Nashik Kumbh: Of sadhus and their unique styles that grabbed eyeballs

While Kumbh Mela is generally known for the gathering of millions of devotees as well as sadhus who come to the holy city for shahi snan (holy bath), sadhus with unconventional nomenclature and interesting mannerisms stole the show in Nashik this year. It seemed there was not just fierce rivalry among these sadhus to become the mahamandaleshwars (head of a particular Khalsa), but there was stiff competition to grab maximum eyeballs when it came to  style quotient as well. Here is a lowdown on the style quotient of some of the sadhus, who were seen sporting interesting looks.

Raghavdas Maharaj or Mahant Raghavdas ji Thyagi alias Tatamari Maharaj alias Dhuni Baba

Always covered in a gunny bag, Tatamari Maharaj has been sitting in front of a thick smoke coming out of a havan for the last 20 years, according to unconfirmed sources.

His ashram called Panchi Ghat is located in Umardha Village of Hoshangabad district, Madhya Pradesh, where he claims to be offering free food to hundreds of poor devotees daily.

“Tatamari Maharaj usually does not talk, we talk to the devotees on behalf of him. He is a very well known Mahant across the country for his generosity, he believes in feeding the poor,” said Ramdas, a disciple.

Golden Baba aka Sonewale Baba

Born as Bittu Bhagat in a Punjabi Kakkar family in East Delhi’s Gandhinagar, his fascination for gold earned him the title of “Golden Baba”. While he is seen covered in gold jewellery and accessories worth crores, he urges his followers to live a life of  simplicity. Golden Baba wears dozens of solid gold accessories around his neck and on his hands that weighs over 11.5 kg. Before becoming Golden Baba, he had gone to Haridwar with an aim to become a sadhu.

After he came back to his hometown, he built a temple and started blessing people in exchange of offerings for his ashram. He mostly accepts offerings in gold, a source from Bhagat’s Ashram told The Indian Express.  When asked where he got all this gold from and why he wears so much jewellery unlike other sadhus, he replied, “Yeh mera sona nahi hai, yeh toh eshwar ki sampatti hai (This is not mine, is belongs to God.”)

Khadeshwar Maharaj

This particular sadhu has been meditating and performing tapasya in an unique way. His particular tapasya involves performing all the acts by standing — even while he is  sleeping, eating or carrying out other routines. This is how he got his name as Khadeshwar Maharaj.

Clad in a white cloth, Maharaj claims to have not sat down since 1988. He and his chelas (aides) call this act as khadi tapasya. When asked why has he chosen this sort of tapasya and how is it going to help, he angrily questioned back, stating, “why does the Army guard our borders?” “ I had realised long ago that these politicians, who cannot ensure safety of their own house, how can they save the country. They can only think of making money. Since olden days, this is evident that whenever the world is in danger, it is the saints, ascetics and seers who have come to the rescue. My tapasya is for the safety and well-being of the world,” he reasoned.

Ramnaresh Desai Maharaj Gujaratwale alias Underground Baba alias Bhumi Baba

Born in Gujarat and currently residing in Bihar, Ramnaresh Desai Maharaj makes a small cave like dome, a little above the ground for himself, wherever he goes. He did the same even at sadhu gram at Tapovan for the Kumbh mela. He started doing this since 1997.

“I live under the ground in search of god, this is where I find inner peace and I can feel the almighty,” said Desai.

The sadhus: the holy men of India

The city of Rishikesh has always sparked my imagination ever since I started practicing yoga. So finally, this year while in India I decided to make a detour and spend a couple of weeks in this holy city which is located on the banks of the Ganga, the sacred river that flows down from the Himalayas.

During my stay, I was able to observe numerous sadhus roaming on pilgrimage around this formidable city. (Sadhus are holy men living on the fringes of society; most people call them “babas.”) These holy men have been wandering around mother India for perhaps thousands of years, leading a life of celibacy focused on ascetic yoga and spiritual practices.

It’s possible to see many of them walking along the roads, or sitting near temples in places such as Varanasi, Rishikesh, Tiruvamalai and Abramabad. Some live in ashram, while others live hidden in caves, secreted in forests all over India. Their appearance is often dramatic and sometimes scary. Some wear robes, some cover themselves with ash, some paint their faces with religious symbols. It’s easy to recognize the babas, as they very often carry a begging bowl in one hand and a walking stick in the other. People generally give them food or money in return for their blessings and prayers.

