I and my husband Tony were fortunate enough to be able to travel to Nepal and witness an amazing culture. Trekking through the Himalayas and exploring ancient temple cities was a wonder.
However, the jewel of the adventure was coming into contact with a type of Hindu monk known as sadhus. A sadhu is considered to be holy and seeking enlightenment. All Hindu people are striving to attain enlightenment; however, the belief is that it often takes many lifetimes to achieve this. It is to connect one’s mind with cosmic consciousness. The holy state of becoming one with all is considered to be the highest goal in life. The sadhus choose to reach this eternal state and therefore be in their last incarnation. They often live in harsh conditions.
In Western culture the Hindu culture is often viewed as a colorful worship of many gods. In reality, it is a very deep practice with many manifestations of the god force. Some of the most revered sadhus might be considered mad lunatics by other cultures. However, their divine madness is an aspect of their devotion and perseverance.
Sadhus have been around for thousands of years. Today they are estimated to be four or five million. There are many different sects. There are basic commonalities. A sadhu gives up the material life and lives off the contributions of others. They ride the trains and buses for free. They are often fed by restaurants and given money by people in exchange for blessings or spiritual advice.
We encountered sadhus at burial water sites. We would approach them and say Namaste and they would always smile. We would ask their permission to take a picture and give them some money. They never asked for money. We were told that the ones who ask are not always real sadhus. They seemed to enjoy looking at the picture in the camera after it was taken.
Sadhus are commonly called baba (grandfather or father). They are sometimes feared for their curses but are revered for burning off the karma of whole villages. Today in India there is some degree of suspicion over their practices. They often employ hashish and other narcotics in ceremonial situations. This can become a problem of over indulgence in some cases. Poverty and starvation can be a concern if their sect does not do anything to raise revenue. Some live in ashrams while others live in caves. They often engage in Hatha yoga, fasting and long silences that can last for years. One might encounter a sadhu who has been standing on one leg for years. Their spiritual life is often dramatic and requires a great deal of rigor.
We are planning another trip and are looking forward to further insight into these remarkable living embodiments of the divine.