What is the sadhu tradition in the BAPS Swaminarayan sampradãy ?
‘There is no greater status than that of the sadhu.’
- Bhagwan Swaminarayan (Vachanãmrut Gadhada II-22).
A vibrant legacy flourishing in Sanãtan Dharma since time immemorial is asceticism, known as samnyãs. The Vasudev Mahãtmya (23.30) of the Skand Purãn cites four types of samnyãsis; Kutichak, Bahudak, Hansa and Paramhansa.
These entered samnyãs after fulfilling marriage duties. However there existed another category of ascetics: the bãl brahmachãri who renounced home at an early age, rather than enter vivãh. For example, Adi Shankaracharya and Bhagwan Swaminarayan. In essence, this samskãra was ‘vivãh’ with the Divine. Continuing this latter tradition, Bhagwan Swaminarayan introduced the following four types of ascetics in the early 19th century: paramhansas,brahmachãris, sadhus and pãlãs (pãrshads).
All were bãl brahmachãris – celibates from birth, except a few paramhansas, who joined the sampradãy after renouncing gruhasth ãshrama. After Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s departure, the paramhansa tradition ceased. Today, His fifth spiritualsuccessor, Pramukh Swami Maharaj continues the ascetictradition, initiating young men who are bãl brahmachãris intosadhus. Therefore this is not the classical form of samnyãs,rather a special variant in which an individual bypasses the gruhastha ãshrama, to enter samnyãs straight from the brahmacharya ãshrama.
The BAPS Swaminarayan sadhutraining centre is based in itsSarangpur mandir, near Botad,housing between 150 to 200 traineesadhus. At the age of 21, a youthbecomes eligible to enter a year’straining, as a sãdhak. During thisperiod he is taught the sampradãy’sshãstras, worship and devotionalrituals. Simultaneously he strengthenshimself through self-discipline, prãyashchitta, self abnegation andausterities. He observes a minimum of five fasts a month,sleeps on the floor, washes utensils, cleans the ãshrama,chops vegetables for meals and performs similar forms ofservice, known as sevã. In addition to the ãshrama’s resident sadhu teachers,Pramukh Swami Maharaj and senior sadhus (sadgurus) regularly offer spiritual discourses and counselling. Aftertraining, the sãdhak obtains written parental consent tobecome a sadhu. Pramukh Swami Maharaj then initiates him,along with others in a forthcoming mahotsav.
During the dikshã ritual, he is given upavit (janoi) of three strings. Swamianoints his forehead, chest and upper arms with chandan andgives him a guru-mantra. Now known as a pãrshad, he adornswhite robes for about one year, during which he undergoesfurther training. He then receives the Bhãgvati dikshã andadorns saffron robes. His new sadhu name ends with dãs,meaning ‘servant’ of Paramatma, as a constant reminder toimbibe humility.
As a sadhu, he undergoes a further five-year trainingprogram, which now includes cooking and pujã of the murtis in the garbha gruha of the mandir.Both the pãrshad and sadhu orders observe the panch vartmãn stipulated by Bhagwan Swaminarayan in theDharmãmrut. When travelling, both orders do so in pairs,unlike the samnyasi who peregrinates alone.After completing the five-year training, the sadhus areallocated life long duties by Pramukh Swami in other mandirsor centres.
Those skilled in vocal or instrumental music,writing, or languages such as Sanskrit and Hindi, undergofurther training or studies, as the case may be. However, asadhu’s lifelong sãdhanã is to strictly observe the panch vartmãns and imbibe attributes of sãdhutã –saintliness. For this the guru, PramukhSwami Maharaj remains the ideal.With an average of 30 youthsinitiated every year, the totalnumber of sadhus in PramukhSwami’s retinue today (Year 2010) is 780.His order of sadhus remainsunique in Sanãtan Dharma forits strict vows of ashtãng (eight-fold) brahmacharya.
