Hindu Holy Men

Images capture Hindu sadhus in various poses, showcasing their spiritual practices and traditional attire near sacred sites in India and Nepal.

Kathmandu Nepal religious man who is a character painted in costume near river at famous Pashupatinath holi Hindu place on Bagmati River (MR)

Hindu Sadhu (Holy Man) text messaging at Pashupatinath Temple, near Kathmandu, Nepal.

Kathmandu Nepal religious man who is a character painted in costume near river at famous Pashupatinath holi Hindu place on Bagmati River (MR)

Asia, India, Sardhu, a religous holy man, sitting outisde of fort in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Sadhu holy man sitting on rocks on the Betwa River; Orchha, Madhya Pradesh, India

Sadhu or holy man, temple town of Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu

Nepal, Kathmandu, religious man at Pashupatinath holy Hindu place on Bagmati River, painted and colorfully dressed

Smiling sadhu with Vishnu mark on his forehead, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India, Asia

Sadhu - portrait

India, Rajastan, Jaipur, Sadhu on holy pilgrimage

Nepal, Kathmandu, painted religious man at Pashupatinath holy Hindu place on Bagmati River

A bearded sadhu wears a bandana and sits by red and white ghats in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Sadhu, portrait, Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Kathmandu District, Bagmati Zone, Nepal, Asia

Sadhu, Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Kathmandu District, Bagmati Zone, Nepal, Asia

Nepal, Katmandu. Portrait Of A Religious Man

Sadhu or holy man, Kathmandu, Nepal

Sadhu, Ascetic, holy man, Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

India,Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad, Prayag, Hardt Kumbh Mela, Holy Festival, Hindu religion, pilgrim

Portrait of an Indian Sadhu, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Sadhu, Ascetic, holy man, Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Sadhu, Hindu ascetic or holy man, with orange turban, Varanasi, India.

They are known, variously, as sadhus (saints, or 'good ones'), yogis (ascetic practitioners), fakirs (ascetic seeker after the Truth) and sannyasins (wandering mendicants and ascetics). They are the ascetic - and often eccentric - practitioners of an austere form of Hinduism. Sworn to cast off earthly desires, some choose to live as anchorites in the wilderness. Others are of a less retiring disposition, especially in the towns and temples of Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. If the Vale of Kathmandu seems to boast more than its share of sadhus and yogis, this is because of the number and importance of Hindu temples in the region. The most important temple of Vishnu in the valley is Changunarayan, and here the visitor will find many Vaishnavite ascetics. Likewise, the most important temple for followers of Shiva is the temple at Pashupatinath. Vishnu, also known as Narayan, can be identified by his four arms holding a sanka (sea shell), a chakra (round weapon), a gada (stick-like weapon) and a

They are known, variously, as sadhus (saints, or 'good ones'), yogis (ascetic practitioners), fakirs (ascetic seeker after the Truth) and sannyasins (wandering mendicants and ascetics). They are the ascetic - and often eccentric - practitioners of an austere form of Hinduism. Sworn to cast off earthly desires, some choose to live as anchorites in the wilderness. Others are of a less retiring disposition, especially in the towns and temples of Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. If the Vale of Kathmandu seems to boast more than its share of sadhus and yogis, this is because of the number and importance of Hindu temples in the region. The most important temple of Vishnu in the valley is Changunarayan, and here the visitor will find many Vaishnavite ascetics. Likewise, the most important temple for followers of Shiva is the temple at Pashupatinath. Vishnu, also known as Narayan, can be identified by his four arms holding a sanka (sea shell), a chakra (round weapon), a gada (stick-like weapon) and a

Nepal, Kathmandu, religion

Sadhu, ascetic, holy man, portrait, Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Portrait of a Shiva sadhu, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Hindu saint naga baba Shivdasgiri in meditation doing yoga in Varanasi on Ganga river, Uttar Pradesh, India MR 707A Copyright: xArunxMishra/DinodiaxPhotox

Sadhu, Holy Man of India, waiting for charity at the bathing ghat in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Close-up of a serious looking man with yellow turban and long white beard, Kathmandu Valley, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

India, Mumbai, at Mumba Devi Temple

Sadhu at the Cremation ghats at Pashnupatina Hindu Temple in Kathmandu in Nepal.

