26-1395: Brahmin subcaste Chaube Brahmins are a group of Brahmins found in Northern India. In the Braj region, they serve as pilgrimage priests. They are also notable for their wrestling culture and masti way of life. The Hindi term caube is inherited from the Sanskrit caturvēda ("containing the 4 Vedas"). References [ edit ] ^ Entwistle, A.W. (1987). Braj: Centre of Krishna Pilgrimage . Egbert Forsten. p. 7. ^ Lynch, Owen M. (1990). "The Mastram Emotion and Person Among Mathura's Chaubes". Divine Passions: The Social Construction of Emotion in India . University of California Press. ^ Turner, Ralph Lilley (1962–1966). A comparative dictionary of Indo-Aryan languages . Oxford University Press. p. 251. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chaube&oldid=1242008973 " Category : Brahmin communities of India Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description with empty Wikidata description Braj Braj , also known as Vraj , Vraja , Brij or Brijbhumi ,
52-464: A pasture, shelter or resort for cattle from the Sanskrit term " vraj " which means "to go" in English. The Braj Yatra circuit of pilgrimage was formally established by the 16th-century sadhus of the vaishnava sampradaya with fixed routes, itinerary and rituals. The area the circuit covers is spread across 2500 km with 84 kos or 300 km long periphery extending 10 km to
78-530: A mass-gathering of sadhus from all parts of India, takes place every three years at one of four points along sacred rivers in India, including the holy river Ganges . In 2007 it was held in Nasik, Maharashtra. Peter Owen-Jones filmed one episode of "Extreme Pilgrim" there during this event. It took place again in Haridwar in 2010. Sadhus of all sects join in this reunion. Millions of non-sadhu pilgrims also attend
104-655: A part of their practice. Sex is viewed by them as a transcendence from a personal, intimate act to something impersonal and ascetic. Shaiva sadhus are renunciants devoted to Shiva , and Vaishnava sadhus are renouncers devoted to Vishnu (or his avatars, such as Rama or Krishna). The Vaishnava sadhus are sometimes referred to as vairagis . Less numerous are 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 " sampradayas ". Each sampradaya has several "orders" called parampara based on
130-413: A simple lifestyle, and have very few or no possessions. Many sadhus have rules for alms collection, and do not visit the same place twice on different days to avoid bothering the residents. They generally walk or travel over distant places, homeless, visiting temples and pilgrimage centers as a part of their spiritual practice. Celibacy is common, but some sects experiment with consensual tantric sex as
156-605: A skull, smear their body with ashes from the cremation ground, and experiment with substances or practices that are generally abhorred by society. 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
182-568: A strongly hierarchical monastic structure. There are differences between the Digambara and Śvetāmbara sadhus and sadhvi traditions. The Digambara sadhus own no clothes as a part of their interpretation of Five vows , and they live their ascetic austere lives in nakedness. The Digambara sadhvis wear white clothes. The Śvetāmbara sadhus and sadhvis both wear white clothes. According to a 2009 publication by Harvey J. Sindima, Jain monastic community had 6,000 sadhvis of which less than 100 belong to
208-490: Is a path followed by millions. It is supposed to be the fourth phase in a Hindu's life, after studies, being a father and a pilgrim, but for most it is not a practical option. For a person to become sadhu needs vairagya . Vairagya means desire to achieve something by leaving the world (cutting familial, societal and earthly attachments). A person who wants to become sadhu must first seek a guru. There, he or she must perform guruseva which means service. The guru decides whether
234-817: Is a region in India on both sides of the Yamuna river with its centre at Mathura - Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh state encompassing the area which also includes Palwal , Ballabhgarh and Nuh in Haryana state, Deeg , Bharatpur , Karauli , and Dholpur in Rajasthan state and Morena District in Madhya Pradesh . Within Uttar Pradesh, it is very well demarcated culturally, the area stretches from
260-528: Is by no means universal in India. For example, Nath yogi sadhus have been viewed with a certain degree of suspicion particularly amongst the urban populations of India, but they have been revered and are popular in rural India. There are naked ( digambara , or "sky-clad") sadhus who wear their hair in thick dreadlocks called jata . Sadhus engage in a wide variety of religious practices. Some practice asceticism and solitary meditation, while others prefer group praying, chanting or meditating. They typically live
286-486: Is known for its rich and flavorful culinary tradition. The twin cities, Mathura and Vrindavan , which are associated with Shri Krishna are main centers of Braj Cuisine . Sadhu Traditional Sadhu ( Sanskrit : साधु , IAST : sādhu (male), sādhvī or sādhvīne (female)), also spelled saddhu , is a religious ascetic , mendicant or any holy person in Hinduism and Jainism who has renounced
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#1732787901926312-695: 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 rulers, they were involved in a number of military defence campaigns. Generally in the ambit of non-violence at present, some sections are known to practice wrestling and martial arts . Their retreats are still called 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,
