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)

India, Karnataka, Mysore. Dussera Festival. Somana Kunitha, Temple Ritual Dance

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

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

India, Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad, Prayagraj, Ardh Kumbh Mela. Portrait of a sadhu or holy man smeared with ashes.

India,Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad (Prayag).Sadhu holy men at Kumbh Mela holy Festival

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

Hindu holy men at Pashupati Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Portrait of an Akali Nihang ( Sikh warrior-priest ), Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, India, Asia

Sadhu, a holy man, in Kamakhya Temple, a Hindu temple, Guwahati, Assam, North East India, India, Asia

Religious man in Katmandu Nepal

Man in orange-coloured traditional dress blessing woman with flower wreath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

India, Rajasthan, General - People, Portrait of Holy Man

Ayyappan devotees in a queue, Sabarimala, Kerala, South India, India, Asia

Shiva sadhu sitting at the ghats of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

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

Priest writing radhe krishna on face by sandalwood paste, uttar pradesh, india, asia Copyright: xArunxMishra/DinodiaxPhotox

Sadhu Holy men; Hampi, Karnataka, India

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

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

Sadhu, holy man, yogi with Rasta dreadlocks hairstyle, Lumbini, Nepal, Asia

Sadhu, holy man, taking pictures at Shahi Snan, the royal bath, during Kumbha Mela festival, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Sadhus waiting for a meal to be served in a dharamsala

Sadhu Holy man; Hampi, Karnataka, India

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

A pilgrim praying in front of the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers before taking a holy dip during the Ardh Kumbh Mela, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India Copyright: xAkellaxSrinivas/DinodiaxPhotox

A sadhu, a Hindu holy man, pauses on a street in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Sadhus gather to follow religious teachings at the Kumbha Mela, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, formerly Uttaranchal, India, Asia

A sadhu smoke a cigarette at Trimbakeshwar, near Nasik during the Kumbh Mela 2003, Maharashtra, India. Copyright: xAkellaxSrinivas/DinodiaxPhotox

Sadhu Holy men; Hampi, Karnataka, India

Sadhu with beard and turban, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Nihang or Sikh warrior in pagdi or headgear during celebrations of Hola Mohalla at Anandpur sahib in Rupnagar Copyright: xManoejxPaateel/DinodiaxPhotox

India,Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad (Prayag).Sadhu holy man at Kumbh Mela holy Festival

India, Uttar Pradesh, Sarnath, Sadhu Holding A Trident Standing By A Stupa

Nepal, Kathmandu, Religious Hindu man in Durbar Square

Sadhu Hindu holy man sitting outside an internet cafe, Varanasi Benares, Uttar Pradesh state, India, Asia

Close up of religious men with wonderful character in Kathmandu Nepal Katmandu (MR)

Pilgrimage on road, kumbh mela, ujjain, madhya pradesh, india, asia Copyright: xArunxMishra/DinodiaxPhotox

Gondhali from Sholapur District, Maharashtra, India MR 687Z Copyright: xAngeloxD Silva/DinodiaxPhotox

Old man carrying milk pots Paal kudam for abhishekam, Tirupparankundram, Tamil Nadu, India Copyright: xMxAmirtham/DinodiaxPhotox

Priest standing with his son in Thillai Nataraja temple in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, South India, India, Asia

The make-up of the Kathakali character Ravana is being applied, Perattil, Kerala, India, Asia

Man at the Hindu morning prayer Puja, Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

SHIVA worshipping HINDU SADDHUS on PILGRIMAGE at the PUSHKAR CAMEL FAIR, a 5 day religious festival - RAJASTHAN, INDIA

Sadhu, holy man, pilgrim of Lord Vishnu, Muktinath, Lower Mustang, Nepal, Asia

Sadhu meditating at the ghats of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Holi Celebration In Goverdan Goverdan. India.

Sadu or holy man in temple looking in mirror to apply religious facial decoration Ranthambhore Rajasthan India

Asia, India, Varanasi. Sunrise casts a pinkish glow on this Holy Man in Varanasi, India. (Editorial Usage Only)

Naga sadhus, holy men, smearing ashes onto their bodies and into their hair after Shahi Snan, the royal bath, during Kumbha Mela festival, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

yellow sadhu resting

Swamiji of Chinna Jeeyar Swamy Mutt in Tirumalai on the way to Balaji temple Tirumalai, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India Copyright: xMxAmirtham/DinodiaxPhotox

Sadhu at Jagdish Temple, Udaipur, Rajastan, India

India, Tamil Nadu, Tanjore, Thanjavur, Pilgrims at the Brihadisvara Temple in Tanjore.