Their energy and presence is typically very strong and sparks in me a mixture of fear, fascination and curiosity. While Hindus revere them, I personally have mixed feelings, as I know that not all of them are genuine. I was told that sometimes criminals disguise themselves as sadhu to allow them to hide from the authorities.

So who are these men who have renounced worldly life in order to gain spiritual powers and mystical knowledge? Some are older men who have lived as householders and raised families while others can be as young as twenty years old; I have even seen some that looked like they were in their late teens. A few are females and we call them sadhvi, (the feminine of sadhu.)

In spite of seemingly drifting around India and living a lonely life, these sadhus actually belong to different semi-monastic sects. All genuine sadhus have been initiated into a sect. This means that they are part of a hierarchy, an organization that very often owns land, buildings and different assets, etc. I was told there are about sixty of these sects of sadhus. Some of these organizations are opulent, while others are more modest. Most sadhus rely on donations to survive.

So how does one become a sadhu? Firstly a sect must accept them. Once the sect has approved them, their initiation usually takes place at Khumba Mela, a pilgrimage which happens every 3 years. The sadhus need to renounce their life, name and previous identity. Afterwards, a ritual is performed, during which they shave all the hair on their body, (including their head,) followed by a holy bath. Once this is completed, they are appointed 5 teachers, (gurus,) within the sect. The sadhu will receive a new name, as well as a secret mantra. Finally, and most importantly, they will be required to perform their own funeral rites to cut all ties with their family, unburdening their family from performing the task.

Some of these orders are very dramatic and here are the most well-known:

Naga

Nag means ‘naked’ and these sadhus are often called Nag Babas. They have matted coils of hair and their bodies are covered in ashes, both of which are features of Lord Shiva. It is said that they are in a state of meditation (tapasya) all year around and are very intense. In ancient times they were warriors, trained in different weapons and sometimes referred to as “warrior-ascetics.” Interestingly, the Naga are divided into Akharas, (regiments,) like in the army.

What is Sadhu?

One way of life in Hinduism is renunciation of the world and asceticism, which is the path of the sadhu or Hindu holy man. The term sadhu comes from the Sanskrit for "accomplish" and can refer to any religious ascetic or holy man.

They include saints of various traditions, men (and occasionally women) who have left their homes to concentrate on physical and spiritual disciplines, and also hermits, magicians and fortune-tellers (some of dubious religious intent).

The term swami is more specific and usually refers to an ascetic who has been initiated into a specific religious order. In recent years, it has come to be applied particularly to monks of the Ramakrishna Mission. An ascetic who practices yoga in order to achieve his spiritual goals is a yogin or yogi. A Saivite (follower of Shiva) sadhu is generally referred to as a sannyasi or dasnami sannyasin, while a Vaisnavite (follower of Vishnu) ascetic is often called a vairagin.

Sadhu Ways of Life

The sadhu way of life can take a variety of forms. Sadhus may live together in monasteries (mathas) belonging to a particular order or isolate themselves in small huts or caves, but many wander throughout the country alone or in small groups.

Sadhus generally congregate on important religious occasions, such as lunar eclipses or melas (fairs), and throughout the year are found in large numbers in sacred cities such as Varanasi (Benares) and Haridwar, India.

Their dress and ornaments differ according to their sect but they usually wear yellow/orange robes. They might shave their heads, allow their hair to lie matted on their shoulders, or twist it in a knot on top of their heads, but a normal haircut is rarely seen.

Sadhus generally take vows of poverty and celibacy and depend on the charity of householders (laymen) for their food. Sadhus usually have only the possessions they carry with them: a staff (danda), a waterpot (kamandalu), an alms bowl, a rosary, and perhaps an extra cloth or a fire tong.

Symbols and Ritual Items

The typical Hindu ascetic (sadhu) usually wears a distinctive mark (pundra) on his forehead and often carries a symbol of his sect.

If the sadhu is a Vaishnava he might have a discus (chakra) and a conch shell (sankha), replicas of Vishnu's flaming weapon and his instrument of beneficent power and omnipresent protection, or a salagrama stone or a tulasi plant, which represent, respectively, Vishnu's essence and that of his spouse Laksmi.

If he is a Saiva, he might impersonate Siva and carry a trident (trisula), denoting empire and the irresistible force of transcendental reality; wear a small lingam; carry a human skull, showing that he is beyond the terror inspired by the transitoriness of the world; or smear his body with apotropaic (supposed to avert evil) and consecratory ashes. These emblems are sacred objects of worship because the divine presence, when invoked by mantras, is felt to be in them.

