The Sanskrit terms sadhu (good man) and sadhvi (good woman)

Show more reactions

The Sanskrit terms sadhu (good man) and sadhvi (good woman) refer to renouncers who have chosen to live lives apart from or on the edges of society to focus on their own spiritual practices. The words come from the root Sadh, which means "reach one's goal", "make straight", or "gain power over". The same root is used in the word Sadhana, which means spiritual practice. Sadhus engage in a wide variety of religious practices. Some practice extreme asceticism while others focus on praying, chanting or meditating. There are two primary sectarian divisions within the sadhu community: Shaiva sadhus, ascetics devoted to Lord Shiva, and Vaishnava sadhus, renouncers devoted to Shri Vishnu and/or his incarnations, which include Rama and Krishna. Less numerous are Shakta sadhus, who are devoted to Maa Shakti. Within these general divisions are numerous sects and subsects. Female sadhus or sadhvis exist in many sects, but in contrast to male young sadhus, beautiful young women is but rarely seen. About ten percent of sadhvis, but most of them are old, having become sadhvi after they were widowed, and these types of sadhvis often live secluded lives in ascetic compounds. This reflects the generally subordinate position of women in Indian society. The popular belief is that women have to be born again as men before they can be spiritually liberated. Choosing the sadhu life was and still is about the only respectable way to escape from the 'living death' of widowhood.

Nevertheless, since time immemorial there have been female sadhus. And quite a few have chosen the sadhu life in their teens, convinced as they were of their spiritual predestination. Though generally speaking their position in the spiritual hierarchy is inferior to men, there have always been great woman-saints and female sadhus are treated with much respect, being for instance addressed as 'Mataji,' that is 'Revered Mother'. Sadhvis are sometimes regarded by some as manifestations or forms of the Goddess, or Devi, and are honoured as such.
Long ago, sadhvis also walked around without clothes. One famous woman-saint, and poetess who lived in the 12th century, wandered about just covered in her long tresses of hair. Mahadevi as she was called, or Akka (‘elder sister’), fell in love with Lord Shiva. At the age of ten, she was initiated into the worship of Shiva, whom she called ‘the Lord White as Jasmine’. And she roamed the land, a wild-woman, god-intoxicated, searching for her divine lover. 📿🕉📿
Jai Maa Shakti ~ Jai Shiva Shankar ~ Hari Om Tat Sat Namah Shivaya!!