Sadhus The Holy Men of India

Sadhu is a Hindu ascetic, who have left behind all material, family, social position, money and live in caves, forests, mountains and temples. Sadhus occupy a unique and important place in Hindu society, particularly in Indian villages and small towns. A Sadhu in India is also referred as Baba by common peoples and most sadhus rely on the donations of lay peoples. There are female sadhus as well — known as sadhvis.

Lifestyle of a sadhu is very difficult, early morning bath then sadhus gather around the dhuni or holy fireplace and begin with their prayers and meditation for the day. Sadhus typically survive on bhiksha provided by other families, people or depend on natural resources, they spend most of their time in meditation.

You can find Sadhus in ashrams, temples in the midst of major urban centers, in huts on the edges of villages, in caves in the remote mountains or in the jungle. But you can’t find sadhu always at one place, they always on their way to move from one place to another, Sadhus worship The Lord Shiva. They are generally allowed free passage on the trains to go anywhere is India or Nepal.

To become a sadhu a new person has to follow a guru for many years, serving him by doing menial tasks until acquiring the necessary experience to leave his leadership. Naked holy men belong to Naga group of sadhus they never wear any clothes even in severe winter. Most of them smear their bodies with ash and have long matted hair. Aghora sadhus who live in cemeteries have company with ghosts, they practices cannibalism, eating rotten dead meat and meditating on human corpses.

Sadhu_in_Kumbh_Mela

The Maha Kumbh Mela

Naga-Sadhu-Followers

The Kumbh Mela is the Biggest religious gathering in India,  last Kumbh Mela was the largest gathering anywhere in the world in recorded history. Kumbh Mela is that pilgrimage occurs four times every twelve years, once at each of the four locations Allahabad, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain one of the oldest living city in India.

The Sadhus, saints and yogis who live in Himalayan caves gather together for bathing into The Holy River and to bless the people. Hundreds of foreigners joined Indian pilgrims in the festival. Haridwar has hosted the Purna Kumbha mela on Makar Sankranti 14 January 2010, Next Kumbh Mela at Prayag Allahabad in 2013.

9 Comments

  • Good fill someone in on and this enter helped me alot. Gratefulness you seeking your information.

  • oscar says:

    I wish to have a home contact with Sadhus, Holy Men of India both telephnone and contact address

  • Augustin says:

    What is that pot for in the second to last picture?

    • admin says:

      Hi Augustin,
      The pot contains holy water from Holy river Gange..

    • sadhu22 says:

      Augustin, the pot is called a kamandal. Most are made of brass these days, though some are made from stainless steel and others are little more than gourds. Most Shaiva sadhus carry these though they are common among all sadhus. It not only serves their daily needs but also represents their dedication to a simple and austere life. I’d love to have one but I’ll be damned if I can find anywhere online that sells them. With so many sadhus having them, you’d think someone would sell them..

  • Prasun Biswas says:

    the lives of these sadhus are so fascinating… i mean they live for themselves… they are not brainwashed by the society like you and me… they are free agent of this world…

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