SADHUS. The word means literally "holy men," and corresponds to " clergy." The disciples of the Hindu religious reformer, Svrimi Nitrayana, who was born near Lucknow about 1780, are divided into two classes Sildhus, " holy men," and Grihasthas, " householders." The latter term corresponds to " laity." Svilmi Nara yana was an assumed name. His real name was Sahajtinanda. A Vaishnava, Sahajimanda became dis gusted with the debased practices of the Vallabhas (q.v.). About 1800 he left his home to study under a chief Guru, Rrtmananda-Svitmi. In 1804 the Guru went to Ahmediihild, and Sahajitnanda followed him. The latter in course of time collected about him a large band of disciples of his own. His popularity provoked such jealousy that be was obliged to escape from Ahmed5brid to a place called Jetalpur. Here he was arrested and imprisoned, but was soon released. The place became the focus of a great religious gathering, and thousands of persons enrolled themselves as his followers. His influence has been attributed to a mesmeric power. Monier-Williams, however, thinks it probable that he "owed his success to a remarkable fascination of manner combined with consistency of moral character, and other qualities which singled him out for a leader." His doctrines are a protest against the Vallabhas. His crusade against them was principally carried on from Wartill as a centre. a village to which he retired for
seclusion and in which he erected a temple to the Supreme Being, Niirayana (Krishna, Vishnu). His sect is said to number now not less than a quarter of a million persons. The clergy devote themselves completely to the Supreme Being, suppressing their passions and seek ing to purify the life of all. Some of the precepts of Svami-Nfirilyana, as given by Monier-Williams, are as follows: " Abstaining from injury is the highest of all duties. Holy men should patiently bear abusive language, or even beating, from evil-minded persons, and wish good to them. Every day all my followers should go to the Temple of God, and there repeat the names of Krishna. The story of his life should be listened to with the greatest reverence, and hymns in his praise should be sung on festive days. All males and females who go to Krishna's temple should keep separate and not touch each other. On no account let it be supposed that difference In forms (or names) makes any difference in the identity of the deity. Those males and females 81 of my followers who will act according to these directions shall certainly obtain the four great objects of all human desires—religious merit, wealth, pleasure, and beati tude." See Monier-Williams; E. W. Hopkins.