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

Man on Buddhist pilgrimage sitting in mountains. Kham, Tibet. 2016. Editorial use only.

Sadu or holy man at temple Ranthambhore Rajasthan India

Portrait of a shaved man, shaving head and beard is part of the ritual to pray farewell for the soul of a deceased person, at the ghats of Varanasi, India, Asia

Hindu priest walks pass an abandoned motorcycle in the narrow streets, Old City of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Bikaner Camel Festival Annual Celebration

India,Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad (Prayag).Sadhu holy man at Kumbh Mela holy Festival praying near Sangam river

Two Hindu men on the Hindu Ghats by the sacred River Ganges in Varanasi in northern India.

Sadhu in Chin mudra gesture in the streets of Varanasi

Asia, Singapore, Thaipusam. Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple.

Walking back to the Akhara as part of the initiation of new sadhus, during Kumbha Mela festival, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Vaishnavite Priest sitting with smile, Sri Varadharaja Perumal temple in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Participants in the archaic Shivratri procession, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Swami Rajendra Das Ji Bathing, Kumbh Mela, Madhya Pradesh, India, Asia

Participants in the archaic Shivratri procession, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Snake charmer swallowing serpent , Tarnetar Fair , Gujarat , India

Pilgrims after bathing in the river Tamiravarani experience the state of feeling complete union with the Lord, Vaikasi Visakam festival, Tiruchendur, Tamil Nadu, India Copyright: xMxAmirtham/DinodiaxPhotox

Applying vishnu symbol on the forehead of a Lord Balaji Devotee at Tirumalai, Andhra Pradesh, India Copyright: xMxAmirtham/DinodiaxPhotox

Gondhali From Solapur District, Maharashtra, India

Religious men traditional dress in Katmandu, Nepal (MR)

Singapore,Little India,Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple,Thaipusam Festival Particpant

Sadhu, Gaurikund, Himalaya Garhwal, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Sadu or holy man in temple looking in mirror to apply religious facial decoration Ranthambhore Rajasthan India

Jain pilgrims, Palitana temples, Mount Shatrunjaya, Palitana, Gujarat, India, Asia

Sadhus, ascetics, holy men, Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Worshiper of Tamil lord kartikeya Thaipusam festival, Mahim, Maharashtra, India Copyright: xManojxNavalkar/DinodiaxPhotox

Singapore,Little India,Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple,Thaipusam Festival Particpant

Kumbh Mela 2025: The Sacred Goes Viral. The Naga Sadhus: Guardians of the Kumbh Mela. At the Maha Kumbh Mela, the Naga Sadhus stand as powerful symbols of asceticism and strength. With their distinctive appearance, clad in nothing but ash, with dreadlocked hair and intense spiritual focus, they greet pilgrims with both grace and authority. As the faithful approach, offering their donations, the Naga Sadhus accept them not for material gain but as a reminder of the sacred cycle of giving. These ascetics, who have renounced all worldly attachments, embody the spirit of selflessness and spiritual devotion, welcoming the pilgrims in their journey to purification and enlightenment.

Nihangs or Sikh warriors immersed in yellow color during Holi festival with celebration of Hola Mohalla at Anandpur sahib Copyright: xManoejxPaateel/DinodiaxPhotox

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

Barefoot Joranda monks wearing orange cloths in a monastery building, Joranda, Orissa, India, Asia

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

Pada yatra or foot pilgrimage holding flag with cock emblem during Vaikasi, Visakam festival, Tiruchendur, Tamil Nadu, India Copyright: xMxAmirtham/DinodiaxPhotox

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

Mathura Temple Priest . Mathurai. India.

Sadhu or holy man smoking haschich..

India, New Delhi. Sikh doorman (MR)

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

Hindu Priest Copyright: xPxKarunakaran/DinodiaxPhotox

Hindu pilgrim from Jharkand wearing the trident-shaped mark worn by the votaries of Vishnu

Sadhu Doing Surya Namaskar in Ganga Water, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

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

Priest of kapaleeswarar temple Mylapore Madras Chennai Tamil Nadu India NO MR Copyright: xMxAmirtham/DinodiaxPhotox

Pilgrim with spiritual tongue piercing, Hindu festival Thaipusam, Batu Caves limestone caves and temples, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Kavadis holding procession, Festival of Purification, Singapore, Asia

of 3