Sadhu. Nepal

Portrait of a holy man, Varanasi, India (MR)

Sadu at Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal

A Gorakhnathi Yogi weaving the black string necklace worn by all Yogis. Mahayogi Machhendra Nath Temple in Pushkar, Rajasthan. INDIA.

Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

priest in pushkar fair , rajasthan , india

Sadhu with a painted face, portrait, Bhaktapur, Nepal, Asia

Sadhu, portrait, Ron, Karnataka, South India, India, Asia

Indian sadhu (holy man) with a white beard and a ceremonial painting on his forehead wearing necklaces at the Sun Temple

India - Sadhu (holy man) strewn with ash

Character old priest in yellow cape with glasses Old Cathedral Aksum Ethiopia

A sadhu, a Hindu holy man, at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal

Hindu Sadhu holy man, close-up of the head, Delhi, India, Asia

India, Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad, Prayagraj, Ardh Kumbh Mela. Portrait of a sadhu.

Portrait of a sadhu, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

India, Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad, Prayagraj, Ardh Kumbh Mela. Portrait of a sadhu, smeared with ashes and decorated with beads, at the Kumbh Mela festival.

Sadhu, saint, Udaipur, Rajasthan, northern India, Asia

Sadhu, holy man, Udaipur, Rajasthan, northern India, Asia

A group of Sadhus, Holy Men from India, resting at Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, South Asia, Asia

Indian man, Sadhu, Jaipur, India, Asia

Nepal, Kathmandu, religious man at Pashupatinath holy Hindu place on Bagmati River

Sadhu, ascetic, holy man, portrait, Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Sadhu along the Ganges in Varanasi, India; Varanasi, India

Sadhu - sitting

Nepal, Kathmandu , Patan, Sadhu / Holy Man Sitting By A Statue Of Ganesh

Portrait of a Shiva sadhu, holy man, at the Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati, during Kumbha Mela festival, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

During the fair, a very large gathering of pilgrims takes a holy dip in the lake and the camel fair is an adjunct celebration.

Holy man with praying flags at Holi Festival, Barsana, India

Sadhu, red turban and clothing, portrait, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Sadhu attending Haridwar Kumbh Mela

India, Rajahstan, Jaisalmer, Sadhu men praying

Sadhu or holy man, Varanasi, Benares, Uttar Pradesh, India, South Asia, Asia

Hindus in Dauji, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Hindu Sadhu (holy man) in Karakudi in the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu in southern India.

Lahore, Pakistan - 24 December 2025: View of a holy man in vibrant orange turban and attire, his silver beard contrasting against the rich color, a portrait of serenity and wisdom.

Sadhu. Nepal

Sadhu with a long beard, painted face, portrait, Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

A small group of Sadhus doing their morning pooja at the ghats along the river Ganges in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, formerly Uttaranchal, India, Asia

Nepal, Sadhu, Sadhus, Portrait of a Holy Man, Himalayas, Himalayas, Nepal

Kathmandu Nepal religious man who are characters painted in costume near river at famous Pashupatinath holi Hindu place on Bagmati River (MR)

Hindu Temple. Monk About To Bless A Pilgrim With Ash. The Temple Is Located On The Goverdan Parikrama Pilgrimage Trail Goverdan. India.

A Gorakhnathi Yogi from Mahayogi Machhendra Nath Temple in Pushkar, Rajasthan. INDIA.

Bearded tribesman wearing war paints and feathered headdress during a Sing Sing gathering of tribes at Mount Hagen in Papua New Guinea

Portrait of a Shiva sadhu, holy man, at the Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati, during Kumbha Mela festival, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Sadhu or wandering ascetic Meenakshi Amman Temple or Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Indian holy man, Sadhu, Jaipur, India, Asia

Portrait of a sadhu, Hampi, Karnataka, India

Devotee with pierced body in a religious procession at Thaipusam Festival, Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Little India, Singapore

Kathmandu, Nepal - 20 October 2025: View of a solemn holy man with a long beard, ash-covered face, and intricate dreadlocks, adorned with vibrant yellow markings on his forehead.

