Sadhu
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A sadhu and his apprentice |
In
Hinduism,
sadhu is a common term for an
ascetic or practitioner of
yoga (
yogi) who has given up pursuit of the first three Hindu goals of life:
kama (pleasure),
artha (wealth and power) and even
dharma (duty). The sadhu is solely dedicated to achieving
moksha (liberation) through meditation and contemplation of
God. Although the term
Sadhu has its roots in Hinduism it is also used for followers of other religions, if they live a Sadhu life. The most famous Sadhu was probably the
Buddha and there are Sadhus in
Sikhism as well.''
Vedic textual data suggest that asceticism in India - in forms similar to that practiced by sadhus today - dates back to 1500 BCE; the present-day sadhus of India likely represent the oldest continuous tradition of monastic mystical practice in the world.
Sadhus are often
sanyasi, or renunciates, who have left behind all material and sexual attachments and live in caves, forests and
temples all over
India. The word comes from the
Sanskrit "to practice", referring to the practice of
meditation. See
sadhana.
A sadhu is usually referred to as baba by common people. The word 'baba' means father, or uncle, in most Indian languages. Sometimes the respectful suffix 'ji' may also be added after baba, to give greater respect to the renunciant.
There are 4 or 5 million sadhus in India today and they are still widely respected, revered and even feared, especially for their
curses. It is also thought that the austere practices of the sadhus helps to burn off their
karma and that of the community at large. Thus seen as benefitting society, many people help support sadhus with donations. However, reverence of sadhus is by no means universal in India. Historically and contemporarily, sadhus have often been seen 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 beggars who could hardly be considered 'devout.'
Sadhus are not unified in their practices. Some live in the mountains alone for years at a time, eating only bananas. Others walk around with one hand in the air for decades until the fingers withdraw into a stump. Still others partake in the religious consumption of
charas, similar to
marijuana and contemplate the cosmic nature and presence of
God in the smoke patterns.
There are naked
Naga (Digambar, or "sky-clad") sadhus with thick
dreadlocks, or
Jata, who carry swords.
Aghora sadhus may keep company with
ghosts, or live in cemeteries as part of their holy path (See:
Aghori). 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.
According to the
Ripley's Believe It or Not TV show, there are a few sadhus among the Aghora sect who ritually eat human flesh. They claim to be performing the duties of
Shiva (Lord of death) by consuming human corpses thrown into the
Ganga river. Despite their ritual indulgence in
cannibalism, they lead an otherwise austere life.
However, for every sadhu who is doing some form of extreme practice, there is another one who is devoting all of their time and attention to 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 Ram and Krishna. Less numerous than these two sects 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 largest Shaiva sampradaya is called the Dashnami - 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 sects 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 "samnyasis," 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 more austere and absolute, while Vaishnavas emphasize remaining engaged in the non-sadhu social world through compassionate service.
While sadhus ostensibly leave behind caste at initiation, the caste backgrounds of initiates does influence the sects into which they are admitted; certain ascetic groups are composed only of men of brahmin birth, while others admit people from a wide variety of caste backgrounds.
Becoming a sadhu is a path followed by few. It is supposed to be the fourth phase of a Hindu's life, after studies, being a father and a pilgrim, but for most it's not a practical option. There are some who fake holy status to gain respect but they are often discovered by true sadhus.
Becoming a sadhu is a difficult lifestyle. Sadhus are considered to be dead unto themselves, and 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.
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 practice
black magic or
herbalism and 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're generally allowed free passage on the trains and are a closely-knit organization. Some were even military in the old days, and even now, the Naga babas carry their swords with them.
Many sadhus have entered the
Guinness World Records for feats of marathon endurance including standing for 17 years, staying in the same place for more than two
decades, crawling 1400 km and many similar efforts, in their quest to attain liberation.
Kumbh Mela, a mass gathering of sadhus from all parts of India, takes place every four years at one of four points along sacred rivers in India, including the holy River
Ganges. Sadhus of all sects join in this reunion. Millions of non-sadhu pilgrims also attend the festivals, and the Kumbh Mela is said to be the largest gathering of human beings for a single purpose on the planet.
*
Pak Tribune*
BABA: Autobiography of a Blue Eyed Yogi*
BBC Kumbh Mela coverage*
Swami Pranavananda Ashram*
Kumbh Mela 2001*
A Guide to Sadhus, Holy Men of India
