Withdrawal
In a Deep Trance
They have cut all earthly ties, and they renounce worldly life — all for one resolute purpose: to unite with the divine. For us, sadhus are a symbol of standing still, withdrawing, and finding inner peace. We have put together impressions of the holy men of India.
Their stillness sometimes leaves the onlooker bewildered. Sadhus, the holy men in Hinduism, can spend years with an arm outstretched or standing on one leg. Some bury themselves neck-deep in sand, stare into the sun, sleep while standing, meditate for hours while hanging on a rope, or refuse to speak. They believe that rigorous penance will release them from the endless cycle of reincarnation. Their sole purpose is to find redemption and to be one with the divine. In South Asia, sadhus enjoy utmost respect among believers.
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An ash-smeared Naga sadhu seated in meditation -
An elderly sadhu in the lotus position, Jagdish Temple, Udaipur -
The holy city of Varanasi has a particularly large number of sadhus. -
A sadhu in traditional clothing -
A sadhu at Dashashwamedh Ghat, the main and probably the oldest ghat in Varanasi, on the Ganges, close to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple -
A devout holy man standing on one leg, Kumbh Mela festival, Allahabad (today Prayagraj) -
Amar Bharati Urdhavaahu, a holy man in India, who has kept his arm raised for over 40 years as a sign of devotion to the Hindu god Shiva -
A Sadhu raising his hand for life as a promise at the biggest Pilgrimage Kumbh Mela in Allahabad -
A devout holy man sitting while he meditates, immobile -
A sadhu who is a follower of the Hindu God Ganesha -
A Naga sadhu, or holy man, at the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar -
Sadhus and Naga babas, holy men, also sit on the banks of the Sangam at night, Kumbh Mela
