This article is about Hindu/Jain holy persons. For Buddhist use of the term, see Sādhu (Pali word). For the 1994 film, see Sadhu (film).
Not to be confused with Sadu.
Part of a series on
Hinduism
Hindus
History
Origins
Historical
Hindu synthesis (500/200 BCE-300 CE)
History
Indus Valley Civilisation
Historical Vedic religion
Dravidian folk religion
Śramaṇa
Tribal religions in India
Traditional
Itihasa-Purana
Epic-Puranic royal genealogies
Epic-Puranic chronology
Traditions
Major traditions
Shaivism
Shaktism
Smartism
Vaishnavism
List
Deities
Trimurti
Brahma
Vishnu
Shiva
Tridevi
Saraswati
Lakshmi
Parvati
Other major Devas / Devis
Vedic:
Agni
Ashvins
Chandra
Indra
Prajapati
Pushan
Rudra
Surya
Ushas
Varuna
Vayu
Post-Vedic:
Dattatreya
Durga
Ganesha
Hanuman
Kali
Kartikeya
Krishna
Kubera
Radha
Rama
Shakti
Sita
Vishvakarma
Concepts
Worldview
Cosmology
Mythology
Ontology
Tattvas
Subtle elements
Panchikarana
Gross elements
Guṇas
Supreme reality
Brahman
Nirguna
Saguna
Om
Saccidānanda
God
Ishvara
God in Hinduism
God and gender
Meaning of life
Dharma
Artha
Kama
Moksha
Stages of life
Brahmacharya
Gṛhastha
Vānaprastha
Sannyasa
Three paths to liberation
Bhakti yoga
Jnana yoga
Karma yoga
Liberation
Mokṣa-related topics:
Paramātman
Maya
Karma
Saṃsāra
Mind
Ātman (self)
Anātman (non-self)
Sūkṣma śarīra (subtle body)
Antaḥkaraṇa (mental organs)
Prajña (wisdom)
Ānanda (happiness)
Viveka (discernment)
Vairagya (dispassion)
Sama (equanimity)
Dama (temperance)
Uparati (self-settledness)
Titiksha (forbearance)
Shraddha (faith)
Samadhana (concentration)
Arishadvargas (six enemies)
Ahamkara (attachment)
Ethics
Niti śastra
Yamas
Niyama
Ahimsa
Achourya
Aparigraha
Brahmacharya
Satya
Damah
Dayā
Akrodha
Arjava
Santosha
Tapas
Svādhyāya
Shaucha
Mitahara
Dāna
Sources of dharma
Epistemology
Pratyakṣa (perception)
Anumāṇa (inference)
Upamāṇa (comparison, analogy)
Arthāpatti (postulation, presumption)
Anupalabdi (non-perception, negation)
Śabda (word, testimony)
Practices
Worship, sacrifice, and charity
Puja
Ārtī
Prarthana
Śrauta
Temple
Murti
Bhakti
Japa
Bhajana
Kīrtana
Yajna
Homa
Tarpana
Vrata
Prāyaścitta
Tirtha
Yatra
Tirthadana
Matha
Nritta-Nritya
Dāna
Sevā
Meditation
Tapas
Dhyana
Samādhāna
Nididhyāsana
Yoga
Sadhu
Yogi
Yogini
Asana
Sādhanā
Hatha yoga
Jnana yoga
Bhakti yoga
Karma yoga
Rāja yoga
Kundalini yoga
Arts
Bharatanatyam
Kathak
Kathakali
Kuchipudi
Manipuri
Mohiniyattam
Odissi
Sattriya
Bhagavata Mela
Yakshagana
Dandiya Raas
Carnatic music
Pandav Lila
Kalaripayattu
Silambam
Adimurai
Rites of passage
Garbhadhana
Pumsavana
Pumsavana Simantonayana
Simantonnayana
Jatakarma
Nāmakaraṇa
Nishkramana
Annaprashana
Chudakarana
Karnavedha
Vidyāraṃbhaṃ
Upanayana
Keshanta
Ritushuddhi
Samavartanam
Vivaha
Antyesti
Festivals
Diwali
Holi
Maha Shivaratri
Navaratri
Durga Puja
Ramlila
Vijayadashami-Dussehra
Raksha Bandhan
Ganesh Chaturthi
Vasant Panchami
Rama Navami
Janmashtami
Onam
Makar Sankranti
Kumbh Mela
Pongal
Ugadi
Vaisakhi
Bihu
Puthandu
Vishu