Naga sadhu playing conch blowing, ujjain, madhya pradesh, india, asia Copyright: xArunxMishra/DinodiaxPhotox

Sadhu with Shiva trident attending Haridwar Kumbh Mela, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India, Asia

Indian old man priest sadhu with flower in hair and white grey beard , India

A naked Sadhu at the Gangasagar Mela. The fair is held where the Ganga river and the Bay of Bengal form a nexus, hence the name Gangasagar Mela. This is the largest fair in West Bengal which is celebrated during mid January every year and is a major attraction to millions of pilgrims from different parts of the country who gather at Gangasagar, the point where the holy river Ganges meets the sea to take a dip and wash away all the earthly sins. Namkhana, West Bengal, India.

Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, Kathmandu, Sadhu in the Pashupatinath Temple - Hindu Temple

JAISALMER, INDIA - NOVEMBER 28, 2012: Indian sadhu (holy man) blessing. Sadhus are holy men who live ascetic life and focus on spiritual practice of Hinduism

Sadhu, Holy Man, practicing yoga opposite the burning ghats, Kathmandu, Kathmandu District, Bagmati Zone, Nepal, Asia

Portrait of a holy man at the annual Hindu pilgrimage to holy Pushkar Lake, Pushkar, Rajasthan State, India, Asia

They are known, variously, as sadhus (saints, or 'good ones'), yogis (ascetic practitioners), fakirs (ascetic seeker after the Truth) and sannyasins (wandering mendicants and ascetics). They are the ascetic - and often eccentric - practitioners of an austere form of Hinduism. Sworn to cast off earthly desires, some choose to live as anchorites in the wilderness. Others are of a less retiring disposition, especially in the towns and temples of Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. If the Vale of Kathmandu seems to boast more than its share of sadhus and yogis, this is because of the number and importance of Hindu temples in the region. The most important temple of Vishnu in the valley is Changunarayan, and here the visitor will find many Vaishnavite ascetics. Likewise, the most important temple for followers of Shiva is the temple at Pashupatinath. Vishnu, also known as Narayan, can be identified by his four arms holding a sanka (sea shell), a chakra (round weapon), a gada (stick-like weapon) and a

Priests in Nepal's holy Pashupatinath Temple

India: Squatting on a footpath in Mumbai, a sadhu or Hindu wandering ascetic / holy man lights his chillum to smoke hashish. A chillum is a kind of clay pipe traditionally used to smoke tobacco or intoxicants. Although the consumption of hashish and ganja (marihuana) is prohibited in India, in the case of sadhus the police turn a blind eye, as it is regarded as part of the sadhus' religious practice. Sadhus are usually followers of Lord Shiva who is said to have smoked hashish, partly as a medicinal herb. Another moniker for Shiva is Aushadheshwara (Lord of medicinal plants).

Indian believer, Hindu, with tilaka or tika mark, temple festival Utsav, Ettumanur temple, central sanctuary, Lalam, Akkarapadam BO, Kerala, India, Asia

Hindu joining hands in Babra village, Maharashtra, India

Sadhu with Shiva trident attending Haridwar Kumbh Mela

The Sadhus (Holy Men) smoke ganja (Cannabis) at a temple during Brahma Kund mela, outskirts of Agartala. India.

Two sadhus, painted faces, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Indian priest sadhu dancing and singing religious songs bhajan , Ujjain , Madhya Pradesh , india

The make-up of the Kathakali character Nakrathundi is being applied, Varkala, Kerala, India, Asia

They are known, variously, as sadhus (saints, or 'good ones'), yogis (ascetic practitioners), fakirs (ascetic seeker after the Truth) and sannyasins (wandering mendicants and ascetics). They are the ascetic - and often eccentric - practitioners of an austere form of Hinduism. Sworn to cast off earthly desires, some choose to live as anchorites in the wilderness. Others are of a less retiring disposition, especially in the towns and temples of Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. If the Vale of Kathmandu seems to boast more than its share of sadhus and yogis, this is because of the number and importance of Hindu temples in the region. The most important temple of Vishnu in the valley is Changunarayan, and here the visitor will find many Vaishnavite ascetics. Likewise, the most important temple for followers of Shiva is the temple at Pashupatinath. Vishnu, also known as Narayan, can be identified by his four arms holding a sanka (sea shell), a chakra (round weapon), a gada (stick-like weapon) and a

Half-length portrait of a Sadhu, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Joranda monk at dusk, wearing orange cloth, sounding a cymbal as preparation for ritual evening prayer, Joranda, Orissa, India, Asia

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