Radical Religion Ascetics

Sadhu has been defined as an ascetic who himself from any worldly ties and pledges himself to the individual and social piety (Bedi). The article as such looks at the Sadhu, their religious duties which include the acts of self-purification, observing fasts, accepting foods and taboos, and generally living an ascetic life. They are recognized by their tilaka which is a marking that they carry on their forehead to distinguish them from the rest of the crowd (Bedi). In the second reading, The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism specifically looks the renouncer tradition and begins at looking at the perception that people have on the Indian religion. It argues that be it the shaven-headed and yellow-orange robe clad individuals from Thailand, or the Sadhus from the Indian countryside among other ascetic religions, they are all similar in manifestations to the westerners.