan, 99% Sunni Muslim
4. Egypt: 99% ethnic Egyptian, 90% Sunni Muslim
5. Denmark: 86% ethnic Danes, 74.8% Christian
6. South Korea: 95-99% ethnic Korean, 60% Atheist, 23% Christian, 16% Buddhist
7. Poland: 97% ethnic Poles, 92% Christian
8. Iceland: 94% ethnic Icelandic, 78% Christian, ~22% non-religious
9. Albania: 98% ethnic Albanian, 60% Sunni Muslim, 23% Christian
10. Cambodia: 95.8% ethnic Khmer, 97.1% Buddhist
11. Romania: 90% ethnic Romanian, 97% Christian
12. Armenia: 98.1% ethnic Armenian, 96.7% Christian
13. Bangladesh: ~99% ethnic Bengali, 91.1% Sunni Islam, 7.9% Hindu
14. Croatia: 91.6% ethnic Croat, 87.4% Christian

Countries which have an official State Religion (partial list):

1. England: Anglican Christian (Church of England)
2. Scotland: Lutheran Christian (Church of Scotland)
3. Malta: Roman Catholic Christian
4. Costa Rica: Roman Catholic Christian
5. Denmark: Lutheran Christian (Church of Denmark)
6. Greece: Eastern Orthodox Christian
7. Iceland: Lutheran Christian (Church of Iceland)
8. Thailand: Theravada Buddhism
9. Algeria: Sunni Islam
10. Iraq: Sunni islam
11. Jordan: Sunni Islam
12. Morocco: Sunni Islam
13. Pakistan: Sunni Islam
14. Saudi Arabia: Sunni Islam
15. Yemen: Sunni Islam
16. Iran: Shia Islam

Then…

• Israel:
• Ethnicity:
  • 73% ethnically Jewish, 21% ethnically Arab, ~6% Bedouin, Druze, Circassian, or Armenian;
  • Of Jews:
    • 44.9% Mizrahi ‘MENA’ Jews, 31.8% Ashkenazi ‘European’ Jews, 12.4% ‘Soviet’ Jews, 3% Ethiopian Jews, 7.9% a mix of the above or Bene Israel (Indian Jews).
• Religion:
  • 74.2% Jewish, 17.8% Muslim, 2.0% Christian, 1.6% Druze, 4.4% other (inc. Samaritans, Aramaeans, Baháʼí, others)
    • Of Jews:
    • 43% “secular”, 25% “non-religious traditionalists”, 13% “religious traditionalists”, 12% non-Haredi Orthodox, 8% Haredi Orthodox
• State religion:
  • None
  • Freedom House: “Freedom of religion is respected. Each community has jurisdiction over its own members in matters of marriage, burial, and divorce.”

But Israel is the one that apparently has to be destroyed because it’s an “ethnostate” and therefore has no right to exist!
Make it make sense!

As someone who was born and raised in the Lower Mainland of the province of British Columbia, Canada, I am often shocked by how outspokenly Christian the United States is. Not to get too deep into my backstory but religion just never played a role in my upbringing. Sure, when I was in primary school, I saw Muslim girls with their hijabs, and Sikh boys with their turbans, but they never bothered me or preached their religion to others, we just played together as kids.
The closest religion I had while growing up was Buddhism because of my grandma. Not to get too specific but I am mixed race, my father is white while my mom is Khmer (Cambodia). But we only occasionally went to the Buddhist pagoda (temple) but that didn't play a factor as neither of my parents is religious. Of course, you do see religious houses of worship like churches, mosques, and Sikh temples in BC and other Canadian provinces, but they never bothered me and aren't constantly preaching. In fact, census data shows that BC has the largest portion of non-religious people and is the most secular province in Canada.
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-has-canada-s-largest-proportion-of-non-religious-residents-poll-finds-1.6680547
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-most-secular-province-1.6633935
https://www.bchumanist.ca/census_2021
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_Canada
With that being said, my father works in the US and we also have a house there. One of the first things I've noticed about staying in the US for a longer period of time (apart from the ugly, car-centric infrastructure. Sorry Seattle WA, but I need my SkyTrain! But urban planning is a topic for a different sub) is just how openly religious (Christian) people are.
In BC Canada, none of our neighbours were openly religious, heck I don't even know if they were religious at all. And sure, we were never close to our neighbours in BC, but still. Religion, going to church, etc, was just never brought up. Contrast that to our neighbours in the US who are all openly Christian.
Don't worry, none of our US neighbours are the reactionary Christian Nationalist types, they're liberals Christians who somehow believe that God and Christianity are supportive of LGBTQ+ people even though it ain't. And no amount of cherry-picking and "reinterpretation" will change the fact that the Bible is a collection of reactionary stories with outdated, primitive positions.
While religion in the Western World is on the decline even in the US, I just want to know why the US is more openly religious compared to other Western countries? I know historically the US has been more religious than other first-world countries. Don't get me wrong, Canada does have its fair share of religious nutcases, but folks here seem to know not to take them seriously as they spew their nonsense.
But as someone who was born and raised in one of the most secular provinces in Canada, I just find the religious preaching, Christian Nationalism, and generally openly identifying as Christian to be strange and unsettling.

