Facts about Naga Sadhus: The Mysterious Ascetics of Kumbh Mela
Kumbh Mela is a rare opportunity for the common people to spot Naga Sadhus who are otherwise aloof from this material world and their lives are shrouded in mystery. Donning Rudraksha necklaces and marigold garlands, carrying the trishul and damru, absorbed in the devotion of Lord Shiva, they can be seen walking in huge numbers at the Kumbh Mela processions. Matted hair, ash-smeared bodies and no clothes, are crucial aspects of their identity.
People around the world attend the Kumbh Mela just to catch a glimpse of these warrior ascetics famed for their ardent devotion to Shiva, extreme ascetism and strict spiritual practices. How to identify a Naga Sadhu? What powers do Naga Sadhus have? Are there female Naga Sadhus or are Nagas only males? How is the life of a Naga Sadhu different and what are the mystifying things surrounding their personalities and ways of living? Find out all this and more in these amusing facts about Naga Sadhus.
All You Need to Know about Naga Sadhus

Who are Naga Sadhus?
- A Naga Sadhu is an ascetic who could be from any Hindu monastic order, but mostly belongs to the Shaiva or Vaishnava sects. He/she is a devotee of Lord Shiva, practices renunciation and austerity and is focused on spirituality.
- It is said that to be a Naga Sadhu, one requires to spend more than 10 years in celibacy, austerity and meditative practices. Naga Sadhus are ascetics who renounce worldly pleasures and embark on a spiritual journey.
Appearance of Naga Sadhus
- Naga Sadhus smear their entire bodies with ash, have matted hair and wear very less clothing or remain naked. They carry a danda in their hands symbolic of their spiritual authority and self-discipline.
- Why Naga Sadhus avoid clothing? Being naked is a part of their identity, where the nakedness represents their detachment from the material world.
- Why is bhasma smeared on their bodies? The holy ash protects them from the cold, wind and heat, and represents their respect for Shiva and penance. The ash smeared on their bodies contains calcium, potassium, and phosphorus, serves as an insulation, further protecting them from cold weather.
- Naga Sadhus are known to use Rudraksha beads in their meditation, as Rudraksha is said to amplify spiritual energy. It is mandatory for a Naga Sadhu to wear a Rudraksha mala on his neck.
- Apart from Rudraksha, they wear fulmala of marigold flowers around their neck, shoulders and hands.
- Many Nagas can be seen with their foreheads decorated with the Tilak, which is saffron or red in colour and covers the entire forehead or the middle region of the forehead.
- Some Naga Sadhus can be seen wearing jewels corresponding to the Navagrahas. Jewels are worn with the purpose of enhancing their spirituality.
- It is mandatory for them to carry chimtas, which are believed to be of help in letting them concentrate towards the divine.
- Naga Sadhus are allowed to keep only jata. The coiling of hair leads to induction and enhances electromagnetic energy. They keep beards, as beards are known to strengthen facial muscles and serve as conductors of positive energy during Surya Pranayama.
Lifestyle of Naga Sadhus
- A Naga Sadhu is permitted to have only one meal in a day. He has to ask for Bhiksha and consume only the food that the donor gives. He can ask for bhiksha in a maximum of seven houses and may have to starve for the day if he is not given food in any of those households.
- Naga Sadhus are not allowed to use a bed or couch to sleep. They have to sleep on the ground and can at the most use a piece of cloth under him while sleeping.
- They practice Hatha yoga.
- Many Naga Sadhus walk barefoot to practice endurance.
- They often take up arduous journeys to holy places in the Himalayas, and consider these mountain ranges to be their spiritual homeland.
- A Naga Sadhu has to follow the norms of Brahmacharya, attain self-control and get diksha (permission to be a Naga Sadhu). After getting diksha from a guru, he has to completely trust that guru and observe penance with the guru mantra given to him.
What is the origin of Naga Sadhus?
Shankaracharya is believed to have started 4 monasteries, after which he wanted to ensure their security, for which he formed a group of people who were brave and had renounced the material world. These people came to be known as Naga Sadhus.
How to be a Naga Sadhu?
