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Sadhu ( Sanskrit: साधु, IAST: sādhu (male), sādhvī or sādhvīne (female)), also spelled saddhu, is a religious ascetic, mendicant or any holy person in Hinduism and Jainism who has renounced the worldly life. [1] [2] [3] They are sometimes alternatively referred to as yogi, sannyasi or vairagi.
- Syama Allard
- A sadhu is one who is deeply devoted to the path of spirituality. From the Sanskrit root sadh, which means “make straight,” or “reach one’s goal,” the term sadhu refers to a mendicant, ascetic, or any holy person within Hinduism who has renounced all earthly attachments with the unswerving objective of connecting to the Divine.
- Sadhus traditionally belong to the fourth ashram, or stage of life. The ultimate aim of life, according to Hindu texts, is to let go of worldly attachments, transcend the material ego, and reconnect with the Divine (our spiritual source) — in other words, take the path of a sadhu.
- How to recognize a sadhu. Recognizing a genuine sadhu, despite some reverential title a person holds — there are many such titles within Hinduism — requires keen discernment, a proper understanding of what such titles stand for, and how they relate to the essence of what it truly means to be a sadhu.
- There are millions of sadhus belonging to several thousand traditions in India. There are millions of sadhus belonging to several thousand traditions within Hinduism.
Learn about sadhu and swami, the terms for religious ascetics or holy people in India. Find out their types, vows, dress, lifestyle, and relation to guru and deity.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Dec 21, 2023 · A sadhu is a Hindu ascetic who renounces material attachments and seeks spiritual liberation. Learn about the types, practices and initiation of sadhus, and the female equivalent sadhvis.
The word "Sadhu" is the general term for a Hindu ascetic who has given up the pursuit of the first three Hindu goals of life: kama (pleasure), artha (wealth and power), and even dharma (duty), to solely dedicate himself to achieving moksha (liberation) through meditation and contemplation of God.
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Sadhus (also called “sannyasis”) have been part of the Indian subcontinent for about as long as Hinduism has. Considered the holiest beings in the faith, sadhus are ascetics who’ve successfully...
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- Culture Trip
May 10, 2018 · Learn about the sadhus, the ascetics who renounce all attachments and seek moksha in Hinduism. Discover their diverse practices, traditions and stories, and how they live in poverty and depend on donations.