I sometimes engage on social media with theists and believers of more "mainstream" religions, especially Christianity. But every now and then, I come across people who unironically call themselves "witches," who often see themselves as just another kind of neopagan.
As far as I can tell, some of these people literally believe they have magical powers and can cast "spells" or use incantations to manipulate natural and supernatural forces. Some believe in and worship various gods and are therefore polytheists.
My point is, these beliefs strike me as just as silly, irrational, and delusional as any other "regular" religion. Witches are (at least mostly) a superstitious bunch who engage in magical thinking and believe in supernatural forces just as much as Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, etc., do. And when I tend to point out this fact, I get just as much pushback and hostility as I would from a typical Christian. I'm not terribly surprised by that, I suppose.
The funny thing is, when I see, say, Christians and witches/neopagans criticize each other on Facebook, they both come across as equally silly. I'm left scratching my head at how one superstitious group attacks another superstitious when they're both superstitious and think magic is real. I feel the same when I read stories of witches who converted to their new religion from mainstream monotheism. They've basically replaced one superstition for another superstition.
It's also just kinda hilarious to me, a secularist, skeptic, and atheist. What are y'all thoughts on dealing with the supernatural and magical claims and beliefs of witches, neopagans, etc.?

For Southeast Asia. As the post by Johan mentions, this start covers the expansion of the Majapahit empire, with many of Gajah Madah's campaigns occuring in this general period.
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BUT THATS NOT ALL!
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A more accurate 1337 start date also predates the dominance of Ayutthaya as preeminent Thai power, with potential power struggles between the inland Sukhothai and the coastal Ayutthaya being able to be represented. The Khmer and Cham also have more time to prepare and reverse their collapsing empires and it would be absolutely amazing if the game simulates the frankly apocalyptic effects of shifting climates that helped doom the Khmer.
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But perhaps most intriguingly, this timestamp is WELL before the Islamization of the Malay Archipelago. While Islam was by no means non-existent in the region by this point, one of the key factors in the spread of Islam in SEA was the Melaka Sultanate and its rise and fall... which only happened in 1400 following the destruction of this pleasant polity at the hands of the Thai (historical) / Javanese (mythical).
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Singapura
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Playing the balance of power between two rising powers and establishing a powerful Malay kingdom after the fall of Srivijaya would be a fun gameplan, much like EU4 Byzantium. Getting to choose between retaining and expanding proselytization to Buddhism or Hinduism and embracing Islam could be a fun gameplay mechanic, reflected in paths or mission trees (which could have some really kooky ideas you could bring up, like having an Islamized Singapura/Melaka claim descent from Alexander the Great as in IRL court histories). Singapura isn't the only interesting island polity that may exist since you would have the Tantric Buddhist kingdom of Adityawarman in Sumatra as well as a potential tag that people would like that could emerge either as a rebellion or vassal from Majapahit (I mean Indonesian tantric Buddhist empire sounds cool as hell) .
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Besides SEA, Japan would be ANOTHER place ripe for turmoil and fun gameplay ideas. The Sengoku is a whiles away, but this era has the Nanboku-cho period with strife between the Emperor and the Ashikaga Shogunate and two rival courts at Kyoto and Yoshino. Imagine playing Japan and achieving a Imperial Restoration in 1370! Possibly even bypassing the Sengoku and other conflicts?
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IDK this era would be incredibly dynamic from an early game wars PoV across Asia with implications for gameplay. Its a very different scenario from EU IV though and it would be disappointing to keep the EU4 setup. At the very least making most Indonesian kingdoms Hindu-Buddhist with conversion being an event that happens later game, making Melaka a formable through event if Singapura is destroyed, having Nanboku-cho instead of Sengoku esque daimyo and representing the Khmer collapse and rise of Ayutthaya would be critical.
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Some 15 Khmer and international speakers are expected to take the stage in the second round of TEDx Phnom Penh, themed “Sustainable Future”, in Major Cineplex (IMAX Hall) Aeon2 Sen Sok on March 31, 2024.
The speakers include Buddhist monk and professor Kou Sopheap, Cambodia-China Chamber of Commerce vice president Tan Monivann, impact entrepreneur Barak Ekshtein, evolutionary designer Anita Raymond Grey, Cambodian author and influencer Seng Gechly, and theatre director Soung Sopheak.

