SADHU

In Hinduism, sadhu is a common term for a mystic,an ascetic, practitioner of yoga (yogi) and/or wandering monks. The sadhu is solely dedicated to achieving the fourth and final Hindu goal of life, moksha (liberation), through meditation and contemplation.

 

A Sadhu is usually referred to as "Baba" by common people. The word 'baba' also means father, or uncle, in many Indian languages. Sometimes the respectful suffix 'ji' may also be added after baba, to give greater respect to the renunciate. Sadhus often wear ochre-colored clothing, symbolizing renunciation.

 

There are 4 or 5 million Sadhus in India today and they are still widely respected: revered for their holiness.Sadhus are not unified in their practices. Some live in the mountains alone for years at a time, eating only a few bananas. Others walk around with one hand in the air for decades. Still others partake in the religious consumption of charas (hand-made cannabis hashish) and contemplate the cosmic nature and presence of God in the smoke patterns.

 

Sadhus engage in a wide variety of religious practices. Some practice extreme asceticism while others mainly focus on praying, chanting or meditating.

 

Clicked this pic of "Sadhu/Baba ji", who was sitting near Manimahesh Lake.

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Also i just read news that flickr has been ranked as top web site by TIME’s list of best 50 websites this year. Congrats to wonderful creators of flickr and all fellow flickr users:)

 

in.news.yahoo.com/139/20090827/854/ttc-flickr-tops-time-s...

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