- As the first step in the process to achieve the Naga position, the Akhada conducts a background check on the individual who wishes to be a Naga Sadhu and ensures that he is ready to transform his life.
- Next, the individual has to undergo many tests that check his ability to achieve Brahmacharya, and diksha is only given to those who strictly adhere to Brahmacharya rules. At the next level, the individual attains the Mahapurush position, where he accepts the Pancha Parameshwar as his 5 gurus, namely Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Shakti Mata, Lord Surya and Lord Ganesh.
- As the next step, the individual achieves the Avadhoot position, wherein he is free from any worldly bonds and has given up on material pleasures.
- Then, the Akhada priest guides the individual into performing Pinda daan after which he is considered dead for his family, and from thereon protection of Sanatan dharma and Vedic traditions remain his primary duties.
- As the final step in attaining the position of a Naga sadhu, the individual has to stand for 24 hours without food, under the Akhada flag, with a dand placed on his shoulders and hands holding water pots.
- There is a lot of penance to be undergone in the process of being a Naga Sadhu. Anyone prepared for this hard journey, despite his varna or sect, can be a Naga Sadhu.
Which Sadhanas are performed by Naga Sadhus?
- They are known to perform 3 types of sadhanas, namely, Agni sadhana, Nadi shodhan, and generation of energy through mantra chanting.
- During Agni Sadhana, a Naga sadhu meditates to accumulate the fire element in his body. In Nadi Shodhan Pranayam, they balance the airflow within their bodies.
- They also generate energy by chanting of certain mantras. These Sadhanas are useful in regulating their body heat, thereby helping them withstand extreme cold.
Other Astounding Facts about Naga Sadhus
- Naga Sadhus bury themselves under the Earth in a seated position or immerse themselves in water, when they have to give up life and leave their human bodies.
- They are known to perform their pinda daan while they are still alive. It is considered as a symbol of giving up on their life in the material world and embracing the life of a Naga Sadhu.
- It is believed that Naga Sadhus were brave warriors who protected Hindu temples. They used to be trained in martial arts and weapon use, so that they would be able to safeguard sacred lands, temples and shrines (maths). They could fight with swords, tridents, macs and bows among other weapons. This is why Naga Sadhus are considered as powerful.
- It is said that Aurangzeb’s army of Muslims that was deployed specially to destroy temples of Lord Shiva, was defeated by the Naga Sadhus who ferociously fought the invaders and preserved Shiva temples and Shiva bhakti even in regions dominated by Muslims.
- Interestingly, Naga Sadhus play Holi. However, quite differently! They play the festival of Holi with bhasma, which is the ash from funeral pyres. They smear one another with this holy ash to honour Lord Shiva, and their play is known as Masaan Holi. It is believed that Lord Shiva played the Masaan Holi for and with Naga Sadhus.
- Naga Sadhus are a part of Akhadas, which are monastic orders. Each akhada has its own traditions and practices, and each akhada has a different leader. All the akhadas give the Sadhus training and initiate them into their spiritual journey, and function with the common purpose of helping to preserve traditions, cultures and philosophies.
- Are there female Naga Sadhus? Not much is known about the lives of female Naga Sadhus. It is said that they devote their lives to spirituality and give up on the joys and bonds in the material world. They are known to wear clothing (unstitched saffron cloth called ganti), unlike their male counterparts.
- Naga Sadhus attend all Kumbh Melas across the four venues, namely Prayagraj, Ujjain, Nashik and Haridwar.
- Who is the most famous Naga Sadhu? Baba Rampuri (birthname William A Gans) is one of the most famous Naga Sadhus. He claims to be the first westerner to be a Naga Sadhu, and was initiated in 1970.
- Naga Sadhus have been a part of the Indian culture since thousands of years. There are 4 lakh registered Naga Sadhus and several more are being initiated every year.
The procession of Naga Sadhus is one of the main attractions and the most photographed events at the Kumbh Mela. Devotees and tourists alike come to witness the procession and observe the intriguing personalities and practices of the Naga Sadhus. Their unique appearance and out-of-this-world lifestyle captivates the masses and inspires awe in millions across the globe.