Ratha Yatra
Philosophical schools
Six Astika schools
Samkhya
Yoga
Nyaya
Vaisheshika
Mīmāṃsā
Vedanta
Advaita
Dvaita
Vishishtadvaita
Achintya Bheda Abheda
Shuddhadvaita
Dvaitadvaita
Akshar Purushottam Darshan
Other schools
Shaiva
Kapalika
Pashupata
Pratyabhijña
Vaishnava
Pancharatra
Charvaka
Gurus, sants, philosophers
Ancient
Agastya
Angiras
Aruni
Ashtavakra
Atri
Bharadwaja
Gotama
Jaimini
Jamadagni
Kanada
Kapila
Kashyapa
Patanjali
Pāṇini
Prashastapada
Raikva
Satyakama Jabala
Valmiki
Vashistha
Vishvamitra
Vyasa
Yajnavalkya
Medieval
Abhinavagupta
Adi Shankara
Akka Mahadevi
Allama Prabhu
Alvars
Basava
Chaitanya
Ramdas Kathiababa
Chakradhara
Chāngadeva
Dadu Dayal
Eknath
Gangesha Upadhyaya
Santadas Kathiababa
Gaudapada
Gorakshanatha
Haridasa Thakur
Harivansh
Jagannatha Dasa
Jayanta Bhatta
Jayatīrtha
Jiva Goswami
Jñāneśvar
Kabir
Kanaka Dasa
Kumārila Bhaṭṭa
Madhusūdana
Madhva
Matsyendranatha
Morya Gosavi
Mukundarāja
Namadeva
Narahari Tirtha
Narasimha Saraswati
Nayanars
Nimbarkacharya
Prabhākara
Purandara Dasa
Raghavendra Swami
Raghunatha Siromani
Raghuttama Tirtha
Ram Charan
Ramananda
Ramanuja
Ramprasad Sen
Ravidas
Rupa Goswami
Samarth Ramdas
Sankardev
Satyanatha Tirtha
Siddheshwar
Sripada Srivallabha
Sripadaraja
Surdas
Swaminarayan
Śyāma Śastri
Tukaram
Tulsidas
Tyagaraja
Vācaspati Miśra
Vadiraja Tirtha
Vallabha
Valluvar
Vedanta Desika
Vidyaranya
Vyasaraja
Modern
Aurobindo
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Bhaktivinoda Thakur
Chandrashekarendra Saraswati
Chinmayananda
Dayananda Saraswati
Jaggi Vasudev
Krishnananda Saraswati
Mahavatar Babaji
Mahesh Yogi
Narayana Guru
Nigamananda
Nisargadatta Maharaj
Prabhupada
Radhakrishnan
R. D. Ranade
Ramakrishna
Rama Tirtha
Ramana Maharshi
Ravi Shankar
Ramdas
Samarth
Sathya Sai Baba
Shirdi Sai Baba
Shraddhanand
Satyadhyana Tirtha
Siddharameshwar Maharaj
Sivananda
Trailanga
U. G. Krishnamurti
Upasni Maharaj
Vethathiri Maharishi
Vivekananda
Yogananda
Texts
Sources and classification of scripture
Śruti
Smṛti
Ācāra
Ātmatuṣṭi
Scriptures
Timeline of Hindu texts
Vedas
Rigveda
Yajurveda
Samaveda
Atharvaveda
Divisions
Samhita
Brahmana
Aranyaka
Upanishads
Upanishads
Rigveda:
Aitareya
Kaushitaki
Yajurveda:
Brihadaranyaka
Isha
Taittiriya
Katha
Shvetashvatara
Maitri
Samaveda:
Chandogya
Kena
Atharvaveda:
Mundaka
Mandukya
Prashna
Vedangas
Shiksha
Chandas
Vyākaraṇa
Nirukta
Kalpa
Jyotisha
Other scriptures
Bhagavad Gita
Agamas (Hinduism)
Itihasas
Ramayana
Mahabharata
Other texts
Puranas
Vishnu Purana
Bhagavata Purana
Devi Bhagavata Purana
Naradiya Purana
Vāmana Purana
Matsya Purana
Garuda Purana
Brahma Purana
Brahmanda Purana
Brahma Vaivarta Purana
Bhavishya Purana
Padma Purana
Agni Purana
Shiva Purana
Linga Purana
Kūrma Purana
Skanda Purana
Varaha Purana
Markandeya Purana
Upavedas
Ayurveda
Dhanurveda
Gandharvaveda
Sthapatyaveda
Shastras, sutras, and samhitas
Dharma Shastra
Artha Śastra
Shilpa Shastras
Kama Sutra
Brahma Sutras
Samkhya Sutras
Mimamsa Sutras
Nyāya Sūtras