Role of Sadhus in Hindu Society

Sadhus and swamis are not Hindu religious officials. Compared with Christianity, they are the counterpart of the hermit monk, not the minister. In fact, it is considered inauspicious (unlucky) for a sadhu to show up at a Hindu wedding, for he represents celibacy and infertility.

The Hindu attitude toward asceticism has always been ambivalent. On the one hand, there is a genuine regard for hermits and wandering ascetics and a desire to gain spiritual merit by feeding religious mendicants. On the other hand, the fact that fringe members of society may find a sort of respectable status among Saiva ascetics often led to a decline in the moral reputation of the latter.

Are there yogis in the Himalayas who are thousands(or perhaps hundreds) of years old?

There have been many stories one of them is below

The mystery of immortal beings in the Himalayas

This is an incident of 1942 when the king of Kumaon invited an army officer of Western Command, LP. Farrel for a picnic trip to the hills. There was a special reason for inviting Mr. Farrel; in spite of his being a Britisher he was very much interested in Indian religion, philosophy and culture. He had a few opportunities of witnessing demonstration of miraculous feats of some Indian yogis. He had become a pure vegetarian. That is why he always welcomed any opportunity to go towards the Himalayan wilderness, with the hope of meeting some saint or yogi who could initiate him into spiritual sadhana. 

Mr. Farrel, the king and the queen and their entourage reached a place near Nainital full of natural beauty. It so enchanted them that they decided to camp overnight there. So, the dozens of tents were pitched and the lonely place got filled with the hustle and bustle of servants. Gossip, merriment, eating and drinking went on till midnight. Everyone went to bed and due to exhaustion of the whole day’s exertions, immediately slipped into deep sleep. The first phase of the sleep was hardly over when Mr. Farrel felt that there was someone near his cot. He waked up and clearly listened-"We need the place where your tents have been pitched. You vacate this place. If you are unable to understand, then you should come to that northwestern hill in front of you. I will explain you everything." "But who are you?" – saying this Mr. Farrel got up from the bed and lit his torch. But there was no one. He came out of the tent but there too no one could be seen nor heard anyone’s footsteps. After a momentary fear he became normal and then went back to his bed again for sleeping. It was 3.30 AM by his watch. 

Despite his best efforts he could not sleep. Somehow he was keeping his eyes shut. Again he felt someone’s presence. Still lying on the bed he opened the eyes and he saw a shadow of a person standing in front of him. This time again he uttered the same words. In order to identify that person, as soon as Mr. Farrel lit the torch, even the shadow vanished. His body started shaking and perspiring. This army officer who did not get frightened even by watching the horrible bloodshed in the war, momentarily got un-nerved and dumbfounded by mere imagination of a supernatural being. He lay awake in his bed with his eyes closed till the morning but heard nothing. A strange attraction was arousing within him to see the hill mentioned by the shadowy presence. He put on his clothes and shoes and silently came out of the tent and walked towards that hill. 

Describing this incident Mr. Farrel has himself written: "The way to the place where I was directed to reach was very difficult, narrow and dangerous. I was not at all able to climb up by myself but I was constantly feeling that somebody was showing me the way and was providing me the energy to climb up. After a hard effort of three and a half hours I could climb up. It seemed difficult to go ahead due to heavy breathing and perspiration. So I sat down on a square stone, lying down on it to take some rest. Hardly two minutes had passed and the same voice awakened me. ‘Mr. Farrel! Now you put off your shoes and slowly climb down the stone and come to me. With these words in the ears, I looked around and saw that a saint, with very weak constitution but brilliant splendor on the forehead, was standing in front of me. Leave aside the acquaintance, I had never met or seen him earlier. Then how could he know my name? He was here, then how did his shadow reach in my tent in the night? There was no communication link like a radio or a microphone etc between us. Then how could his voice reach me? Several such questions arose in my mind. Putting a stop to the unending trail of questions the sadhu said-whatever you have heard and seen cannot be understood by ordinary human mind. For this purpose one has to do long sadhanaand the practice of yoga, abandoning the worldly pleasures and attraction of the senses. There is a specific purpose for which you have been called here." 

Farrel could not make out whether the saintly person was a human being or a god. The thoughts arising in his mind were being constantly read by that person like an open book. Mr. Farrel climbed down the rock and in a short time reached the place where the Sadhu was sitting. The place was so small that only one person could take rest there. There was nothing except the fire burning in the Dhooni (firepit). 

