Sadhu

===Hinduism===
{{See also | Sampradayas | Guru–shishya tradition | l2= Parampara | Akhara }}

[[Shaivism|Shaiva]] sadhus are renunciants devoted to [[Shiva]], and [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnava]] sadhus are renouncers devoted to [[Vishnu]] (or his avatar like Rama or Krishna). The Vaishnava sadhus are sometimes referred to as ''vairagis''.<ref name=britsadhu/> Less numerous are [[Shaktism|Shakta]] sadhus, who are devoted to [[Shakti]]. Within these general divisions are numerous sects and sub-sects, reflecting different lineages and philosophical schools and traditions often referred to as "[[sampradaya]]s". Each sampradaya has several "orders" called [[parampara]] based on the lineage of the founder of the order. Each sampradaya and parampara may have several monastic and martial [[akhara]]s.

Within the Shaiva sadhus are many subgroups. Most Shaiva sadhus wear a [[Tripundra]] mark on their forehead, dress in saffron, red or orange color clothes, and live a monastic life. Some sadhus such as the [[Aghori]] share the practices of ancient [[Kapalika]]s, where they beg with a skull, smeared their body with ashes from the cremation ground, and experiment with substances or practices that are generally abhorred by society.<ref>Gavin Flood (2008). The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism. John Wiley & Sons, pp. 212–213, {{ISBN|978-0-470-99868-7}}</ref><ref>David N. Lorenzen (1972). The Kāpālikas and Kālāmukhas: Two Lost Śaivite Sects. University of California Press, pp. 4-16, {{ISBN|978-0-520-01842-6}}</ref>

Among the Shaiva sadhus, the [[Dashanami Sampradaya]] belong to the [[Smarta Tradition]]. They are said to have been formed by the philosopher and renunciant [[Adi Shankara]], believed to have lived in the 8th century CE, though the full history of the sect's formation is not clear. Among them are the '''Naga''' subgroups, naked sadhu known for carrying weapons like tridents, swords, canes, and spears. Said to have once functioned as an armed order to protect Hindus from the [[Mughal empire|Mughal]] rulers, they were involved in a number of military defence campaigns.<ref>1953: 116; cf. also Farquhar 1925; J. Ghose 1930; Lorenzen 1978</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft6n39p104&chunk.id=ch09&toc.depth=1&toc.id=ch09&brand=eschol |title=The Wrestler's Body |publisher=Publishing.cdlib.org |access-date=29 March 2012}}</ref> Generally in the ambit of non-violence at present, some sections are known to practice [[indian wrestling|wrestling]] and [[Indian martial arts|martial arts]]. Their retreats are still called ''[[akhara|chhaavni]]'' or armed camps (akhara), and mock duels are still sometimes held between them.

Female sadhus (''sadhvi''s) exist in many sects. In many cases, the women that take to the life of renunciation are widows, and these types of sadhvis often live secluded lives in ascetic compounds. Sadhvis are sometimes regarded by some as manifestations or forms of the Goddess, or Devi, and are honoured as such. There have been a number of charismatic sadhvis that have risen to fame as religious teachers in contemporary India, e.g.&nbsp;[[Anandamayi Ma]], [[Sarada Devi]], [[Mata Amritanandamayi]], and Karunamayi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.karunamayi.org/|title=Home - Amma Sri Karunamayi|access-date=20 April 2015}}</ref>