Who are the sadhus and why do they come to Varanasi?

Varanasi is the most holy city in Hinduism and the spiritual home of India’s Sadhus, or holy men who have renounced the worldly life. They are revered by Hindus as representatives of the Gods and sometimes worshiped as Gods themselves.

What are the holy men in India called?

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.

Are sadhus Brahmins?

Originally only Brahmins were allowed to become sadhus. Now members of any caste can become one. Sadhus are revered by Hindus as representatives of the gods. Being a sadhu is one of the stages of life a person is expected to pass through.

Where does the sadhu tribe lives?

Naga Sadhus live primarily in caves high in the Himalayas.

What kind of person is a sadhu in Hinduism?

Sadhu ( 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. They are sometimes alternatively referred to as yogi, sannyasi or vairagi.

Who is Sadhu Sundar Singh and what did he do?

This article is about the Indian Christian, disciple of Christ. For the Indian landowner and politician, see Sundar Singh Majithia. Sadhu Sundar Singh ( Punjabi: ਸਾਧੂ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ( Gurmukhi); سادھو سندر سنگھ ( Shahmukhi); born 3 September 1889) was an Indian Christian missionary.

Where do the sadhus in India come from?

Sadhus come from across social, economic and regional backgrounds. While some may have lived on the fringes of mainstream society from a very young age, many choose to forego years of material accumulation and social credentials later in life. Take the case of Baba Ashutosh.

When did Sewdass Sadhu first go to India?

Sewdass Sadhu, a quiet humble man worked at the Waterloo Estates as a sugar worker. After his parents passed away and he was finished serving the period of his Indenture, he returned to India for the first time in 1926. Sadhu saved his meagre wages to travel to India every few years to worship at the holy shrines.