Farrel further writes- "The Sadhu patted me on the back with his weak hand and I was stunned how could this electricity like power be there in that old body. My body that was almost breaking with pain due to exhaustion - now seemed light like a flower. As an humble gesture of respect for him I knelt down and touched his feet. I had seen many sadhus; but I have always felt that sahdus and saints who had influenced Indian philosophy and increased its dignity were not those who were roaming around on the roads but they were truly such secluded and devoted persons only. Their physical bodies might weigh 80-90 pounds but intensity of their energy and power was more than that of thousand bombs and they were the storehouses of knowledge." 

The Sadhu told me-"I have inspired a youth to reach the place where your tents have been pitched. He was my disciple in his previous birth. Hissadhana is half-completed. Now I want to guide him again to undertake hissadhana and penance for the universal welfare. But the memories of his previous birth are dormant. The impressions and circumstances of this birth are attracting him. Therefore he is unable to take up the sadhana again. I have called him through subtle inspiration. If he comes here and is unable to locate the directed place, then he will get confused. In that event, whatever I want will not become possible, Therefore, please vacate that place immediately." 

Mr. Farrel said – "Lord! Please tell me also a few things about my previous birth "? The Sadhu replied-"My son! These siddhis (accomplishments) are not for demonstration. They are meant for some special purposes and it is better they are utilized for that only. Of course, if you wish you can be present at the time when I show him the events of his previous birth. Now you go. People are searching for you in the camp. I too am in a hurry." 

Mr. Farrel returned to the camp. Indeed, people had been searching for him. Mr. Farrel narrated the incident to the king. They then left that place and pitched the camp some 200 yards away. 

By the evening of that day a young man did indeed come searching for that place. After satisfying himself in all respects, he sat down there. In the meantime, Mr. Farrel also reached there. His curiosity was getting more and more intense as the time passed. In a short while sadhu too reached there. Mr. Farel and the young man touched his feet and stood waiting for his instructions. That place was in the centre of a grove of trees.. After lighting the fire sadhu did some puja, recited some mantras and told us to sit down in a meditating posture. A ray of light emanated from his forehead and a circular spot of light appeared on the trunk of a thick tree. Then whatever was seen in the spot was just like a cinema where they saw the characters actually walking and talking. Like a movie, they saw the events of the previous birth of that youth with their own naked eyes. In between that youth used to get excited and would say – ‘Yes-yes I had done that’. 

At the end, that youth touched the feet of that sadhu and said "Lord! Now my attachment with the mundane world is broken. I am ready to take up the unfinishedsadhana of my previous life. Please guide me so that I can complete the unfinished task." 

The Sadhu said – "My son! Today you take rest here. In the morning, you return to your home. At an appropriate time, I will call you." After that Mr Farrel did not know when that youth was called again? What he became later and with what name he became popular? But he became a staunch devotee of Indian religion and spirituality. This incident has been narrated by Mr. Farrel himself in an article in the May 17, 1959 issue of Saptahik Hindustan (a weekly Hindi magazine). 

A similar incident is narrated to have happened in the life of a famous Indian yogi Sri Shyama Charan Lahiri, popularly known as Lahiri Mahashay, in the book "An autobiography of a Yogi", by Swami Yogananda. Lahiri Mahashay happened to be Yoganand’s Dada Guru. He too was called by Babaji, an immortal siddha of Himalayas, who taught him the science of kriya yoga so that this knowledge does not become extinct. 

Indian scriptures are filled with descriptions of immortal souls like Shiva, Bhairav, Hanuman, Ashwatthama and many siddhas. There is a story in Kalki Purana, which goes like this. When Lord Kalki saw that the entire world has sunk neck-deep in perversities like sex indulgence, anger, greed, attachment, ego, laziness, etc. and the light of the souls had been extinguished, he decided to guide the masses groping in the darkness of ignorance. The darkness was dense. The entire world was badly trapped in the materialistic pursuits and the pleasures of the senses. Lord Kalki felt that he lacked the power required for this awakening of the masses. Then his spiritual mentor Parashuram called him to the Himalayas and made him undertake a penance at a place where he (Parashuram) had himself done it. This penance awakened the enormous power, which was needed for the transformation of the era, within Kalki. Lord Parshuram was born in Vedic Yuga, which came much earlier than the Kaliyuga. His presence in Kaliyuga too is an indication of his immortality and a testimony of the fact that immortal souls like him are still present in the Himalayas. Dr. Hari Dutta Bhatta, Shailesh has given an interesting description of his mountaineering experience of Janwali (Garhwal) hill, which is 22000 feet above the sea level, in Dharmayuga (Hindi weekly, 23 rd August 1964 issue). He was convinced that some supernormal power saved him and his group from getting buried under a landslide. All these incidents prove the fact that immortal souls possessing fierce supernatural power are still present in the Himalayas and they will remain there for an infinite time. 

