Sadhu, aka: Sādhu; 12 Definition(s)
Introduction
Sadhu means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Purana
Sādhu (साधु).—An incarnation of Śiva. The Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa contains the following story about it.
When the Himālaya and Maināka mountains once began a very intense tapas, the Devas and Ṛṣis fearing great ruin to the world in case the mountains got salvation, sought Śiva’s protection and prayed for a solution for the problem. So Śiva, in the guise of a brahmin named Sādhu, went to the mountains, spoke to them condemning Śiva and thus made them retract from their devotion to Śiva.
(Source): archive.org: Puranic EncyclopaediaSādhu (साधु).—(Brahmacāri): He who has the means of vidyā; a Brahmacārin well disposed to a guru; (sādhugrahasta)—the means of doing the Karmas ordained (sādhu vaikhānasa)—by performing penance in the forest (sādhu yati) by endeavouring to apply himself to yoga.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 59. 23-4.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
1) Sādhu (साधु, “blessed one”) refers to a specific “mode of address” (nāman) used in drama (nāṭya), according to Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 19. Sādhu is used to address certain ascetics, or persons who have attained praśānta (‘tranquillity’).
2) Sādhu (साधु) refers to the exclamation “excellent” and represents an element of a siddhi (success) expressed vocally (vāṅmayī), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 27. The siddhis in a dramatic production (nāṭaka) arise from words, sattva and gestures and relate to the various bhāva (psychological states) and rasa (sentiments). They can be broadly divided into divine (daivikī) and human (mānuṣī) which are made up of sattvas expressed vocally or physically.
Accodingly, “representation of deeds which relate to the practice of virtue and is endowed with excellence, should be greeted by the spectators with the word “excellent” (sādhu)”.
(Source): Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing dramatic plays (nataka) and poetic works (kavya).
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
"It is well"; an expression showing appreciation or agreement.(Source): Access to Insight: A Glossary of Pali and Buddhist TermsInterjection of satisfaction being often pronounced thrice at the end of a teaching or to acknowledge the benevolent character of an action being performed to the sake of dhamma.
(Source): Dhamma Dana: Pali English GlossaryTheravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Sādhu (साधु).—All ascetics are sādhus. A Jaina sādhu has 28 chief qualities besides other subsidiary ones, according to Digambaras and 27 according to the Śvetāmbara lists.
(Source): Google Books: Jaina IconographySādhu (साधु).—One of the ten types of ‘nursing services’ (vaiyāvrata)? Who is called the ‘long-time ascetic’ (sādhu)? An ascetic who had been initiated into monk-hood for quite some time is called ‘long-time ascetic’.
(Source): Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 9: Influx of karmas
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
sādhu : (adj.) good; virtuous; profitable. (adv.), well; thoroughly. (ind.), yes; alright.
(Source): BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English DictionarySādhu, (adj.) (Vedic sādhu, fr. sādh) 1. good, virtuous, pious Sn. 376, 393; J. I, 1; Mhvs 37, 119; PvA. 116, 132; asādhu bad, wicked Dh. 163, 223; DhA. III, 313.—2. good, profitable, proficient, meritorious Dh. 35, 206 (=sundara, bhaddaka DhA. III, 271); D. I, 88; Pv. II, 97; nt. adv. well, thoroughly Dh. 67; J. I, 1; Mhvs 36, 97; 37, 73. Very frequent as interjection, denoting (a) request (adhortative, with imper. : sādhu gaccha please go! Miln. 18; gacchatha VvA. 305), to be translated with “come on, welcome, please, ” or similar adverbs. Thus e.g. at Pv IV. 140 (=āyācane PvA. 232); J. I, 92; PvA. 6, 35, 272; VvA. 69;— (b) assent & approval in replies to a question “alright, yes” or similarly; usually with the verbs (in ger.) paṭisuṇitvā, vatvā, sampaṭicchitvā etc. Thus e.g. at J. V, 297; Vin. I, 56; Miln. 7; DhA. III, 13; VvA. 149; DA. I, 171; SnA 176 (=sampahaṃsane); PvA. 55, 78 and passim.
—kamyatā desire for proficiency VbhA. 477. —kāra saying “well, ” approval, cheering, applause J. I, 223; Miln. 13, 16, 18; VvA. 132; DhA. I, 390; III, 385. —kīḷana a festive play, a sacred festivity Mhvs 3, 11; sādhukīḷita the same Mhvs 20, 36; °-divasa Vin. III, 285; sādhu-kīḷā J. III, 434; V, 127; sādhu-kīḷikā J. III, 433. —jīvin leading a virtuous life It. 71. —phala having wholesome fruits J. I, 272 (read sādu°). —rūpa good, respectable Dh. 262. —sammata highly honoured D. I, 48; S. IV, 398; Sn. p. 90 sq.; Miln. 4, 21; DA. I, 143. —sīliya good character J. II, 137. (Page 703)
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
sāḍhū (साढू).—m (Commonly sāḍū) The husband of one's wife's sister.