The Technique is an Inherited Cursed Technique that has come about from the mixing of the infamous Muramasa clan and the famous Masamune clan.
Muramasa’s Stain, as many in the family refer to their Mad Founder’s legacy in their blood, is that no one bearing Muramasa blood could grasp Reverse Cursed Techniques and/or Energy; due to the amount of Cursed Energy that coursed through him due to his madness. Many Curses in swords were born due to this, especially if they were forged by his hands.
Masamune, on the other hand, could only use and grasp Reverse Cursed Energy/Techniques. Many in the family have theorized that this is part of a Heavenly Pact that caused the two Founders to be opposites in the sake of Balance.
Descendants of these two eventually married and combined the bloodlines; causing the strengths of both and a new Cursed Technique to be born: As well as the other being able to utilize aspects of Cursed Energy they couldn’t before.
As for the Technique:
Jutsushiki: Muramasa no Kyōki Cursed Technique: Muramasa’s Madness
The Neutral application of Muramasa’s Madness is the increase in usable Cursed Energy and efficiency of any Jujutsu used. The drawback is the bloodlust and madness can be extremely difficult to control, leading to the common practice of using a sealing Binding Vow in order to restrict the Technique’s usage. The Vow follows a simple system: It restricts the use of all natural Cursed Energy to contain the inherent madness of the Technique. However, it allows the moldage of Cursed Energy into Reversed Cursed Energy, to let the user still utilize their Reverse Cursed Technique and Cursed Technique Reversal. To undo or loosen the seal placed by the Vow; one must simply acquire blood, the users or another’s; even Curse blood will do, and utter the incantation. The Incantation is: “With this blood, I loose/undo this seal; I invoke the Madness of Muramasa.” Kono chi de (watashi wa) fūinwotoku. Kyōki no mura sei o yobiokosu!
The Lapse (Jutsushiki Junten) of Muramasa’s Madness is Divine Severance (Kami no Danzetsu): When Muramasa no Kyōki is active, it causes the Cursed Energy coating a blade to instantly cut through whatever it touches, even most Cursed Techniques. Further extending this Technique utilizing Maximum Output results in the medium of cutting going from the steel of a blade to the very Cursed Energy of the user; within a 2 meter radius if not using any appendages or tools. The hidden effect of the Lapse is that anything reformed after being cut by Kami no Danzetsu is weaker than before it was cut. Kami no Danzetsu; Saidai: Zantetsuken is the highest the natural cutting ability of Kami no Danzetsu can be taken. It occurs within a single slash, but executed properly can extend the cut to an entire radius around the caster; resulting in a singular slash that most defenses cannot withstand. This also bears great risk, in that it skims dangerously close to the Madness of Muramasa to extreme degrees.
The Reversal (Jutsushiki Hanten) of Muramasa no Kyōki is Yawarakai-Te (Tender Hands): By replacing the Cursed Energy with Reversed Curse Energy, any cut or damage done to someone can be undone within seconds. It also grants the undoing of the weakness commonly caused by Kami no Danzetsu, even bolstering others when healed by it. Since the Cursed Technique is most often sealed within the user, many often only end up using Yawarakai-Te, to the point that many mistake it for being the common Technique. Maximum Output can be utilized for this as well, resulting in a two meter buff zone that not only can heal but also reinforce those who enter it. However, the effect lasts for a short time after exiting the zone, which means the application of this is primarily useful for ranged fighters or Techniques (ie Ten Shadows Shikigami or Straw Doll). A point to be noted is while it can be extremely useful for ranged fighters, it; like Kami no Danzetsu, moves with the User, thus allowing even Melee fighters to gain these benefits, but they must be extremely close, which can be difficult depending on the opponent.
For the peak of Muramasa no Kyōki/Muramasa’s Madness;
Ryōiki Tenkai: Ha no Haeta Shinden no Tan'yaa-ba (Tentative translation) Domain Expansion: Blade Ridden Shrine Forge
Ha no Haeta Shinden no Tan’yaa-ba is an open barrier Domain that creates a large area of mossy grasslands akin to those found across Japan with a large ornate forge nearby, complete with a large shimenawa. The forge burns bright and the sounds of hammering fill the air as the field is littered with discarded swords stabbed into the ground.
Incomplete: In Ha no Haeta Shinden no Tan’yaa-ba’s incomplete state; the Sure-Hit Effect is not present, meaning the victim can dodge the attacks made by the Caster. However, this can be mitigated by utilizing the teleport function: each blade can be teleported too, allowing the Caster to traverse the Domain with quick ease. Each blade is under the effect of Kami no Danzetsu and Yawarakai-Te (if the Cursed Technique Reversal is running when Domain is cast) to cut through and reform opponents. If any of the blades are broken or made ineffective; the Shrine Forge can instantly create a new batch and send then flying out into the field; but in the Incomplete state, this costs more Cursed Energy to use, meaning this could prematurely end the Domain or drain the user into dropping the Domain. A downside as well is that when Yawarakai-Te is used to reform a Victim, the subsequent hidden effect takes place as well, preventing the opponent from being weakened by Kami no Danzetsu.
Complete; In Ha no Haeta Shinden no Tan’yaa-ba’s complete state; the weaknesses and shortcomings of its Incomplete state are gone; the Shrine Forge will utilize the Cursed Energy cut from the Victims with each slash of Kami no Danzetsu, the Sure-Hit Effect is in full operation, combining with the blade teleportation to quickly eviscerate the Victims. The Domain is still an Open Barrier, but much of the effectiveness is diminished due to how effective the fleeing prevention mechanisms are. Even the Cursed Technique Reversal is more effective in the Complete state, as well as being able to disable the hidden effect; meaning each slash by a blade can weaken a Victim dramatically, or the slash can bolster them into a false sense of confidence; boosting the next Kami no Danzetsu cut.
Ha no Haeta Shinden no Tan’yaa-ba’s downside however is that the entire Domain can be expressly undone if the Victim attains “Enlightenment”. The Domain represents the Buddhist Wheel of Rebirth; for each cut by Kami no Danzetsu represents the Death of the Victim while each reformation by Yawarakai-Te represents the Victim’s Rebirth. If the Victim achieves “Enlightenment”, they can create a Simple Domain rendering them immune to Ha no Haeta Shinden no Tan’yaa-ba indefinitely.

For the past decade or so my mom has been following a Buddhist group called Guan Yin Citta where "Master Lu" guides everyone to reaching higher level of enlightenment. She has constantly been pushing me to follow in his footsteps and follow him just as she is. So every morning she has me read incarnations out of a small red book for fifteen minutes or more to stay healthy and fortunate. Unfortunately no matter how hard I try, I can't convince myself to believe any of it. My mom is devout, going to volunteer for the local temple, passing out fliers on the street to spread the word of the religion, and praying every single day. But as of recent years, I couldn't bring myself to continue these 15 minute incantations because I just could not bring myself to read them even if it's such a short amount of time. I have been having some health issues recently and today when she told me to recite the incantations, I couldn't do it cuz I didn't remember any of them. She never checked if I read them properly so when she looked away, I just pretend I read them. I basically got busted today. When she realized, she said Buddha would punish me for it and I have to recite much more to compensate. She said that playing around and not taking it seriously is worse than not reading them at all. So I told her I didn't want to do these anymore. She said that I might as well try practicing to do it right but I just hate this whole religion thing. When she said I would likely get deathly ill and die because I didn't follow her beliefs, I cried uncontrollably. She left me alone and said I don't have to do the incantations anymore but I know she's mad at me. I feel guilty because a measly 15 minutes in the morning I could've spared to make her happy and I couldn't even do that. So I wanted to know how I can fix this. I really dread having to do things for a religion I don't believe in so I just want to figure out what I can do to at least make her happy despite my failures.