Modern scientists are also actively engaged in the research for finding the elixir of life. Zoologists of Russia, France, Britain, Germany, USA, etc. have been investigating for a long time the process of aging and death. On the basis of the results obtained so far, they have concluded that death is not an inevitable phenomenon. Aging is a kind of disease. If it be possible to find a cure for it, a person could live for a thousand years. The modes and methods of kayakalpa (rejuvenation) mentioned in Ayurveda also prove this fact. 

In fact death is the result of collapse of life sustaining mechanism in the body. The gradual reduction in the efficiency of the body organs is the cause of senility, leading to death. If the life sustaining mechanisms are kept healthy and if the process of cell renewal is kept intact, a human being could be kept alive for an infinite time. Genes are immortal so there is no inevitability of bodily death. 

After studying Ayurveda, one can easily conclude that ancient seers and scholars had identified several herbs, fruits and chemicals, which help in the rejuvenation of the body. There is a popular phrase. "A person does not eat food; it is the food that eats up a person." Our physical body is nourished by blood. The latter provides oxygen to the entire body. Oxygen and other nerve fluids sustain consciousness in the body. All this is accomplished through emotions. It is the thoughts and emotions that give rise to secretions of hormones. These hormones control the metabolic processes within the body. Therefore, it appears that the responsibility of keeping the body healthy rests with our emotions and thoughts which are the real essence of life. There is a bird called ‘Salyon’, which gets sick after laying eggs. After investigation it has been found that after laying the eggs, her pituitary gland (which is centre of thoughts and emotions), gets excited and it starts secreting a hormone called A.C.T.H in huge quantities, which leads to her sickness. This has been found in the case of some other creatures as well. This shows that, if a person makes his thought process robustly positive and keeps his food light, he can keep himself alive and active for a long time. 

Modern science has no knowledge of the thought control mechanism. Is there any power in the sentiments, which can catch in its purest form the life (genes) floating in the sky? This vidya (knowledge) is known only to Indian yogis. But now scientists too are agreeing with this. For example in 1975 some zoologists of Strasberg carried out an experiment for changing the genes of a duck. Two ducks, one of Campbell variety and the other of Pekish variety, were chosen. The DNA of the first were injected in the second and that of the second one were injected in the first. This gave rise to change in the color of both. Within a few days the dust colour of Campbell started appearing in the Pekish variety and the neck of Campbell variety started getting white. 

Science can perform only a few experiments of this type. Changing one or two chromosomes is the first step towards success. The reproductive cells of a human being contain about 10 billions pairs of nucleotides and every pair has 46 chromosomes. It is difficult to change the behavior of a person without changing them. Then there are several cells in the body, which after being formed never change. The question of keeping them healthy is much a more daunting task. It will take a long time for science to search the solution for this. But that knowledge already exists in the science of yoga and Indian chemical methods. This needs unbiased scientific research of a different type. This depends on appropriate environment in addition to difficult sadhanas. For this purpose scientists have suggested that atmospheric temperature should be subzero. Mr Clark in his book ‘Space Odyssey’ has written that in order to undertake space voyage lasting for 200 to 400 yrs, it will be essential to keep the space voyager in the sleeping state at sub zero temperatures. Looked at from this scientific finding, the existence of immortal beings in the perennially frozen regions of the Himalayas cannot be considered as a myth. 

In fact, Himalayan region has been a special haven of true Yogis and Mahatmas from times immemorial. The likes of great yogis who have lived in this sacred region cannot be found elsewhere. It is said that there is Gyangaj Yogashram in Tibet, which is a training institute for yogis. Hundreds of such yogis are reported to be living and researching into the mysteries of the inner realms. This Siddhashram isolate in the subtle-physical realm is not accessible or visible to ordinary persons. Only psychically awakened and gifted Sadhaks have the privilege of entry into this Siddhashram.

नागा साधुओं की उत्पत्ति कैसे हुई?