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sādhu (साधु).—a or s m (S) A holy man; a saint or sage; one of subdued passions and contemplative habits. 2 a Right, proper, correct, excellent, virtuous, pious, good. Used largely of speech, composition, style, matter, actions, agents.
(Source): DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarysādhu (साधु).—m A holy man; a saint. a Right, pious.
(Source): DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-EnglishMarathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Relevant definitions
Search found 136 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:
| Sadhushila | Sādhuśīla (साधुशील).—a. virtuous, righteous; यः सप्तवर्षाणि जुहोति तार्क्ष्यं हव्यं त्वग्नौ निय... | |
| Sadhudevi | Sādhudevī (साधुदेवी).—a mother-in-law. Sādhudevī is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms... | |
| Sadhusammata | Sādhusaṃmata (साधुसंमत).—a. approved by the good. Sādhusaṃmata is a Sanskrit compound consistin... | |
| Sadhu Sutta | Sādhu, (adj.) (Vedic sādhu, fr. sādh) 1. good, virtuous, pious Sn. 376, 393; J. I, 1; Mhvs 37... | |
| Sadhu Vagga | Sādhu, (adj.) (Vedic sādhu, fr. sādh) 1. good, virtuous, pious Sn. 376, 393; J. I, 1; Mhvs 37... | |
| Sadhushukla | Sādhuśukla (साधुशुक्ल).—a. quite white. Sādhuśukla is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the ter... | |
| Sadhujata | Sādhujāta (साधुजात).—a. beautiful. Sādhujāta is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms sād... | |
| Sadhubhava | Sādhubhāva (साधुभाव).—kindness. Derivable forms: sādhubhāvaḥ (साधुभावः).Sādhubhāva is a Sanskri... | |
| Sadhvacara | Sādhvācāra (साध्वाचार).—a. well-conducted, pious, virtuous. Sādhvācāra is a Sanskrit compound c... | |
| Sadhuvahin | Sādhuvāhin (साधुवाहिन्).—m. a well-trained horse. Sādhuvāhin is a Sanskrit compound consisting ... | |
| Nimittaca Sadhu | nimittācā sādhu (निमित्ताचा साधु).—m A pretended saint; a mere professor. | |
| Sadhuvritta | Sādhuvṛtta (साधुवृत्त).—a. 1) wellconducted, upright, virtuous; प्रायेण साधुवृत्तानामस्थायिन्यो... | |
| Sadhuvriksha | Sādhuvṛkṣa (साधुवृक्ष).—the Kadamba tree. Derivable forms: sādhuvṛkṣaḥ (साधुवृक्षः).Sādhuvṛkṣa ... | |
| Sadhukrita | Sādhukṛta (साधुकृत).—a. well-done. Sādhukṛta is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms sād... | |
| Sadhumatra | Sādhumātrā (साधुमात्रा).—the right measure. Sādhumātrā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the... |
Relevant text
Search found 51 books and stories containing Sadhu or Sādhu. You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Parables of Rama (by Swami Rama Tirtha)
Story 252 - The story of a self-realized ascetic < [Chapter LI - Maya]
Gemstones of the Good Dhamma (by Ven. S. Dhammika)
Abhidhamma in Daily Life (by Ashin Janakabhivamsa) (by Ashin Janakabhivamsa)
Domain 7 - Pattanumodana (rejoicing at patti-dana) < [Chapter 6 - Ten domains of meritorious actions (ten punna kiriyavatthu)]
Part 3 - Abodes Of Devas < [Chapter 11 - Planes Of Existence]
Vipassana Meditation (by Chanmyay Sayadaw)
Part 2 - Attta In Buddhism < [Chapter 7 - The Five Factors Of A Meditator]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (by Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī)
Verse 2.4.216-217 < [Chapter 4 - Vaikuṇṭha: The Spiritual Kingdom]
Verse 2.4.263 < [Chapter 4 - Vaikuṇṭha: The Spiritual Kingdom]
Verse 1.2.37 < [Chapter 2 - Divya: In Heaven]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
II. Endowing the kṣetra with a special wisdom < [Part 1 - Eliminating the three poisons]
Part 1 - Eliminating the three poisons < [Chapter LII - Elimination of the Triple Poison]
The Udāna-sutta < [Part 2 - Hearing the twelve-membered speech of the Buddha]