338-562: Is often called a sadhvi , or in some texts as aryika . In Sikhism , a person who has become Brahmgiani is considered a sadhu . However, asceticism, celibacy and begging are prohibited in Sikhism. A Sikh has to be married and do an honest job for a living. The term sadhu (Sanskrit: साधु) appears in Rigveda and Atharvaveda where it means "straight, right, leading straight to goal", according to Monier Monier-Williams . In
364-513: Is traditionally discussed in its texts with four terms: sadhu (monks), sadhvi or aryika (nuns), sravaka (laymen householders) and sravika (laywomen householders). As in Hinduism, the Jain householders support the monastic community. The sadhus and sadhvis are intertwined with the Jain lay society, perform murtipuja (Jina idol worship) and lead festive rituals, and they are organized in
390-431: Is very difficult to determine the exact number of sadhus. According to various assumptions, there are 4 to 5 million sadhus in India today. Sadhus are widely respected for their holiness. 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
416-595: The Brahmanas layer of Vedic literature, the term connotes someone who is "well disposed, kind, willing, effective or efficient, peaceful, secure, good, virtuous, honourable, righteous, noble" depending on the context. In the Hindu Epics, the term implies someone who is a "saint, sage, seer, holy man, virtuous, chaste, honest or right". The Sanskrit terms sādhu ("good man") and sādhvī ("good woman") refer to renouncers who have chosen to live lives apart from or on
442-587: The Mathura , Aligarh , Agra , Hathras and districts up to the Etah district. Braj region is associated with Radha and Krishna who according to scriptures were born in Barsana and Mathura respectively. It is the main centre of Krishna circuit of Hindu pilgrimage . It is located 150 km south of Delhi and 50 km northwest of Agra. Ecologically, the character of Braj has drastically changed in
468-458: The Digambara tradition and rest to Śvetāmbara. The processes and rituals of becoming a sadhu vary with sect; in almost all sects, a sadhu is initiated by a guru , who bestows upon the initiate a new name, as well as a mantra (or sacred sound or phrase), which is generally known only to the sadhu and the guru and may be repeated by the initiate as part of meditative practice. Becoming a sadhu
494-520: The east and 50 km to the north and west. Braj has two main types of pilgrimage circuits, the traditional longer Braj Yatra encompassing the whole circuit, and the other shorter significantly modified contemporary point-to-point pilgrimage to visit the main sites at Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul , Govardhan . The former, longer traditional pilgrimage route, also includes additional sacred sites Nandgaon and Barsana with travel on foot. Notable pilgrimage sites taken from Entwistle (1987). Hindus form
520-428: The edges of society to focus on their own spiritual practices. The words come from the root sādh , which means "reach one's goal", "make straight", or "gain power over". The same root is used in the word sādhanā , which means "spiritual practice". It literally means one who practises a ″sadhana″ or a path of spiritual discipline. Unlike skilled workers and professionals, there is no certification for sadhus. So, it
546-522: The last 200 years, with a heavy decline in the number of wild animals along with deforestation. Writing in the late 1980s, Entwistle noted there were only a few groves left in the region, and that many sacred sites were being encroached upon by human agricultural settlements. The term Braj is derived from the Sanskrit word व्रज vraja . Vraja was first mentioned in Rigveda , and in Sanskrit it means
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#1732787901926572-456: The lineage of the founder of the order. Each sampradaya and parampara may have several monastic and martial akharas . Within the Shaiva sadhus are many subgroups. Most Shaiva sadhus wear a Tripundra mark on their forehead, dress in saffron, red or orange-coloured clothes, and live a monastic life. Some sadhus such as the Aghori share the practices of ancient Kapalikas , in which they beg with
598-622: The majority of residents of the Braj region. Among the cultivating and pastoral castes, there are the Yadavs , Jats , Jadauns , Rajputs , Gujars , Meos , and Chamars . The main merchant castes are Agrawals , Khandelwals , Maheshwaris , and Barahsainis . The major Brahmin castes include the Sanadhyas , Gaurs , Chaubes , and Ahiwasis . Muslims form a small minority, with nearly negligible presence of Jains, Sikhs, and Christians. Braj region
624-413: The person is eligible to take sannyasa by observing the sisya (the person who wants to become a sadhu or sanyasi). If the person is eligible, guru upadesa (which means teachings) is done. Only then, the person transforms into sanyasi or sadhu. There are different types of sanyasis in India who follow different sampradya. But, all sadhus have a common goal: attaining moksha (liberation). Kumbh Mela ,
650-527: 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. Anandamayi Ma , Sarada Devi , Mata Amritanandamayi , and Karunamayi. The Jain community
676-766: The worldly life. They are sometimes alternatively referred to as yogi , sannyasi or vairagi . Sādhu means one who practises a ' sadhana ' or keenly follows a path of spiritual discipline. Although the vast majority of sādhus are yogīs , not all yogīs are sādhus. A sādhu's life is solely dedicated to achieving mokṣa (liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth), the fourth and final aśrama (stage of life), through meditation and contemplation of Brahman . Sādhus often wear simple clothing, such as saffron -coloured clothing in Hinduism and white or nothing in Jainism, symbolising their sannyāsa (renunciation of worldly possessions). A female mendicant in Hinduism and Jainism
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