नागा शब्द बहुत पुराना है। भारत में नागवंश और नागा जाति का इतिहास भी बहुत पुराना है। भारत में नागालैंड नाम का एक स्थान है। भारत के पूर्वोत्तर क्षेत्र में ही नागवंशी, नागा जाति और दसनामी संप्रदाय के लोग रहते आए हैं। भारत का एक संप्रदाय नाथ संप्रदाय भी दसनामी संप्रदाय से ही संबंध रखता है। दरअसल शैव पंथ से बहुत सारे संन्यासी पंथों और परंपराओं की शुरुआत मानी गई है।

नागा जाति : नागा भारत की प्रमुख जनजातियों में से एक है। भारत के उत्तर-पूर्वी राज्य नागालैंड, जिसमें नंगा पर्वत श्रेणियां फैली हुई हैं, नागा जनजाति का मूल निवास स्थान है। 

नागा शब्द का अर्थ : 'नागा' शब्द की उत्पत्ति के बारे में कुछ विद्वानों की मान्यता है कि यह शब्द संस्कृत के 'नागा' शब्द से निकला है, जिसका अर्थ 'पहाड़' से होता है और इस पर रहने वाले लोग 'पहाड़ी' या 'नागा' कहलाते हैं। कच्छारी भाषा में 'नागा' से तात्पर्य 'एक युवा बहादुर लड़ाकू व्यक्ति' से लिया जाता है। 'नागा' का अर्थ 'नंगे' रहने वाले व्यक्तियों से भी है। उत्तरी-पूर्वी भारत में रहने वाले इन लोगों को भी 'नागा' कहते हैं।

कुछ विद्वानों का मत है कि नागा संन्यासियों के अखाड़े आदि शंकराचार्य के पहले भी थे, लेकिन उस समय इन्हें अखाड़ा नाम से नहीं पुकारा जाता था। इन्हें बेड़ा अर्थात साधुओं का जत्था कहा जाता था। पहले अखाड़ा शब्द का चलन नहीं था। साधुओं के जत्थे में पीर और तद्वीर होते थे। अखाड़ा शब्द का चलन मुगलकाल से शुरू हुआ। 

कुछ अन्य इतिहासकार यह मानते हैं कि भारत में नागा संप्रदाय की परंपरा प्रागैतिहासिक काल से शुरू हुई है। सिंधु की घाटी में स्थित विख्यात मोहनजोदड़ो की खुदाई में पाई जाने वाली मुद्रा तथा उस पर पशुओं द्वारा पूजित एवं दिगंबर रूप में विराजमान पशुपति की प्रतिमा इस बात का प्रमाण है कि वैदिक साहित्य में भी ऐसे जटाधारी तपस्वियों का वर्णन मिलता है। भगवान शिव इन तपस्वियों के अराध्य देव हैं।

सिकंदर महान के साथ आए यूनानियों को अनेक दिगंबर साधुओं के दर्शन हुए थे। बुद्ध और महावीर भी इन्हीं साधुओं के दो प्रधान संघों के अधिनायक थे। जैन धर्म में जो दिगंबर साधु होते हैं और हिंदुओ में जो नागा संन्यासी हैं वे दोनों ही एक ही परंपरा से निकले हुए हैं। इस देश में नागा जाति भी होती है जो नागालैंड में रहती है।

In Hinduism, sadhu, or shadhu is a common term for a mystic, an ascetic, practitioner of yoga (yogi) and/or wandering monks. The sadhu is solely dedicated to achieving the fourth and final Hindu goal of life, moksha (liberation), through meditation and contemplation of Brahman. Sadhus often wear ochre-colored clothing, symbolizing renunciation.

‘Sādhu!’ is also a Sanskrit and Pali term used as an exclamation for something well done.

Etymology

The Sanskrit terms sādhu (“good man”) and sādhvī (“good woman”) refer to renouncers who have chosen to live a life apart from or on the edges of society in order to focus on their own spiritual practice.

The words come from the Sanskrit root sādh, which means “reach one’s goal”, “make straight”, or “gain power over”.The same root is used in the word sādhana, which means “spiritual practice”.

Sadhu rituals

Sadhus are sanyasi, or renunciates, who have left behind all material and sexual attachments and live in caves, forests and temples all over India and Nepal.

A Sadhu is usually referred to as Baba by common people. The word ‘baba’ also means grandfather, father, or uncle, in many Indian languages. Sometimes the respectful suffix ‘ji’ may also be added after baba, to give greater respect to the renunciate.

There are 4 or 5 million sadhus in India today and they are still widely respected: revered for their holiness,^[4] sometimes feared for their curses. It is also thought that the austere practices of the sadhus help to burn off their karma and that of the community at large. Thus seen as benefiting society, sadhus are supported by donations from many people. However, reverence of sadhus is by no means universal in India. Historically and contemporarily, sadhus have often been viewed with a certain degree of suspicion, particularly amongst the urban populations of India. Today, especially in popular pilgrimage cities, posing as a ‘sadhu’ can be a means of acquiring income for non-devout beggars.

