Hindu way of life - Holy men (sadhus, rishis and gurus) Flashcards

1
Q

Who are sadhus?

A

Ascetic/holy people

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2
Q

What are sadhus dedicated to?

A

Achieving moksha through meditation and contemplation

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3
Q

What do sadhus wear?

A

Saffron-coloured clothing symbolising renunciation

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4
Q

What are sadhus respected for?

A

Holiness

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5
Q

What do sadhu practices do?

A

Help burn off karma of the community

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6
Q

How are sadhus supported?

A

Donations from many people; grihastha dharma

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7
Q

Where do aghora sadhus live?

A

Cemeteries

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8
Q

What do sadhus focus on?

A

Praying, chanting or meditating

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9
Q

What do sadhus perform?

A

Penances to show devotion to God

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10
Q

How are sadhus initiated?

A

By gurus; decide whether person is ready

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11
Q

Where do sadhus live?

A

In ashrams, temples, huts on the edges of villages, in caves in remote mountains

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12
Q

Example of a sadhu?

A

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

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13
Q

What does rishi mean? (Rishis)

A

Insight

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14
Q

What do rishis realise?

A

God and independence of the soul from the body; achieved jnana

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15
Q

Where do rishis get their knowledge from?

A

God; directly revealed

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16
Q

What are rishis?

A

Divine human beings/saints, enlightened, practically God so not considered human

17
Q

What did the rishis do?

A

Founded the Vedas and other shruti texts

18
Q

What are gurus?

A

Spiritual teachers, enlightened and have reached moksha

19
Q

What do gurus give up?

A

Possessions

20
Q

What kind of stories are told about them?

A

Myths

21
Q

What can gurus give?

A

Darsan

22
Q

What are gurus believed to be?

A

Avatars

23
Q

What are gurus?

A

Spiritual teachers, enlightened and have reached moksha, celibate and ascetic

24
Q

What are gurus believed to be?

A

Avatars

25
Q

Where do gurus tend to go?

A

On pilgrimage

26
Q

What do gurus do for disciples and followers?

A

Give advice, pass on teachings, help to discover Brahman nirguna

27
Q

What are gurus regarded as?

A

Divine

28
Q

What do gurus act as?

A

Intermediaries between God and humans

29
Q

Example of a guru:

A

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