Both mystic and ascetic, Sadhus renounce a life of visceral and carnal pleasure to pursue the highest levels of Hindu spiritual life. Adhering to an ancient ritual, they must attend and witness their own funeral, dying unto themselves and the State at large.
Forsaking their friends and family, they wander as ochre clad ghosts in a life of abstinence on the outskirts of society, meditating deeply on the nature of God.
The life of a Sadhu is a long and arduous path, fraught with hardship, poverty, and sacrifice. Yet, the Sadhu symbolizes sanctity. Though silently, they serve as a reminder of the virtue in all of us, and the infinite blessings present in everyday life.
This is image is also part of my gallery of portraits.
