INDIAN SADHUS.

Sanyaasi.

 

Dashnami Sadhus belong to one of the 10 titles (dashnami, "ten names") established by  Shankaracharya in the 8th century.  They are recognized and have their say in the country even today.

The 10 orders are Aranya, Ashrama, Bharati, Giri, Parvata, Puri, Sarasvati, Sagara, Tirtha, and Vana. Each order is attached to one of four mathas, also established by Shankara, in the north, south, east, and west. They are Jyoti (Joshi) Matha at Badrinath, near Haridwar,  Shrngeri Matha Sringeri, Karnataka, Govardhana Matha Puri, Orissa, and Sharada Matha Dwarka, Gujarat.

The heads of the monasteries are called mahants, the head of the Shrngeri Matha is called jagadguru, and they continue to be consulted on points of doctrine and to be accorded the highest respect by followers as well as by the ascetics who follow them.

Dashnami sannyasins typically wear coloured robes and, if they can obtain one, carry on their shoulders a tiger or leopard skin to sit on.

 They wear a mala of 108 rudraksa. They allow their beards to grow and wear their hair loose about their shoulders or else tied in a topknot.

They are religious ascetics, who have renounced the world, having achieved the fourth ashrama, or stage, of life.                                                                                           

Among the sannyasis, the highest stage of achievement is that reached by the paramahamsa.  This honor is usually given only after a probation of at least 12 years as an ascetic and only to those sannyasis who have achieved full self-knowledge. They are considered free of all worldly rules and duties, such as those pertaining to caste, and are no longer required to carry out image worship or sacrifices but may, if they wish, worship internally only. The most renowned paramahamsa was Ramakrishna Paramhamsa.

Sannyasis, like other sadhus, are not cremated, but are generally buried in a seated posture of meditation.