Hindu Holy Men (Sadhus)

Portraits of Sadhus in colorful attire with symbolic decorations, reflecting spiritual practices and the ascetic lifestyle found in Hindu culture.

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

The Ganges River,Varanasi,India;Hindu man worshipping by the Ganges

Sadhu at Swayambhu (religious holy man), Buddhist and Hindu pilgrimage center, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia.

Kathmandu, Nepal - 20 October 2025: View of a Sadhu with vibrant turmeric-colored headwear and face paint, juxtaposed against a striking purple beard, radiates spiritual intensity.

Naga sadhu near kshipra river, ujjain, madhya pradesh, india, asia Copyright: xArunxMishra/DinodiaxPhotox

Hindu swami in a Gujarat village, India

Aghori, India - 19 February 2026: View of an Aghori sadhu meditating by a small fire on the sandy banks of the Ganges River, with ancient temples rising ethereally in the misty background.

Sikh soldier praying in Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, New Delhi

A Sadhu with friendly gesture near Ganges in Haridwar, India.

India, Delhi , Sikh Man Holding Holy Kirpan Sword For The Defence Of The Weak. Three-Quarter View Looking Up From Below.

Pushkar, Rajasthan, India. Sadhu on the shore of Pushkar Lake. (Editorial Use Only)

Saints or Sadhus affiliated to Swami Awadeshanand Giriji Maharaj pose for photographs during the Ardh Kumbh Mela ; one of the world's largest religious festivals at Allahabad ; Uttar Pradesh ; India

Priest saffron sitting against blue wall, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India Copyright: xSarveshxJoshi/DinodiaxPhotox

Saints or Sadhus affiliated to Swami Awadeshanand Giriji Maharaj pose for photographs during the Ardh Kumbh Mela, one of the world s largest religious festivals at Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India Copyright: xAkellaxSrinivas/DinodiaxPhotox

Priest yamuna river, vrindavan, uttar pradesh, india, asia Copyright: xArunxMishra/DinodiaxPhotox

Vishnu devotee

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

A devotee at Tirumala, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India, Asia

Shiva sadhu from Avahan Akhara, during Kumbha Mela festival, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

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

Hindu Saint Naga Baba Shivdasgiri in Varanasi on Ganga River, Uttar Pradesh, India Mr 707A

India, Madhya Pradesh, Orchha. A Sadhu sits on a rock beside the Betwa River.

Group of Gudar Sadhus, holy men, walking in a row and collecting offered food from fellow sadhus, at the Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati, during Kumbha Mela festival, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

A bhajan troupe, Girivalam Giri Pradakshina, walking around the holy mountain, Palani, Tamil Nadu, India Copyright: xMxAmirtham/DinodiaxPhotox

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

Sadhu standing on boat on the Ganges; Varanasi, India

A sadhu from the Juna Akadha sits with his Trishul at their camp during the Ardh Kumbh Mela ; ; ; India

Priest standing with garlands in front of Swaminatha Swamy God Murugan Temple at Swamimalai near Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, South India, India, Asia

Arti or ritual worship to the Mother Ganges River, Varanasi, formerly Benares, Uttar Pradesh, India

A Hindu holy man, aka sadhu, at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu.

India, Punjab, Kila Raipur, Portrait Of Nihang A Member Of The Sikh Warrior Caste Wearing His Ceremonial Turban At The Rural Sports Festival

India, Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad, Prayagraj, Ardh Kumbh Mela. Portrait of a Hindu pilgrim dressed in saffron and red garments.

Religious man in Katmandu Nepal (MR)

Folk artist Jodhpur Rajasthan India Asia MR 704 Copyright: xSarveshxJoshi/DinodiaxPhotox

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

Sadhu practising yoga at sunrise on Ganges riverbank, Allahabad Kumbh Mela, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Shiva sadhu with Trishul, the symbol of the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Sadhu holy man with face painting and sun glasses India

Sadhus, Kedarnath, Himalaya Garhwal, Uttarakhand,Uttar Pradesh,India.

