In India, a religious ascetic or holy person.
Sadhus are typically wandering ascetics who subsist on alms. They may follow the tenets of a particular belief system, such as Hinduism or Jainism , but are more typically regarded as saintly in their own right. The term swami refers to a sadhu ordained in a specific order and is associated particularly with Vedanta . Sadhus and swamis may live either in communities or in solitude; they typically possess little, eschew conventional and modern dress, and have shaven heads or matted, unkempt hair.