Vaiśeṣika Sūtra
Yoga Sutras
Pramana Sutras
Charaka Samhita
Sushruta Samhita
Natya Shastra
Panchatantra
Naalayira Divya Prabandham
Tirumurai
Ramcharitmanas
Yoga Vasistha
Swara yoga
Panchadasi
Stotras and stutis
Kanakadhara Stotra
Shiva Stuti
Vayu Stuti
Tamil literature
Tirumurai
Naalayira Divya Prabandham
Tirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai
Tiruppukal
Kural
Kamba Ramayanam/Ramavataram
Five Great Epics
Eighteen Greater Texts
Eighteen Lesser Texts
Athichudi
Iraiyanar Akapporul
Abirami Antati
Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam
Vinayagar Agaval
Society
Varna
Four varnas:
Brahmana
Kshatriya
Vaishya
Shudra
Varna-less:
Dalit
Varna-related topics:
Jāti
Other society-related topics:
Discrimination
Persecution
Nationalism
Hindutva
Organisations
Reform movements
Other topics
Hinduism by country
Balinese Hinduism
Caribbean Shaktism
Hindu culture
Architecture
Calendar
Iconography
Mythology
Pilgrimage sites
Hinduism and other religions
Hinduism and Jainism / and Buddhism / and Sikhism / and Judaism / and Christianity / and Islam
Criticism
Glossary
Outline
Hinduism portal
v
t
e
Sadhu (Sanskrit: साधु, IAST: sādhu (male), sādhvī or sādhvīne (female)), also spelled saddhu, is a religious ascetic, mendicant or any holy person in Hinduism and Jainism who has renounced the worldly life.[1][2][3] They are sometimes alternatively referred to as yogi, sannyasi or vairagi.[1]
Sādhu means one who practises a 'sadhana' or keenly follows a path of spiritual discipline.[4] Although the vast majority of sādhus are yogīs, not all yogīs are sādhus. A sādhu's life is solely dedicated to achieving mokṣa (liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth), the fourth and final aśrama (stage of life), through meditation and contemplation of Brahman. Sādhus often wear simple clothing, such as saffron-coloured clothing in Hinduism and white or nothing in Jainism, symbolising their sannyāsa (renunciation of worldly possessions). A female mendicant in Hinduism and Jainism is often called a sadhvi, or in some texts as aryika.[2][3]
In Sikhism, a person who has become Brahmgiani is considered a sadhu. However, ascetism, celibacy and begging is prohibited in Sikhism. A Sikh has to be married and do an honest job for a living.[5]
^ ab"sadhu and swami | Hindu ascetic | Britannica". www.britannica.com.
^ abJaini 1991, p. xxviii, 180.
^ abKlaus K. Klostermaier (2007). A Survey of Hinduism: Third Edition. State University of New York Press. p. 299. ISBN 978-0-7914-7082-4.
^″Autobiography of an Yogi″, Yogananda, Paramhamsa, Jaico Publishing House, 127, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Bombay Fort Road, Bombay (Mumbai) - 400 0023 (ed.1997) p.16
^Winternitz, M., History of Indian Literature. Tr. S. Ketkar. Calcutta, 1927
Sadhu (Sanskrit: साधु, IAST: sādhu (male), sādhvī or sādhvīne (female)), also spelled saddhu, is a religious ascetic, mendicant or any holy person in Hinduism...
