Synopses & Reviews
Liberated from earthly concerns and living beyond the limits of space and time, these mystics form a vital and unbroken link between the birth of yoga millenia ago and its present-day expression. Spectacular color photos and evocative text trace the historical roots of the Sādhus and illuminate their beliefs and behaviors.
Review
One Of the strangest, most exotic subcultures on Earth is that of the Sadhus of India. They seem to me from my own personal encounters with them to be situated directly opposite the dot-com-ers-the fast-forward online culture of the Web. Both clans are essentially nomadic and urban, but each is the inverse of the other. There are an estimated two million adherents to this subculture, probably more than there are high tech digerati, and yet they are off the global radar entirely. I've found no comparable work on the subject. (Whole Earth, Winter 2000)
Review
"This is an arresting portrait of an unusual group of people." MG, Napra Trade Journal
Review
"An important and positive contribution toward revealing India's rich, vast and mysterious religious diversity."
Review
"At first, the reader might feel a sense of superiority, the kind of spiritual pride that C.S. Lewis describes where you are amazed that the whole world does not do things the way they do it in your church. Relentlessly, the calm prose, with its descriptions of the different Hindu sects and the intentions of the practitioners, wears away at your prejudice. You notice the twinkle in the eye of one elderly man, the peace on the face of another. The word "holy" takes on new meanings. An amazing book in every sense of the word."
Review
" . . . will give you a far better, more informed (and more colorful!) picture than several months of traveling. I've found no comparable work on the subject."
Review
"Hartsuiker, a psychologist and world traveler, presents the lifestyle and beliefs of the sadhus, or Hindu holy men, in a format that is beautiful, thorough, and up-to-date. Over 100 clear and dramatic color photos of these holy men add depth and visual power to a text that itself is a masterful presentation of a complex but fascinating subject. Hartsuiker has done a marvelous job of explaining the Hindu concepts forming the foundational beliefs of these holy men, as well as explaining how the various sects developed. Separate chapters are given to those sadhus who are devotees of Shiva and Vishnu. The symbolism of the holy men's physical appearance, unfamiliar to Westerners, is lucidly explained; the color photos are strikingly captivating. An excellent bibliography is also included. Hartsuiker has given us what is sure to become a classic text on this subject. Highly recommended."
Review
"This is an arresting portrait of an unusual group of people."
Synopsis
Liberated from earthly concerns and living beyond the limits of space and time, these mystics form a vital and unbroken link between the birth of yoga millenia ago and its present-day expression. Spectacular color photos and evocative text trace the historical roots of the Sādhus and illuminate their beliefs and behaviors.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 125-126) and index.
About the Author
Psychologist, artist, and traveler, Dolf Hartsuiker holds a doctorate in psychology from the University of Utrecht. He divides his time between Utrecht, Holland, and India.
Table of Contents
Sadhus India's Mystic Holy Men
Preface
1 Inner Light
Holy Men * The `Horned God` * The Longhaired Sage * Bearers of Skulls
2 Shiva
The God of Destruction * The God of Creation * The Great Goddess * `That art thou`
* The Ten Names * Warrior Ascetics * Other Shaiva Sects
3 Vishnu
The Pervader * The Creator * The Lotus Goddess * Rama and Sita * Krishna and Radha
* Surrender and Devotion * The Four Sects * Dispassion * Fighting Ascetics * Subsects
4 The Life
Rebirth * The Brotherhood * The Way * Right Action * At the Foot of Trees * Happiness
5 Living Idols
Icons * The Body * Paraphernalia * Performances * Power of Sound * Worship
* Sacred Fire * Festivals
6 Inner Fire
The Fire of Passion * Enlightenment
Notes on the Text
Bibliography
Pronunciation
Names of the Sadhus
Index