Sadhus are not unified in their practices. Some live in the mountains alone for years at a time, eating only a few bananas. Others walk around with one hand in the air for decades. Still others partake in the religious consumption of charas (hand-made cannabis hashish) and contemplate the cosmic nature and presence of God in the smoke patterns.

There are naked Naga (Digambar, or “sky-clad”) Sadhus which are non-shaven and have thick dreadlocks, and Jata, who carry swords. Aghora sadhus may claim to keep company with ghosts, or live in cemeteries as part of their holy path. Indian culture tends to emphasize an infinite number of paths to God, such that sadhus, and the varieties that sadhus come in have their place.

Sadhu sects

Sadhus engage in a wide variety of religious practices. Some practice extreme asceticism while others mainly focus on praying, chanting or meditating.

There are two primary sectarian divisions within the sadhu community: Shaiva sadhus, ascetics devoted to the God Shiva, and Vaishnava sadhus, renouncers devoted to the God Vishnu and/or his incarnations, which include Rama and Krishna. Less numerous are Shakta sadhus, who are devoted to the Goddess — or Shakti, the divine energy — in one form or another. Within these general divisions are numerous sects and subsects, reflecting different lineages and philosophical schools and traditions (often referred to as “sampradayas”).

The Smarta sampradayas are called the Dashanami — or Ten Names; sadhus in the sect take one of the ten names as an appellation upon initiation. The sect is said to have been formed by the philosopher and renunciant Shankara, believed to have lived in the 8th century CE, though the full history of the sect’s formation is not clear. The Vaishnava sect with the greatest number of members — and indeed the largest sadhu sect in contemporary India — is the Ramanandi sect, said to have been founded by a medieval teacher of bhakti, or devotion, named Ramananda.

Shaiva sadhus are known as “sannyasis”, those who have renounced, or laid down, while Vaishnavas call themselves “vairagis,” or dispassionate ones. The terms reflect the different worldviews of the two groups: the philosophy of Shaiva asceticism and renunciation is, in many ways, more austere and radical than that of the Vaishnavas. The Shaiva ascetic worldview emphasizes a radical separation from the mainstream social world and complete commitment to liberation from Samsara, the cycle of birth and death. While Vaishnavas emphasize remaining engaged in the non-sadhu social world through compassionate service.

While sadhus ostensibly leave behind traditional caste at initiation, the caste backgrounds of initiates does influence the sects into which they are admitted; certain ascetic groups, such as the Dandis within the Dashnami sampradaya, are composed only of men of brahmin birth, while other groups admit people from a wide variety of caste backgrounds.

There are female sadhus — known as sadhvis — in many sects. In many cases, the women that take to the life of renunciation are widows, and these types of sadhvis often live secluded lives in ascetic compounds. Sadhvis are sometimes regarded by some as manifestations or forms of the Goddess, or Devi, and are honored as such. There have been a number of charismatic sadhvis that have risen to fame as religious teachers in contemporary India (e.g.- Anandamayi Ma, Sarada Devi, Amritanandamayi Ma, and Karunamayi

Becoming a sadhu

Becoming a sadhu is a path followed by few. It is supposed to be the fourth phase in a Hindu’s life, after studies, being a father and a pilgrim, but for most it’s not a practical option.

Becoming a sadhu is a difficult lifestyle. Sadhus are considered to be dead unto themselves, and legally dead to the country of India. They may be required ritually to attend their own funeral before following a guru for many years, serving him by doing menial tasks until acquiring the necessary experience to leave his leadership.

While the life of renunciation is described as the fourth stage of life in the classical Sanskrit literature of the Hindu tradition, and the members of certain sects—particularly those dominated by initiates of brahmin background—have typically lived as householders and raised families before becoming sadhus, many sects are composed of men that have renounced early in life — often in their late teens or early 20s. In a few cases, those who choose the sadhu life are fleeing from family or financial situations which they have found to be untenable.

The processes and rituals of becoming a sadhu vary with sect; in almost all sects, a sadhu is initiated by a guru, who bestows upon the initiate a new name, as well as a mantra, or sacred sound or phrase, which is generally known only to the sadhu and the guru and may be repeated by the initiate as part of meditative practice.

