Hindu monasticism

thumb|Ashram of sage Kanva depicted on terracotta plaque, 2nd century BCE An ashram (, ) is a spiritual hermitage or a monastery in Hinduism.

Brahmacharya (; Sanskrit: Devanagari: ब्रह्मचर्य) is the concept within Indian religions that literally means "conduct consistent with Brahman" or "on the path of Brahman". Brahmacharya, a discipline of controlling the senses, is seen as a way to liberation. Though sexual restraint is a part of brahmacharya, brahmacharya encompasses all striving toward a passionless state.

thumb|Photograph of a Sanyasi ascetic, albumen print, by Captain W. W. Hooper & Surgeon G. Western, Hyderabad,

thumb|An Advaita Vedanta monastery and Vidyashankara temple at Sringeri Sharada Peetham, [[Sringeri, Karnataka.]]

200px|thumb|right|A ceremonial procession of akhara marching over a makeshift bridge over the Ganges river, during Kumbha Mela at [[Prayagraj, 2001]] Akhara or Akhada (Hindi: अखाड़ा, romanised: Akhāṛā) is an Indian word for a place of practice with facilities for boarding, lodging and training, both in the context of Indian martial artists or a sampradaya monastery for religious renunciates in Guru–shishya tradition. For example, in the context of the Dashanami Sampradaya sect, the word denotes both martial arts and religious monastic aspects of the trident-wielding martial regiment of the ren

monastic tradition in Hinduism

One of the Four Vaiṣṇava Bairagi Sampradāyas

Mahanubhava (also known as Jai Shri Krishna Pantha) is a Krishnaite Hindu denomination (Sampradaya or Pantha) in India that is generally described to be founded by Chakradhara Swami. Some sources list the founders as Chakrapani (Chāngadeva Rāuḷ) and Govinda Prabhu (Gunḍama Rāuḷ) with Chakradhara Swami as the first "apostle" and propagator of Mahanubhava Pantha. Mahanubhava Sampradaya was formally formed in the modern-day Varhad region of Maharashtra in 1267 CE. It has different names such as Jai Krishni Pantha in Punjab and Achyuta Pantha in Gujarat. Mahanubhava Pantha was also known as Parama

Bhiksha (, bhikṣā; , bhikkhā) is a term used in Indic religions, such as Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism, to refer to the act of alms or asking. Commonly, it is also used to refer to food obtained by asking for alms.