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Welcome back to the Reformed UPG of the Week! This morning my wonderful wife was wearing an old Angkor Wat t-shirt of mine and so I decided to do Cambodia! Meet the Western Cham people of Cambodia!

Region: Cambodia

map
Stratus Index Ranking (Urgency): 51
It has been noted to me by u/JCmathetes that I should explain this ranking. Low numbers are more urgent, both physically and spiritually together, while high numbers are less urgent. The scale is 1-177, with one number assigned to each country. So basically on a scale from Afghanistan (1) to Finland (177), how urgent are the peoples physical and spiritual needs.

The Stratus Index - Synthesizes reliable data from different sources to clearly display the world’s most urgent spiritual and physical needs.
The vast majority of missions resources go to people and places already Reached by the Gospel, while only 3% of missionaries and 1% of missions money are deployed among the Unreached. This is the Great Imbalance. As a result, there are more people without access to the Gospel today than a decade ago. Stratus seeks to equip the global church with fresh vision to accomplish the Great Commission by addressing some of the factors that perpetuate the Great Imbalance. We hope this tool allows the church to better understand what steps will be required to overcome the barriers that prevent needs from being met, spurring informed and collaborative missions strategy. Stratus Website

Siem Reap street view
Climate: Cambodia's climate, like that of the rest of Southeast Asia, is dominated by monsoons, which are known as tropical wet and dry because of the distinctly marked seasonal differences. Cambodia has a temperature range from 21 to 35 °C (70 to 95 °F) and experiences tropical monsoons. Southwest monsoons blow inland bringing moisture-laden winds from the Gulf of Thailand and Indian Ocean from May to October. The northeast monsoon ushers in the dry season, which lasts from November to April. The country experiences the heaviest precipitation from September to October with the driest period occurring from January to February.
Cambodia has two distinct seasons. The rainy season, which runs from May to October, can see temperatures drop to 22 °C (72 °F) and is generally accompanied with high humidity. The dry season lasts from November to April when temperatures can rise up to 40 °C (104 °F) around April. Disastrous flooding occurred in 2001 and again in 2002, with some degree of flooding almost every year. Severe flooding also affected 17 provinces in Cambodia during the 2020 Pacific typhoon season.
Mountains in Cambodia
Terrain: Cambodia's landscape is characterized by a low-lying central plain that is surrounded by uplands and low mountains and includes the Tonle Sap (Great Lake) and the upper reaches of the Mekong River delta. Extending outward from this central region are transitional plains, thinly forested and rising to elevations of about 650 feet (200 metres) above sea level.
To the north the Cambodian plain abuts a sandstone escarpment, which forms a southward-facing cliff stretching more than 200 miles (320 kilometres) from west to east and rising abruptly above the plain to heights of 600 to 1,800 feet (180–550 metres). This cliff marks the southern limit of the Dângrêk Mountains.
Flowing south through Cambodia's eastern regions is the Mekong River. East of the Mekong the transitional plains gradually merge with the eastern highlands, a region of forested mountains and high plateaus that extend into Laos and Vietnam. In southwestern Cambodia two distinct upland blocks, the Krâvanh Mountains and the Dâmrei Mountains, form another highland region that covers much of the land area between the Tonle Sap and the Gulf of Thailand.
In this remote and largely uninhabited area, Phnom Aural, Cambodia's highest peak rises to an elevation of 5,949 feet (1,813 metres). The southern coastal region adjoining the Gulf of Thailand is a narrow lowland strip, heavily wooded and sparsely populated, which is isolated from the central plain by the southwestern highlands.
The most distinctive geographical feature is the inundations of the Tonle Sap, measuring about 2,590 square kilometres (1,000 square miles) during the dry season and expanding to about 24,605 square kilometres (9,500 square miles) during the rainy season. This densely populated plain, which is devoted to wet rice cultivation, is the heartland of Cambodia. Much of this area has been designated as a biosphere reserve.
Mekong River in Cambodia
Wildlife of Cambodia: Cambodia i s home to some 521 species of birds, 127 mammals, and 116 reptiles. Some of these includes: Indochinese Leopard, Asian black bear, Asian elephant, Asian golden cat, Banteng, Binturong, Clouded leopard, Dhole, Douc langur, Eld's deer, Gaur, Hog badger, Hog deer, Indian muntjac, Irrawaddy dolphin, Kouprey, Leopard cat, Lesser false vampire bat, Marbled cat, Pileated gibbon, Rice-field rat, Sambar deer, Serow, Silvery lutung, Sun bear, Wild boar, Wild water buffalo, burmese pythons, bengal monitors, saltwater crocodile, golden flying snake (I'm sorry what), cobras, kraits, and quite a few other terrifying snake species, as well, the tiger may or may not still exist in Cambodia.
Unfortunately, there are monkeys in Cambodia. Ugh.
Indochinese Leopard in Cambodia (on the verge of extinction)
Environmental Issues: The key environmental problems in Cambodia include habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular destruction of mangrove swamps and declining fish stocks), deforestation, land degradation, and natural hazards and disasters e.g. floods and droughts.
Languages: Khmer is spoken by over 90% of the Cambodian population. The vast majority of Khmer speakers use the Central Khmer dialect. Central Khmer is the variety spoken in the central plain where the ethnic Khmers most heavily concentrate. Other Khmer dialects include the Phnom Penh variety, as well as Northern Khmer (Surin Khmer), Western Khmer (Cardamom Khmer) (I wanted nutmeg Khmer), Southern Khmer (Khmer Krom), and the Khmer Khe dialect in Stung Treng province. Around 22 languages other than Khmer are spoken in Cambodia: Kuy, Por (Pear), Somray, Chong, Suoy, Sa'och, Tampuan, Kaco', Stieng, Mnong, Brao, Krung (Rade), and Sou (Laven). The Cham people speak Cham.
Government Type: Unitary dominant-party parliamentary elective constitutional monarchy
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People: Western Cham of Cambodia