Lifestyle

The ruggedness of the sadhu life deters many from following the sadhu path. Such practices as the obligatory early morning bath in the cold mountains require a detachment from common luxuries. After the bath, sadhus gather around the dhuni, or holy fireplace, and begin with their prayers and meditation for the day.

Some sadhus dispense cures to the local community, remove evil eyes or bless a marriage. They are a walking reminder to the average Hindu of Divinity. They are generally allowed free passage on the trains and are a closely-knit organization.

Kumbh Mela, a mass gathering of sadhus from all parts of India, takes place every three years at one of four points along sacred rivers in India, including the holy River Ganges. In 2007 it was held in Nasik, Maharashtra. Peter Owen-Jones filmed one episode of “Extreme Pilgrim” there during this event. It is scheduled to take place again in Haridwar in 2010. Sadhus of all sects join in this reunion. Millions of non-sadhu pilgrims also attend the festivals, and the Kumbh Mela is the largest gathering of human beings for a single religious purpose on the planet.

The lives of sadhus in contemporary India vary tremendously. Sadhus live in ashrams and temples in the midst of major urban centers, in huts on the edges of villages, in caves in the remote mountains. Others live lives of perpetual pilgrimage, moving without ceasing from one town, one holy place, to another. Some gurus live with one or two disciples; some ascetics are solitary, while others live in large, communal institutions. For some, the bonds of sadhu identity, the brotherhood or sisterhood of other ascetics, is very important; for others it is not.

The rigor of the spiritual practices in which contemporary sadhus engage also varies a great deal. Apart from the very few that engage in the most dramatic, striking austerities — for example, standing on one leg for years on end or remaining silent for a dozen years — most sadhus engage in some form of religious practice: devotional worship, hatha yoga, fasting, etc. For many sadhus, the consumption of hashish or other forms of cannabis is accorded a religious significance.In fact, the highest quality hashish to be found in some Indian districts is often made by local Sadhus. 

Sadhus occupy a unique and important place in Hindu society, particularly in villages and small towns more closely tied to tradition. In addition to bestowing religious instruction and blessings to lay people, sadhus are often called upon to adjudicate disputes between individuals or to intervene in conflicts within families. Sadhus are also living embodiments of the divine, images of what human life, in the Hindu view, is truly about — religious illumination and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

Though some ascetic sects possess properties that generate revenue to sustain members, most sadhus rely on the donations of lay people; poverty and hunger are ever-present realities for many sadhus.

The Naga Sadhus – part of a mysterious and secret society

Naga Sadhus are a particular group of Shaivite saints who reside in the Himalayan Caves and come to visit the civilization only during the Kumbh Mela. This is the only event when these ascetic saints can be seen amongst the general Indian population.

The Naga Sadhus have unique characteristic features drawing inspiration from the famous Hindu god Shiva. They hold tridents crowned with human skulls. Their bodies are smeared in thick ash and they wear heavy coils of matted hair on the head. These saints   remain completely naked even during biting cold. They smoke Marijuana through a pipe called a Chillum or Shiv Muli. They use it as a tool to avoid the worldly distraction yet have self-control even in the intoxicated state. But as they advance in spiritual life they renounce intoxication too. The Naga Sadhus renounce the materialistic world and practice celibacy to escape from the cycle of birth and death and to attend salvation. As they belong to the Shaivite sect, they have matted locks of hair and their bodies are covered in ash like Lord Shiva.

The Naga Sadhus were founded by Dattatreya during ancient times such that the date of the foundation is lost. The ancient period was perhaps an age when humans never stressed the importance of time. Shankaracharya was the first one to organize the Nagas to protect Sanatan Dharma ( Hinduism ).

The place where the Naga Sadhus live is called ‘Akharas.’ The member of an ‘Akhara’ should always be ready for an intellectual fight and even for wrestling.

The Naga Sadhus – part of a mysterious and secret society – are worshippers of Lord Shiva. Nag means ‘naked’ and hence they are known as Nag Babas or Warrior-Ascetics. The rarely appear in public and the Kumbh Mela is one of those rare public events.

The Nag Babas are a warrior class and are divided like a regiment in an army. They have no fear of death and enraging them is a sure shot call for trouble. Their attributes are the trident, sword, stick, conch shells, other weapons and musical instruments which reflect their warrior status.

Naga Sadhus – often misunderstood by the western media as part of Indian religious gimmicks – are the epitome of renunciation. They hardly care whether they are misunderstood or called the naked holy men of India or ash-smeared and naked Hindu saints and walk unshaken on the path they have sworn for life.