Naga Sadhus, Nepal. By Harry Fisch
Los Nagas Sadhus son los Sadhus desnudos, cubiertos solamente con un "vibhuti" o cenizas sagradas. Dejan crecer su pelo en bucles llamados "jata". Un sadhu (Saa-dhu) es un asceta hindú que sigue el camino de la penitencia y la austeridad para obtener la iluminación. Es la cuarta fase de la vida en la religión hindú, después de estudiar, de ser padre y de ser peregrino.
La tradición sadhu consiste en renunciar a todos los vínculos que los unen a lo terrenal o material en la búsqueda de los verdaderos valores de la vida.
Han dejado atrás todas las ataduras materiales para liberarse a un mundo con la realidad divina, y viven en cuevas, bosques y templos por toda la India. Existen alrededor de 4 ó 5 millones de sadhus hoy en día en el país, y son personas respetadas, veneradas e incluso temidas. Son mantenidos por los ciudadanos que les donan alimentos.Por norma general un shadu vive incluido en la sociedad, pero intenta ignorar los placeres y dolores humanos.
ENGLISH
Those are naked Naga (Digambar, or "sky-clad") Sadhus which are
non-shaven and wear their hair in thick locks, and Jata, who carry
swords[citation needed]. Sadhus are sanyasi, or renunciates, who have left behind all material
and sexual attachments and live in caves, forests and temples all over
India and Nepal. There are 4–5 million sadhus in India today and they are widely
respected for their holiness,[3] and sometimes feared for their curses.
It is also thought that the austere practices of the sadhus help to burn
off their karma and that of the community at large. Thus seen as
benefiting society, sadhus are supported by donations from many people.
However, reverence of sadhus is by no means universal in India.
Historically and contemporarily, sadhus have often been viewed with a
certain degree of suspicion, particularly amongst the urban populations
of India. Today, especially in popular pilgrimage cities, posing as a
sadhu can be a means of acquiring income for non-devout beggars.