A Western Cham man
Population: 256,000
Estimated Foreign Workers Needed: 5+
Beliefs: At the height of the Champa Empire, two cultural influences predominated: the Hindu culture of India and the Islamic culture of the Malay. Consequently, the Cham practice a distorted version of Shi'ite Islam. A special tradition is the burying of their dead twice. Immediately after death, the person is buried in a temporary grave. After a year has passed, his bones are removed and taken to a permanent place to be buried with his rings.
The Western Cham are 0.01% Christian. That means out of their population of 256,000, there are roughly 25 believers. Thats about 1 believer for every 10,000 unbelievers.
Ancient Cham temples (not Islamic)
A Cham mosque in Vietnam.
History: The original Cham are the likely heirs of Austronesian navigators from Taiwan and Borneo. Earliest known records of Cham presence in Indochina date back to the second century CE. Population centers were located on the river outlets along the coast. As they controlled the import/export trade of continental Southeast Asia, they enjoyed a prosperous maritime economy.
Like countless other political entities of Southeast Asia, the Champa principalities underwent the process of Indianization since the early common era as a result of centuries of socio-economic interaction adopted and introduced cultural and institutional elements of India. From the 8th century onward, Muslims from such regions as Gujarat began to increasingly appear in trade and shipping of India. Islamic ideas became a part of the vast tide of exchange, treading the same path as Hinduism and Buddhism centuries before. Cham people picked up these ideas by the 11th century. This can be seen in the architecture of Cham temples, which shares similarities with the one of the Angkor temples.
In the 12th century, the Cham fought a series of wars with the Khmer Empire to the west. In 1177, the Cham and their allies launched an attack from the lake Tonlé Sap and managed to sack the Khmer capital of Angkor. In 1181, however, they were defeated by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII.
Islam first arrived in Champa around the ninth century; however, it did not become significant among the Cham people until after the eleventh century.
Cham who migrated to Sulu were Orang Dampuan. Champa and Sulu engaged in commerce with each other which resulted in merchant Chams settling in Sulu where they were known as Orang Dampuan from the 10th-13th centuries. The Orang Dampuan were slaughtered by envious native Sulu Buranuns due to the wealth of the Orang Dampuan. The Buranun were then subjected to retaliatory slaughter by the Orang Dampuan. Harmonious commerce between Sulu and the Orang Dampuan was later restored. The Yakans were descendants of the Taguima-based Orang Dampuan who came to Sulu from Champa. Sulu received civilization in its Indic form from the Orang Dampuan.
A number of Cham also fled across the sea to the Malay Peninsula and as early as the 15th century, a Cham colony was established in Malacca. The Chams encountered Sunni Islam there as the Malacca Sultanate was officially Muslim since 1414. The King of Champa then became an ally of the Johor Sultanate; in 1594, Champa sent its military forces to fight alongside Johor against the Portuguese occupation of Malacca. Between 1607 and 1676, one of the Champa kings converted to Islam and it became a dominant feature of Cham society. The Chams also adopted the Jawi alphabet.
Historical records in Indonesia showed the influence of Queen Dwarawati, a Muslim princess from the kingdom of Champa, toward her husband, Kertawijaya, the Seventh King of Majapahit Empire, so that the royal family of the Majapahit Empire eventually converted to Islam, which finally led to the conversion to Islam of the entire region. Chams Princess tomb can be found in Trowulan, the site of the capital of the Majapahit Empire. In Babad Tanah Jawi, it is said that the king of Brawijaya V has a wife named Dewi Anarawati (or Dewi Dwarawati), a Muslim daughter of the King of Champa (Chams). Chams had trade and close cultural ties with the maritime kingdom of Srivijaya in the Malay Archipelago.
Another significant figure from Champa in the history of Islam in Indonesia is Raden Rakhmat (Prince Rahmat) who's also known as Sunan Ampel, one of Wali Sanga (Nine Saints), who spread Islam in Java. He is considered as a focal point of the Wali Sanga, because several of them were actually his descendants and/or his students. His father is Maulana Malik Ibrahim also known as Ibrahim as-Samarkandy ("Ibrahim Asmarakandi" to Javanese ears), and his mother is Dewi Candrawulan, a princess of Champa who's also the sister of Queen Dwarawati. Sunan Ampel was born in Champa in 1401 CE. He came to Java in 1443 CE, in order to visit his aunt Queen Dwarawati, a princess of Champa who married to Kertawijaya (Brawijaya V), the King of Majapahit Empire. Local legend says that he built the Great Mosque of Demak (Masjid Agung Demak) in 1479 CE, but other legends attribute that work to Sunan Kalijaga. Sunan Ampel died in Demak in 1481 CE, but is buried in Ampel Mosque at Surabaya, East Java.
