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Into the Mystics { 12 images } Created 14 Mar 2022

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  • Mystics 1.tiff
  • Mystics 2.tiff
  • — As another morning opens the new day, the daily Hindu rituals begin again. Like the flowing waters of the Ganga River, Hindus believe that these traditions flow on from an ancient past to a renewable spiritual future.
    India-563.jpg
  • — In Hinduism, sadhus are mystics and wandering monks who are solely dedicated to reaching the fourth and final goal of life — moksha, meaning liberation. They attempt to achieve this through meditation and the contemplation of Brahman.
    Sadhu-12.jpg
  • — Sadhus gather at Pashupatinath to perform rituals and celebrate one of the holiest days of Hinduism, Maha Shivaratri. Ascetics are an important part of Hindu festivals and are respected for their pursuit of holiness and the hidden meanings in living events. Hindus revere them as representatives of the gods.
    160307-Pashupati-133.jpg
  • — Cannabis is considered one of the five sacred plants in Hinduism and was originally created by Shiva when he purified the amrita (drink of immortality). Sadhus use it because of its association with Shiva, and the government permits it.
    Pashupatinath-L552.jpg
  • — Pradib Tuwari is one of many naga (naked) sadhus who attended the month-long Kumbha Mela in Allahabad, India, 2013. Sadhus are respected for their holiness and revered by Hindus as representatives of the gods.
    NagaSadhu-L722-2.jpg
  • — Sadhus are an important part of celebrating Maha Shivarati, yet new ways of showing admiration are not always acceptable to the older generation.
    150217- Doleshwor--146-2.jpg
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  • Pashupatinath-598.jpg
  • — Certain sects of Hinduism revere the dead by decorating their bodies with ashes from the cremated body. It's a form of penance or meditation that brings their souls closer to the truth.
    160307-Pashupati-16.jpg
  • — In the aftermath of the Kumbha Mela upstream, sadhus line the shores of the holy Ganga (Ganges) river in nearby Varanasi before returning to their asrams in northern India. In the Hindu psyche, the river is a goddess, representing spiritual wisdom and knowledge. Bathing in her waters, cleanses both the body and the spirit.
    Sadhu-L613-2.jpg