samnyasi | संन्यासी
samnyasi (Devanagari: संन्यासी ISO15919: saṁnyāsī) is someone who has completely given up material attachments and lives the rest of their life as a celibate monk in pursuit of God.
The scriptures say that anyone, regardless of age or caste, can leave their worldly duties when they develop true detachment yukta vairagya.
Naradaparivrajaka Upanishad warns that if someone gives up their duties on the outside but still holds on to material desires inside, it is a sin. Such a person is punished and sent to narak.
According to this Upanishad, Sannyasis are divided into four types, based on how deeply they have renounced the world.
- Kutichaka (Devanagari: कुटीचक ISO15919: kuṭīcaka)
- Bahudaka (Devanagari: बहूदक ISO15919: bahūdaka)
- Hamsa (Devanagari: हंस ISO15919: haṁsa)
- Paramahamsa (Devanagari: परमहंस ISO15919: paramahaṁsa)
Other Vedic scriptures define two more categories
- Turiyateet Sannyasi (Devanagari: तुरीयतीत संन्यासी ISO15919: turīyatīta saṁnyāsī)
- Avadhuta (Devanagari: अवधूत ISO15919: avadhūta) is a highly enlightened being who has completely transcended worldly concerns, social norms, and even religious rituals.
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