A Wisdom Archive on Saiva Sannyasins

Saivas: In South India, there are Tamil Sannyasins who belong to the Kovilur Mutt, Thiruvavaduthurai and Dharmapuram Adhinams. They do not belong to the Sri Sankara order. They are Saivas.
 
Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda
 

Read more here: » Saivas: Hindu Sects and Cults - Saivas

Amardaka Order: (Sanskrit) An order of Saiva sannyasins founded by Amardaka Tirthanatha in Andhra Pradesh (ca 775).

(See also: Amardaka Order:, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul )

Nagas: Nagas are Saiva Sannyasins. They are in a naked state. They smear their bodies with ashes. They have beard and matted locks.
 
Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda
 

Read more here: » Nagas: Hindu Sects and Cults - Nagas

sannyasin: (Sanskrit) "Renouncer."
 
One who has taken sannyasa diksha. A Hindu monk, swami, and one of a world brotherhood (or holy order) of sannyasins. Some are wanderers and others live in monasteries.
 
The seasoned sannyasin is truly the liberated man, the spiritual exemplar, the disciplined yogi and ultimately the knower of Truth, freed to commune with the Divine and bound to uplift humanity through the sharing of his wisdom, his peace, his devotion and his illumination, however great or small.
 
The sannyasin is the guardian of his religion, immersed in it constantly, freed from worldliness, freed from distraction, able to offer his work and his worship in unbroken continuity and one-pointed effectiveness. He undertakes certain disciplines including the purification of body, mind and emotion. He restrains and controls the mind through his sadhana, tapas and meditative regimen. He unfolds from within himself a profound love of God and the Gods. His practice of upasana, worship, is predominantly internal, seeking God Siva within.
See: sannyasa, sannyasa dharma, sannyasa diksha, swami.

(See also: Sannyasin, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul )

holy orders: A divine ordination or covenant, giving religious authority. Vows that members of a religious body make, especially a monastic body or order, such as the vows (holy orders of renunciation) given a sannyasin at the time of his initiation (sannyasa diksha), which establish a covenant with the ancient holy order of sannyasa. Sannyasins, the wearers of the ocher robe, are the ordained religious leaders of Hinduism.
See: sannyasa diksha.

(See also: Holy orders, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul )

The term Hinduism is most elastic. It includes a number of sects and cults, allied, but different in many important points. Hinduism has, within its fold, various schools of Vedanta; Vaishnavism, Saivism, Saktism, etc. It has various cults and creeds. It is more a League of Religions than a single religion with a definite creed.
 
A map over the different sects and cults in Hinduism.
 
Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda
 

Read more here: » Hindu Sects: Hinduism - A Fellowship Of Faiths And A Federation Of Philosophies - about Hindu Sects and Cults

Read more here: » Hindu Mythology: Hinduism Mythology and Symbols

Outward symbols are necessary and beneficial. When viewed from the right angle of vision, you will find that they play a very important part in your material as well as spiritual life. Though they may look very simple and unimportant, they are very scientific and effective.
 
Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda
 

Read more here: » Hindu Symbols: Symbols in Hinduism