Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

The White Hindu

Home
Hindu
Rishi, Sanyasin, Pandit, Sadhu…What Are They?

Rishi, Sanyasin, Pandit, Sadhu…What Are They?

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:34 pm by Ambaa Choate

Rishi, Sanyasin, Pandit, Sadhu…What Are They? 2015-03-13T22:34:50-04:00 Ambaa Choate

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Have you heard some of these words before? Maybe, like me, you know they’re all types of holy people, but you’re not sure what the distinctions are.

I realized a few weeks ago that I have a vague sense of what a pandit does or what a rishi is, but I don’t know exactly what makes someone one and not the other. I knew I needed to do some research and learn the differences between all these kinds of holy men.

Here’s what I uncovered…

Rishi

Kids.baps.org tells us that rishi is the word for sage and that there are different kinds of rishis. I’ll admit I never realized there were classifiable differences between a brama-rishi and a maha-rishi.

It is apparently a very ancient word that is used to describe the writers of the Vedas. The rishis are saints with direct knowledge of Truth and God.

Sanyasin

This is someone who has renounced the world and lives in poverty while trying to come to self-realization (enlightenment/moksha). It may be done as one of the natural stages of Hindu life. After the householding phase, when someone retires, they are expected to devote the end part of their lives to spiritual pursuit. In ancient times one would enter Sanyasin-hood and enter the woods to live a life of chastity and renunciation away from the pleasures of the world.

Some unusual individuals may skip over the householder and marriage phase of life and go straight to Sanyasin, living as a monk.

Wikipedia tells us…

There are subtypes of sannyasi in accordance with socio-religious context. Traditionally there were four types of forest hermits with different stages of dedication. These four were:

Kutichaka

Bahudaka

Hamsa

Paramahamsa

More recently, in modern observation there are two types of “ekadanda” (literally single stick) and “tridanda’ (triple rod or stick) saffron robed monks. Specific practices differ slightly between these two groups.

Pandit

One who has learned proper Sanskrit chanting, particularly of the Vedas. They are called scholars and teachers, intellectuals, and learned people. Pandits are also the people serving as priests at Hindu temples.

Sadhu

Sadhus are Sanyasins. It sounds like this may be a word for those who enter the renunciation monk stage early in life. According to Wikipedia, women can also be sadhus (sadhvi). The word means “Good Man” (or “Good Woman”).

While someone might decide to become a Sanyasin when they retire and just start doing it, becoming a sadhu requires regulation and particular vows and adherence to the rules of a sect. A sadhu is part of a group (even when wandering alone), while a sanyasin could be a hermit alone in the jungle.

Guru

A guru is a teacher more directly than a pandit is. A guru is the guide to spiritual practice. Ideally he is an enlightened person who knows the path and so is able to guide others on it.

To sum up, here is my understanding now…

Rishi = Saint, Sage

Sanyasin = Hermit

Pandit = Priest

Sadhu = Monk

Guru = Spiritual teacher/guide

What do you think? Have I got the distinctions correct? Are there other words for holy people that you’ve come across?

Previous Post

November 8, 2013

Why Do Hindus Wear Turbans [Google Questions Answered]

Next Post

November 13, 2013 How To Make a Puja Room

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Club Hindu Holiday How Am I Being a Hindu This Week? Inside the Life Meet a God Meet a Guru Movie Club Philosophy Corner Resources Scripture Uncategorized Wild Card

Select a Month February 2020 September 2019 May 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which book comes last in the New Testament?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Acts Revelation Jude 2 Peter