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 he most photographed symbol of India after
the Taj Mahal, the Holy Men of India typically have a frail semi-naked body, long hair tightly tied and wrapped over the head, long beard and moustache, forehead smeared with sandalwood
paste or ash, minimal clothing (at times, a loincloth only), a stick as a hand-rest for meditation, a sack for
collecting food, a bowl for water and a few scriptures wrapped in cloth.
Some lead a nomadic life,
traveling from one holy place to other.  Others settle down in Ashrams at peaceful locations to meditate for the rest of their
lives.
A Sadhu is a person who abdicates his worldly responsibilities and duties to fully devote himself to God.
In his search for the ultimate truth, he leads an austere and non-materialistic lifestyle. His daily needs are fulfilled by donations
from the general populace, who consider it their good fortune to welcome and
respect him. People seek their blessings and advice for the worldly problems they have.
Hindu faith divides a man's life into four phases:
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Brahmacharya : First 25 years to study and learn. |
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Grihasth : Next 25 years to get married and raise a family. |
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Vanaprasth : Another 25 years for pilgrimage and travel to see the world. |
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Sanyas : To leave worldly affections and devote the last years in God and spiritualism. |
It is in the Sanyas phase that a man becomes a Sadhu.  Of course, a number of them
take Sanyas much earlier. They are THE people (but watch out for the fake
ones) to spend time with, if you are keen to know more about Indian spiritualism.
Often located in picturesque places in the Himalayas, riversides or
jungles, their ashrams are serene and
spiritually charged places to visit. History reveals that, in search of
peace, even the mightiest of kings have sought refuge in the ashrams of
these enlightened men.
Sadhus vary in their beliefs and appearances, depending on the cult that
they are attached to. Highly visible in pilgrimage fairs and temples, they can
also be found everywhere in day to day life, even in buses and railway
compartments. Easily recognizable due to their appearance and extremely
photogenic, Sadhus can be extremely interesting to know more about.
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