There are four different types of Sadhus or monks in
Hinduism as per Bhikshuka Upanishad of Shukla Yajur Veda.
Mendicant monks desiring liberation are of four kinds in Hindu religion
- Kutichaka,
- Bahudaka,
- Hamsa
- Paramahamsa.
The Kutichakas are hut-dwelling ascetics. They write, study and discourse on
all matters of universe and Brahman. They
subsist on eight mouthfuls of food and seek liberation alone by the path of
yoga. Sage Gautama, Bharadvaja, Yajnavalkya and Vasistha etc are example of
Kutichakas.
Bahudaka ascetics remain near tirthas on river banks or other sacred waters. They carry three-fold emblematic staff (tridanda) and water vessel and wear tuft, sacred thread and ochre colored garment. They too subsist on eight mouthfuls of food secured as alms and seek liberation alone in the path of Yoga.
Hamsa ascetics do not stay in a particular place for too long. They take shelter for one night in a village, five nights in a town and seven nights or more in a holy place. The mostly subsist of milk of cow and other milk products of cow. They are committed to the chandrayana vow and they seek liberation alone in the path of Yoga.
Bahudaka ascetics remain near tirthas on river banks or other sacred waters. They carry three-fold emblematic staff (tridanda) and water vessel and wear tuft, sacred thread and ochre colored garment. They too subsist on eight mouthfuls of food secured as alms and seek liberation alone in the path of Yoga.
Hamsa ascetics do not stay in a particular place for too long. They take shelter for one night in a village, five nights in a town and seven nights or more in a holy place. The mostly subsist of milk of cow and other milk products of cow. They are committed to the chandrayana vow and they seek liberation alone in the path of Yoga.
Paramahamsa ascetics live on eight mouthfuls of food and
seek liberation alone in the path of Yoga. They take shelter under the shade of
trees, in deserted houses or in a cemetery. They may wear a dress or be unclad.
They observe neither Dharma nor Adharma (i.e. they are above the laws of the
land). They are not conscious of profit and loss of anything. They do not follow
any doctrines. They are constantly merged in Brahman.
Considering equally a pebble, stone and gold they receive
alms from (person of) all castes and see the Atman alone everywhere. Unclad,
unaffected by pairs (of opposites, heat and cold, etc.,) receiving no gifts,
solely adhering to pure meditation, established in the Atman alone, receiving
alms at the prescribed time for sustaining life, (taking shelter during nights)
in a deserted house, temple, hay stack, ant-hill, shade of a tree, potter’s
hut, a place where ritual fire is kept, sandy bank of a river, a mountain
thicket or cavity, a hollow in a tree, the vicinity of a waterfall, or a piece
of clean ground, they are well on the way to realize Brahman; with pure mind,
they give up their bodies in the state of renunciation as a Paramahamsa. They
are indeed the Paramahamsas (as they become absorbed in Brahman).
Samvartaka, Aruni, Svetaketu, Jadabharata, Dattatreya, Suka,
Vamadeva and Harita are some of the famous Paramahamsas.