Sadhu in Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Nepal

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Portrait of a Sadhu I met in the Pashupatinath Temple. The Sadhus are mystic or ascetic practitioners of yoga (yogi) and/or wandering monks. The sadhu is solely dedicated to achieving the fourth and final Hindu goal of life, moksha (liberation), through meditation and contemplation of Brahman. Sadhus often wear ochre-colored clothing, symbolizing renunciation. Nowadays, many of them accept to pose for tourists.

Pashupatinath Temple is one of the largest and most sacred among the temples of Lord Shiva (Pashupati) in the world, located on the banks of the Bagmati River in the eastern part of Kathmandu. The temple is listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites list.

Sadhu, Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Nepal, July 2009

 

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