İnanç Dosyası 10 | Hinduism 5

Along the holy River Ganga , Varanasi’s waterfront is dominated by ghats, where pilgrims and residents come for ritual ablutions.

A Sadhu in Varanasi, India

Nepal – Patsupatinah , several sadhus around the holy grounds.

Sadhus are recognizable by their sacred thread draped over the right shoulder and marks on the forehead.  Three horizontal (usually white) lines distinguish Shaivites representing the three aspects of Shiva; vertical lines (yellow or red) often converging into a near v-shape  are common among Vaishnavites.

In a general sense, asceticism can be defined as the rejection of physical or spiritual desires so as to attain a moral ideal. The basic principle of religious asceticism is the renunciation of all worldly blessings. Chastity, abstinence and fasting, observing strict rules governing the quantity and content of food intake, reducing hours of sleep, contempt for personal cleanliness, passivity, self-injury (particularly castration and flagellation), avoiding all sexual relations, poverty, obedience, attending midnight mass, taking vows of silence, and withdrawal from all human contact are some of the procedures of religious asceticism.

During the late Veda period in India (1500-200 BCE), it was believed that asceticism would absolve all sin. One of the methods of self-inflicted punishment used by Hindu fakirs was to stare at the sun until rendered blind. The wandering Hindu ascetics and Buddhist monks conformed to the decrees requiring total rejection of all worldly benefits. It is recounted in the Upanishads, the sacred Hindu scriptures, that, influenced by the interpretation of austerity and its practices deeply rooted in Brahman religion, Siddharta Gautama (Buddha), entered into trials of physical torment in the hope of achieving spiritual elevation, but because his expectations were not fulfilled, he gave up the practice. Buddha’s fundamental theory that it is desire which lies at the heart of suffering, gave rise to the gradual establishment of asceticism in Buddhism. Parallel to this, according to Jainism, salvation becomes possible only when all desires are eradicated. The principle ideal of Jainism is to perfect human nature by leading a monkish, ascetic life. Mahavira, founder of this religion, attained enlightenment by leading a totally austere life. Mahavira granted permission for women to engage in practices of asceticism, requiring that both nuns and monks adhere to the same behavioral principles and spiritual decrees. These are: non-violence, truthfulness, abstention from sexual activity, refusing anything that is not offered, withdrawing from people, places and objects and not taking any food after dark.

There was no place for asceticism in the religion founded by the Iranian prophet Zoroaster (or Zarathustra) in the 7^th century BCE. In the sacred texts Avesta, fasting and penance were forbidden. However, other Iranian monks, followers of the prophet Mani, (3^rd century CE) were noted for being able to fast, eating almost nothing, for long periods of time. The Iranian prophet Mani, who forbade washing, was influenced by Indian ascetics. According to the beliefs of Chinese Confucianism and Taoism (6^th century BCE) and Japan's Shintoism (8^th century CE) asceticism had no obvious place. Confucian priests practiced their own self-discipline, and certain foodstuffs were avoided at certain times. Also in some Taoist sects, similar rules were observed. In contrast, in the Shinto religion ascetics carried a relatively greater weight. In Hellenistic culture, (300 BCE to 300 CE),ascetic practices such as fasting and avoidance of sexual relations were widespread. In the Mediterranean region, where the culture of the Mother Goddess was extensive, ascetic practices such as castration were carried out. Renunciation of the world is not required of Sikhs; they have to discover the Way and the Will of God in their daily lives.

Asceticism did not feature as a principle in the doctrine maintained by Judaism - that since God created the world, then the world and humanity must be good. Only, it was seen that some Jews did have recourse to certain ascetic practices in order to intensify the impact of their worship and win an award from God. However, asceticism as a lifestyle always remains alien to Jewish thinking. For this reason ascetic practice spread among only a few Jewish sects. 

Asceticism in every form found its true home in Christianity. Ascetic practice is not mentioned in the Bible, but its point of departure is revealed in the study of the life-history of Jesus Christ.

In the Moslem world, austerity means that followers should worship alone, for a specified period, in an enclosed space, and in certain sects this is carried out. For some, penance lasts 3 days, for others 40 days and 40 nights and for still others 1001 days. In Islam, the tradition of doing penance began after the life of mysticism was established in Dervish lodges in the 11th century. In general, Islamic sects undergo a period of penance once only. Nevertheless, there are some who may carry it out many times. 

A Hindu ascetic, a Shaivite with his begging bowl.