Between the rise of the Khmer Empire around 800 and the Vietnamese's territorial expansion southwards from Jiaozhi and, later, Đại Việt, Champa began to shrink. At a disadvantage against Dai Viet's army of 300,000 troops, the Cham army of 100,000 were overwhelmed. In the Cham–Vietnamese War (1471), Champa suffered serious defeats at the hands of the Vietnamese, in which 120,000 people were either captured or killed, and the kingdom was reduced to a small enclave near Nha Trang with many Chams fleeing to Cambodia. Champa was no longer a threat to Vietnam, and some were even enslaved by their victors.
The Cham were matrilineal and inheritance passed through the mother. Because of this, in 1499 the Vietnamese enacted a law banning marriage between Cham women and Vietnamese men, regardless of class. The Vietnamese also issued instructions in the capital to kill all Chams within the vicinity. More attacks by the Vietnamese continued and in 1693 the Champa Kingdom's territory was integrated as part of Vietnamese territory.
The trade in Vietnamese ceramics was damaged due to the plummet in trade by Cham merchants after the Vietnamese invasion. Vietnam's export of ceramics was also damaged by its internal civil war, the Portuguese and Spanish entry into the region and the Portuguese conquest of Malacca which caused an upset in the trading system, while the carracks ships in the Malacca to Macao trade run by the Portuguese docked at Brunei due to good relations between the Portuguese and Brunei after the Chinese permitted Macao to be leased to the Portuguese.
When the Ming dynasty in China fell, several thousand Chinese refugees fled south and extensively settled on Cham lands and in Cambodia. Most of these Chinese were young males, and they took Cham women as wives. Their children identified more with Chinese culture. This migration occurred in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Chams participated in defeating the Spanish invasion of Cambodia. Cambodian king Cau Bana Cand Ramadhipati, also known as 'Sultan Ibrahim', launched the Cambodian–Dutch War to expel the Dutch. The Vietnamese Nguyen Lords toppled Ibrahim from power to restore Buddhist rule.
In the 18th century and the 19th century, Cambodian-based Chams settled in Bangkok.
Further expansion by the Vietnamese in 1692 resulted in the total annexation of the Champa kingdom Panduranga and dissolution by the 19th century Vietnamese Emperor, Minh Mạng. In response, the last Cham Muslim king, Pô Chien, gathered his people in the hinterland and fled south to Cambodia, while those along the coast migrated to Trengganu (Malaysia). A small group fled northward to the Chinese island of Hainan where they are known today as the Utsuls. The king and his people who took refuge in Cambodia were scattered in communities across the Mekong Basin. Those who remained in the Nha Trang, Phan Rang, Phan Rí, and Phan Thiết provinces of central Vietnam were absorbed into the Vietnamese polity. Cham provinces were seized by the Nguyen Lords.
After Vietnam invaded and conquered Champa, Cambodia granted refuge to Cham Muslims escaping from Vietnamese conquest.
In 1832, the Vietnamese Emperor Minh Mang annexed the last Champa Kingdom. This resulted in the Cham Muslim leader Katip Sumat, who was educated in Kelantan, declaring a Jihad against the Vietnamese. The Vietnamese coercively fed lizard and pig meat to Cham Muslims and cow meat to Cham Hindus against their will to punish them and assimilate them to Vietnamese culture. The second revolt led by Ja Thak Wa, a Bani cleric, resulting in the establishment of a Cham resistance which lasted from 1834 to 1835 until it was bloody crushed by Minh Mang's forces in July 1835. Only 40,000 Cham remained in the old Panduranga territory in 1885.
At the division of Vietnam in 1954, majority of Cham population remained in South Vietnam. A handful dozens of Chams who were members of the Viet Minh went North during the population exchange between North and South known as Operation Passage to Freedom – along with around ten thousand indigenous highland peoples – mainly Chamic and Bahnaric – from South Vietnam. The Democratic Republic of Vietnam during its early years (1954–1960) were actually more favorable toward ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples, compared to Republic of Vietnam, attacking Ngo Dinh Diem's Kinh chauvinist attitudes. Leaders of Communist Party of Vietnam at the time promised equal rights and autonomy, and by 1955 the North's national broadcast station Voice of Việt Nam began broadcasting propaganda radio in Rhadé, Bahnar, and Jarai, to recruit support from the South's indigenous groups. These cultivation efforts later contributed to the foundation of the FULRO in 1964, although FULRO's objective was to fight against both North and South Vietnam.
In Cambodia, due to discriminatory treatments of the colonial and following Sihanouk governments, the Cham communities here sought communism. The Cham began to rise in prominence in Cambodian politics when they joined the communists as early as the 1950s, with a Cham elder, Sos Man joining the Indochina Communist Party and rising through the ranks to become a major in the Party's forces. He then returned home to the Eastern Zone in 1970 and joined the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK), and he co-established the Eastern Zone Islamic Movement with his son, Mat Ly. Together, they became the mouthpiece of the Khmer Rouge and they encouraged the Cham people to participate in the revolution. Sos Man's Islamic Movement was also tolerated by the Khmer Rouge's leadership between 1970 and 1975. The Chams were gradually forced to abandon their faith and their distinct practices, a campaign which was launched in the Southwest as early as 1972.