Anirudh Prasad Yadav, better known as Sadhu Yadav (born 5 July 1967), is an Indian politician and founder of Garib Janta Dal (Secular). He has served...
Sahaya Sheelan Shadrach (born 24 March 1966) known by his screen name Sadhu Kokila, is an Indian comedian, musician, actor, film director and producer...
The Sadhu is a comic book series based on the character of the same name. The Sadhu was created by Gotham Chopra and Jeevan Kang and the series is part...
Sadhu Ramchand Murmu (30 April 1897 – 15 December 1954)[better source needed] was a Santali poet, writer, and educator. He reshaped the Santali literature...
Sadhu Miranda (transl. If the Meek Get Angered) is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language comedy thriller film directed by Siddique, starring Prasanna, Abbas, and...
Titas Ranadeep Sadhu (born 29 September 2004) is an Indian cricketer who plays for the Indian women’s national cricket team and Bengal in domestic cricket...
Sadhu Meher (1939/1940 – 2 February 2024) was an Indian actor, director and producer. Meher performed in both Odia and Hindi films. He began his career...
Sadhu bhasha (Bengali: সাধু ভাষা, romanized: Sādhu bhāṣā, lit. 'Chaste language') or Sanskritised Bengali was a historical literary register of the Bengali...
Sadhu Sant is a 1991 Hindi Indian film announced, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Mithun Chakraborty. The film was much awaited, but never graced theatres...
Mouni Sadhu (17 August 1897 – 24 December 1971) was the pen name of Mieczyslaw Demetriusz Sudowski, a Polish-born author of spiritual, mystical, and esoteric...
Sadhu Singh is an Indian academic and politician from Punjab. He was a member of parliament from Faridkot from 2014 to 2019. He is part of the Aam Aadmi...
Sadhu Mirandal (transl. If the meek are angered) is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language crime thriller film directed by the duo Thirumalai–Mahalingam. It was...
Sadhu Singh Bhaura (Punjabi: ਸਾਧੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਭੌਰਾ) (6 June 1905 – 7 March 1984) was a Sikh missionary who served as the 21st Jathedar of Akal Takht from 1964...
for handling the underworld, known as Crime Branch, is headed by Sadhu Agashe. Sadhu is the city's best inspector with an enviable reputation and record...
Sadar Lingayats (Kannada:ಸಾದರ ಲಿಂಗಾಯತ), sometimes also spelled as Sadhu Lingayats, are a Lingayat community that inhabit Central Karnataka region of the...
Humayun Kabir Sadhu (known as Humayun Sadhu; 1 May 1982 – 25 October 2019) was a Bangladeshi television director, scriptwriter and actor. Sadhu, was a man...
The Sadhujana Paripalana Sangham (Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham) (SJPS) was established in 1907 by social reformer Ayyankali to campaign for education...
the Sewdass Sadhu Shiva Mandir, is a Hindu mandir in Waterloo, Carapichaima, Couva–Tabaquite–Talparo, Trinidad and Tobago. Sewdass Sadhu, an indentured...
Kailash Mehra Sadhu (born 1950) is a Kashmiri singer. Kailash Mehra Sadhu, also known as Malika-e-Ghazal, was born in Dogra, Nainital.[citation needed]...
Shyam Sadhu, born Shamaldas Muldas Solanki, was a Gujarati poet from India. Sadhu was born on 15 June 1941 at Junagadh, Gujarat, to Muldas Solanki. His...
A Digambara monk or Digambara Sādhu (also muni, sādhu) is a Sādhu in the Digambar tradition of Jainism, and as such an occupant of the highest limb of...
Sadhu Kochkunju Upadesi (born Muthampackal Itty Varughese) (1883 – 30 November 1945) was a famous Malayali Christian preacher, poet and composer. Kochoonju...
Sadhu Aur Shaitaan (transl. The Sage and the Devil) is a 1968 Hindi film directed by A. Bhimsingh. The film stars Om Prakash, Pran in title roles, with...