Bikaner Camel Festival Annual Celebration

Hindu pundit selling rolimoli (puja wrist threads) in the Sivadol temple, built in 1734, Sivasagar, Assam, India, Asia

A Rama devoted Sadhu, at Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, South Asia, Asia

Hindu saint naga baba Shivdasgiri warping penis with trishul rod in Varanasi on Ganga river, Uttar Pradesh, India MR 707A Copyright: xArunxMishra/DinodiaxPhotox

Swami rajendra das ji, kumbh mela, madhya pradesh, india, asia Copyright: xArunxMishra/DinodiaxPhotox

Nepal, Mustang, smoking marijuana

India, Varanasi, Dasaswamedh Ghat, 'priest'

Four sikhs, India.

Yoga, Swami Ramdevji NO MR Copyright: xRxModi/DinodiaxPhotox

Praying sadhus in a shrine, Pashupatinath, Bagmati province, Kathmandu district, Nepal, Asia

Three Indian sadhus priests sitting near the holy river at ganga in the oldest Indian city of India , Banaras now Varanasi , Uttar Pradesh , India

Brahmin praying to Shiva at the holy Lake of Brahma, Pushkar, Rajasthan, India, Asia

A SHAIVITE SADHU or Hindu follower of Shiva plays flute at the Hindu Temple complex of PASHUPATINATH, KATHAMANDU, NEPAL

Sadhus holy men, Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Student of vedic school in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, South India, India, Asia

Palani pilgrim nattukottai chettiar or nagarathar Chettinad Tamil Nadu India NO MR Copyright: xMxAmirtham/DinodiaxPhotox

Naked participants in the archaic Shivratri procession, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Moses James lives in the Zion Valley near Delices, Dominica, Caribbean.

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, holy man or wandering ascetic sitting in the lotus position on a cloth, his body is smeared with white ashes in the sign of Shiva, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Pramukhswami, head of Swami Narayan Sect, Ahmadabad, Gujarat, India NO MR Copyright: xMukeshxParpiani/DinodiaxPhotox

Sadhu (naked Baba, belonging to the Junna brotherhood) at the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, February 2010. Practising a penis exercice to show his spiritual strength.

Nepal, Patan, Dashain festival, people, puja, ceremony, hinduism,

Sikh devotee carrying nishansahib holy flag during procession of Hola Mohalla in Anandpur sahib in Rupnagar Copyright: xManoejxPaateel/DinodiaxPhotox

Temple Guard At Gurdwara Har Mandir Shahib, Patna, Bihar, India

India, Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi, Man bathing in Ganges River at Hindu holy city

AN OLD MAN SITTING ALONE AND PRAYING

Akali-Nihang, preparing Bhang ( a cannabis drink ), Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, India, Asia

Malaysia, Penang, Thaipusam, Hindu, religious, festival, kavadi bearer,

1990s YOGI IN EXTREME LOTUS POSE CALCUTTA INDIA

Holla Mohalla festival, Amristar, India

Painter Manjit Bawa with one of his paintings Mumbai bombay Maharashtra India NO MODEL RELEASED Copyright: xDinodiaxPhotox

Hindu male visiting a shrine, Himachal Pradesh, India.

Old man, Sadhu, itinerant monk during a wedding ceremony, Sufi shrine, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India, South Asia, Asia

Sanctuary Keeper Of The Gurdwara Har Mandir Sahib, Birthplace Of Gorbind Singh In Patna, Bihar, India

Kumbh Mela Paddle Expedition

Sufi dervish attending the dhikr (remembrance of Allah) devotional ceremony at the Hamid el-Nil mosque; Omdurman, Khartoum, Sudan

Anna Hazare Supporters Swami Ramdev Baba at ramlila maidan new delhi India Asia Copyright: xArunxMishra/DinodiaxPhotox

India, Punjab, Amritsar, Hari Mandir Or Golden Temple. Portrait Of A Man In Prayer At The Sikh Temple

man in prayer Ganges river India

Hindu priests at Holi festival of 76th Maharana of Mewar, His Highness, Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur, at the City Palace, Rajasthan, India

Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev Bombai Mumbai Maharashtra India Nomr

Hindu saint naga baba Shivdasgiri with Kobra snake in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India MR 707A Copyright: xArunxMishra/DinodiaxPhotox

Shuaib Aftab Qawwal, Qawwali sufi music concert, Toni Catany foundation, Llucmajor, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain.

Holla Mohalla festival, Amristar, India

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