In the 1960s various movements emerged calling for the creation of a separate Cham state in Vietnam. The Front for the Liberation of Champa (FLC) and the Front de Libération des Hauts plateaux dominated. The latter group sought greater alliance with other hill tribe minorities. Initially known as "Front des Petits Peuples" from 1946 to 1960, the group later took the designation "Front de Libération des Hauts plateaux" and joined, with the FLC, the "Front unifié pour la Libération des Races opprimées" (FULRO) at some point in the 1960s. Since the late 1970s, there has been no serious Cham secessionist movement or political activity in Vietnam or Cambodia.
During the Vietnam War, a sizable number of Chams migrated to Peninsular Malaysia, where they were granted sanctuary by the Malaysian government out of sympathy for fellow Muslims; most of them have now assimilated with Malay cultures. The integrated community who self identifies as Melayu Champa ("Champa Malay") has dabbled into trades of agarwood, clothing (especially in Kelantan) and fishery (in coastal Pahang) from their arrival in the late 1970s to the 80s.
The Cham community suffered a major blow during the Cambodian genocide in Democratic Kampuchea. The Khmer Rouge targeted ethnic minorities like Chinese, Thai, Lao, Vietnamese and the Cham people, though the Cham suffered the largest death toll in proportion to their population. Around 80,000 to 100,000 Cham out of a total Cham population of 250,000 people in 1975, died in the genocide.
An aerial view of bomb craters in Cambodia from the Khmer Rouge
Culture: Typical qualification that all people groups can't be summed up in small paragraphs and this is an over generalization.
In 1975, the Khmer Rouge regime nearly destroyed Cambodia. Widespread starvation led to the deaths of over one million people. Currency was abolished, medicine was forbidden, religion was eradicated, and education was suspended. Many people were massacred-sometimes because they could read; other times simply because they wore eye glasses. This was all done in the name of "ideal rural social reform." In 1975, more than 250,000 Muslim Cham lived in Cambodia. With the rise of the Khmer Rouge regime, however, their population was decimated.
From the beginning, the Cham were singled out as a minority group and subjected to annihilation because they practiced Islam. Captured and removed from their homes, they were forbidden to speak their native language and forced to eat pork, which is an abomination to Muslims. Thousands escaped to the forests; but they were pursued and killed. About 100,000 Cham were said to have been executed at that time, and the survivors were dispersed into small groups. The few Cham who successfully concealed their identities often died from disease or starvation.
Today, the remaining Cham survive by farming, fishing, building boats, and light commerce. Bombing, civil war, and war with the Vietnamese have brought an end to the once thriving agricultural economy. The soil is not fertile, but the plains flood every rainy season. This overflow is full of fish while it lasts, and leaves rich alluvial deposits when it recedes.
Cham villagers are extremely poor, and their settlements convey a sense of impermanence. Homes are made of split bamboo and are elevated above the ground to protect against flooding. Their diet of fish, rice, and vegetables is adequate, but most other necessities of life are severely lacking. The typical home has few adornments and domestic utensils.
The Cham in Cambodia have preserved some of their original traits, such as the position of authority held by the maternal uncle. However, for the most part, they are entirely integrated into the Cambodian lifestyle and many now speak Khmer (Cambodian).
Cham society is matrilineal (line of descent is traced through the women). This is due to the fact that more men than women were killed between 1975 and 1979, creating a skewed sex ratio. Women now must perform the duties that once belonged to the men.
Kate festival of the Cham people
Cuisine: Popular Cham dishes are muthin ritong (rice with fish), lithei jrau (rice with meat and vegetables), abu mutham (gruel with fish and vegetables), and kari cam murong (chicken or beef curry). A specialty of Chams in An Giang province is the beef sausage tung lamaow (Cham: ꨓꨭꩂ ꨤꨟꨯꨱꨥ). Chams in this province are also known for their beef, goat or chicken curry with rice. Chams eat three meals a day – breakfast, lunch and dinner – with rice, maize, sweet potato and beans being the staple food. Cham cuisine is very similar to the cuisines of Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand. It is sweeter and spicier than the cuisine of Northern Vietnam and uses many different types of fermented fish (mắm), including mắm nêm, which along with different spices, curries and other Cham dishes entered the cuisine of Southern Vietnam following the Vietnamese conquest and annexation of Champa during Vietnam's southward expansion.
Popular Muslim Cham Saraman curry

