The four categories of sannyasins (sages or rishis) in Hinduism represent different levels of renunciation and spiritual practice. There are four recognized ashramas: brahmacharya, garhasthya, vanaprastha and sannyasa. Those who are in sannyasa ashrama are known as sannyasins or mendiants or monks. Here is a look at the four different types of sannyasins.
Kuticara: This group consists of sages who beg for their
food from the houses of their own sons. They have taken the path of
renunciation but still maintain a connection to their family.
Bahudaka: Sannyasins in this category wear all the
traditional insignias of their order, such as wooden sandals, loin cloth, and
ochre robes. They beg for food from the houses of Brahmanas known for their
good conduct. They also keep the tuft of hair and sacred thread, symbolizing
their adherence to certain traditional practices.
Hamsa: The Hamsa sannyasins continue to wear the insignias
of the Bahudaka but have given up the tuft of hair. They carry a staff and a
water pot and are characterized by their itinerant lifestyle. They do not stay
in one place for long, often moving every one to three days, and engage in
rigorous spiritual practices and austerities.
Paramahamsa: This category represents the highest level of
renunciation. Paramahamsa sannyasins do not carry any of the traditional
insignias of their order. They live in secluded and desolate places such as
abandoned buildings or temples, completely detached from worldly affairs. They
have transcended societal norms and customs and exhibit supreme equanimity.
Paramahamsas accept alms from anyone without discrimination and are solely
focused on their spiritual journey towards realizing the Supreme Self, Brahman.
Each category of sannyasin represents a progressive stage of
detachment and spiritual evolution, with the Paramahamsas being regarded as the
pinnacle of spiritual attainment, embodying the highest level of renunciation
and devotion to the divine.