Hindu way of life - Holy men (sadhus, rishis and gurus) Flashcards
Who are sadhus?
Ascetic/holy people
What are sadhus dedicated to?
Achieving moksha through meditation and contemplation
What do sadhus wear?
Saffron-coloured clothing symbolising renunciation
What are sadhus respected for?
Holiness
What do sadhu practices do?
Help burn off karma of the community
How are sadhus supported?
Donations from many people; grihastha dharma
Where do aghora sadhus live?
Cemeteries
What do sadhus focus on?
Praying, chanting or meditating
What do sadhus perform?
Penances to show devotion to God
How are sadhus initiated?
By gurus; decide whether person is ready
Where do sadhus live?
In ashrams, temples, huts on the edges of villages, in caves in remote mountains
Example of a sadhu?
Lotan Baba/”rolling saint”, promotes peace by rolling body along the ground when he travels, once undertook penance for 7 years by standing in one place and eating only grass
What does rishi mean? (Rishis)
Insight
What do rishis realise?
God and independence of the soul from the body; achieved jnana
Where do rishis get their knowledge from?
God; directly revealed
What are rishis?
Divine human beings/saints, enlightened, practically God so not considered human
What did the rishis do?
Founded the Vedas and other shruti texts
What are gurus?
Spiritual teachers, enlightened and have reached moksha
What do gurus give up?
Possessions
What kind of stories are told about them?
Myths
What can gurus give?
Darsan
What are gurus believed to be?
Avatars
What are gurus?
Spiritual teachers, enlightened and have reached moksha, celibate and ascetic
What are gurus believed to be?
Avatars
Where do gurus tend to go?
On pilgrimage
What do gurus do for disciples and followers?
Give advice, pass on teachings, help to discover Brahman nirguna
What are gurus regarded as?
Divine
What do gurus act as?
Intermediaries between God and humans
Example of a guru:
Swami Rama Tirtha; lectured in the US, valued education of Indian youth, spoke about iniquities of the caste system and the importance of education for women and the poor, moved to the Himalayas and died, many believe he gave up body to the river Ganges