Prayer Request:

• Pray that missions agencies will be granted God's wisdom and favor.
• Ask the Lord to call additional long-term laborers who are willing to go to Cambodia and share Christ with the Western Cham.
• Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the few known Western Cham Christians.
• Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will faithfully stand in the gap and intercede for these precious people.
• Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Western Cham.
• Pray against Putin and his insane little war.
• Pray for our nation (the United States), that we Christians can learn to come alongside our hurting brothers and sisters and learn to carry one another's burdens in a more Christlike manner than we have done historically.
• Pray that in this time of an upcoming election and insanity that the needs of the unreached are not forgotten by the church. Pray that our hearts continue to ache to see the unreached hear the Good News.

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. (Romans 10:1)
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Here are the previous weeks threads on the UPG of the Week for Reformed from 2023 (plus a few from 2022 so this one post isn't so lonely). To save some space on these, all UPG posts made 2019-now are here, I will try to keep this current.

People Group	Country	Continent	Date Posted	Beliefs
Western Cham	Cambodia	Asia	01/29/2024	Islamc
Yadav	India	Asia	01/22/2024	Hinduism
Thai (updated)	Thailand	Asia	12/18/2023	Buddhism
Bayad	Mongolia	Asia	12/11/2023	Buddhism
Bedouin (Suafa)	Algeria	Africa	12/04/2023	Islam
Aboriginal (Reached)	Australia	Oceania	11/27/2023	Christian

^{a - Tibet belongs to Tibet, not China.
b - Russia/Turkey/etc is Europe but also Asia so...
c - this likely is not the true religion that they worship, but rather they have a mixture of what is listed with other local religions, or they have embraced a liberal drift and are leaving faith entirely but this is their historical faith.}
Here is a list of definitions in case you wonder what exactly I mean by words like "Unreached".
Here is a list of missions organizations that reach out to the world to do missions for the Glory of God.

Hi everyone!
(Disclaimer: Mostly an ignorant northie here!)
I've been living in Cambodia for more than a decade. The longer I've been here, the more I have learned about the Tamilian imprint that exists in this land. Much like the rest of Southeast Asia, Cambodia was also influenced by Tamil ancestors since the ancient times. It was the great Tamil mariners who brought language, culture and religion to the region which later blossomed into the Khmer empire.
Here are some common connections that I have noticed:

1. Tamil script's twin: The Khmer script in Cambodia is like a long-lost cousin of the ancient Pallava script. For me, it is amazing to think that southern India and more specifically the Pallavas (who are ancestors of present-day Tamils) influenced the Khmer language.
2. Echoes of Tamil Architecture: Ever seen pics of Angkor Wat? Its style kinda reminds me of Dravidian temples. Seems like Tamil forefathers might have inspired some of their architecture.
3. Hindu-Buddhist Vibes: Hinduism and Buddhism there have a touch of Tamil influence. It's like finding a piece of home in another country.
4. Food: I've read even Khmer food has some similarities with Tamil food (although I'm not an expert on this). Might not be exactly like Tamil cuisine, but hey, it's something!

Why don’t we talk more about this? I mean, Cambodia seems like a hidden chapter of Tamil history. Have any of you been there? What do you think about this Tamil-Cambodian connection?
Would love to hear your thoughts or stories if you've visited. Let's chat!

I know that the Angkor Wat was originally built by the Hindu Kings of ancient Khmer as a Hindu temple. But is there any authority in Cambodia that repurposed the Angkor Wat to more than just a tourist attraction and an archaeological site but a temple for daily worship and pilgrimage for Buddhists. I seen pictures on the internet of Buddhist monks in Angkor Wat giving blessings to tourist but it is unclear if the temple still has religious functions.

Hinduism in south india is different from north india, like there are many different local dieties that are only worshipped in south but not found in north. South india including Maharastra seems predominently non vedic as almost all of them are mostly avarna(sudras/dalits) including Chatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj(Maratas).
Considering 600-1000AD, Most vedic hindu idols seem to have Janeu for deva temples, but we dont see for many of them which might mean they are of different origin and not deva temple but later converted. Most idols in south are mostly covered including thirupati and they look like sramanic like jain/buddhist/... and even jains claim such. Most of the idols found seem to of jain/buddha and usually they are dug into safety that too around 400-900 AD. It is highly possible that they are scared of someone breaking or converting their idols.
Evil Kings especially followers of Shivism, Vaishavism, Islam might be reason for attacks : From chinese explorers such as Xuanzang, Son Yun : He seems to have seen many destructed bhuddist monasteries especially in north but also good in some places. One example of such from wikipedia : Mihirakula is believed to have patronized Shaivism tradition of Hinduism.[11] The Rajatarangini calls him cruel, "a man of violent acts and resembling kala (death)", who ruled "the land then overrun by hordes of mlecchas (foreigners)."[12] According to the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Song Yun, Mihirakula "does not believe in any religion", the Brahmins who live in his kingdom and read their sacred texts do not like him, his people were unhappy.[13]
9 and 10 century Jaina texts describe Mihirakula as a wicked, oppressive tyrant who was anti-Jaina.
Fall of Rastrakutas and Magadha(Gupta vassal?) might be the fall of all other religions: Newspaper inscription showing "During the last of the Rashtrakutas, the kingdom was in trouble and there was no protection for Jain and Buddhist temples. Subsequently, it was converted into a temple for Shiva. There is enough evidence to indicate that this temple belonged to Jains," said Haragopal. ​ Read more at: 500 jain and buddhist idols found in UP Tamil Nadu jain idol found A quick google search reveals many especially of jain in south india
And From STRABO, GEOGRAPHY, § 15.1.70 Opposed to the Brachmanes there are philosophers, called Pramnae, contentious people, and fond of argument. They ridicule the Brachmanes as boasters and fools for occupying themselves with physiology and astronomy. Some of the Pramnae are called Pramnae of the mountains, others Gymnetae, others again are called Townsmen and Countrymen. The Pramnae of the mountains wear deer-skins, and carry scrips filled with roots and drugs; they profess to practise medicine by means of incantations, charms, and amulets. The Gymnetae, as their name imports, are naked and live chiefly in the open air, practising fortitude for the space of thirty-seven years; this I have before mentioned; women live in their society, but without cohabitation. The Gymnetae are held in singular estimation.
Brachmanes - Brahman Pramnae - Sramana - Mediation with incantations, charms and amulets and deerskin seems like Shiva. But actually different philosophy Gymnasophist - Jain? ( Jain Sophists) Gymnetae - I think is Jina (realized Jain) or maybe Jaina We also see mentions of Gymnasophists in other locations in greek texts like Egypt and ethiopia meaning a jain influence on other locations such as egypt and some idols of jain and buddha seem to have been found in egypt.
But we now see so much decline in Jain, Bhuddism out of india as of now.