Sadhu, aka: Sādhu; 14 Definition(s)
Introduction
Sadhu means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, 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 and Itihasa (epic history)
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.
India history and geogprahy
Sādhu.—(EI 9), a priest. (HA), a Jain monk. (LP; HA), same as Sāhu, a merchant. (CII 1), an adjective meaning ‘good’. Note: sādhu is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
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.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary
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.
Sanskrit-English dictionary
Sādhu (साधु).—a. (-dhu or -dhvī f.; compar. sādhīyas; superl. sādhiṣṭha) [साध्-उन् (sādh-un)]
1) Good, excellent, perfect; यद्यत् साधु न चित्रे स्यात् क्रियते तत्तदन्यथा (yadyat sādhu na citre syāt kriyate tattadanyathā) Ś.6.13; आ परितोषाद्विदुषां न साधु मन्ये प्रयोगविज्ञानम् (ā paritoṣādviduṣāṃ na sādhu manye prayogavijñānam) 1.2.
2) Fit, proper, right; as in साधुवृत्त, साधुसमाचार (sādhuvṛtta, sādhusamācāra).
3) Virtuous, righteous, honourable, pious.
4) (a) Kind, well-disposed; तदीयमाक्रन्दितमार्तसाधोः (tadīyamākranditamārtasādhoḥ) R.2.28; Pt.1.247. (b) Well-behaved (with loc.); मातरी साधुः (mātarī sādhuḥ) Sk.
5) Correct, pure, classical (as language).
6) Pleasing, agreeable, pleasant; अतोऽर्हसि क्षन्तुमसाधु साधु वा (ato'rhasi kṣantumasādhu sādhu vā) Ki.1.4.
7) Noble, well-born, of noble decent.
-dhuḥ 1 A good or virtuous man; प्रत्यर्पयिष्यत्यनधां स साधुः (pratyarpayiṣyatyanadhāṃ sa sādhuḥ) R.13.65;2.62; एभिः साधो हृदय- निहितैर्लक्षणैर्लक्षयेवाः (ebhiḥ sādho hṛdaya- nihitairlakṣaṇairlakṣayevāḥ) Me.82.
2) A sage, saint; साधोः प्रकोपि- तस्यापि मनो नायाति विक्रियाम् (sādhoḥ prakopi- tasyāpi mano nāyāti vikriyām) Subhāṣ.
3) A merchant; a jeweller; मुकुटे रोपितः काचश्चरणाभरणे मणिः । न हि दोषो मणेरस्ति किं तु साधोरविज्ञता (mukuṭe ropitaḥ kācaścaraṇābharaṇe maṇiḥ | na hi doṣo maṇerasti kiṃ tu sādhoravijñatā) H.2.72.
4) A Jaina saint.
5) A usurer, money-lender. -n.
1) The good; तयोः श्रेय आददानस्य साधु भवति (tayoḥ śreya ādadānasya sādhu bhavati) Kaṭh,2.1.
2) A good act or thing. ind.
1) Well, well-done, very nice, bravo; साधु गीतम् (sādhu gītam) Ś. 1; साधु रे पिङ्गल वानर साधु (sādhu re piṅgala vānara sādhu) M.4.
2) Enough, away with.
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionarySādhu (साधु).—m.c. sādhū and rarely sādho, indecl. (in Pali recognized by Childers and PTSD as meaning please; āyācane Pv comm. 232.9; with impv. or equivalent; I think they are right, but also that the same meaning applies in many Sanskrit cases, incl. most of those listed BR s.v. 5e), please, with impv. or equivalent: SP 34.4 (tat sādhu bhagavān nirdiśatu): 71.4; 164.13; 171.12; 180.12; 297.5, etc.; LV 6.16; 57.1; 78.15; 233.1, etc.; Mv i.254.18; ii.257.14; 258.14; 259.2; iii.91.4; 300.13, 19; Divy 335.27; Jm 110.2; 157.10; Av i.90.13, etc. (I see nothing un-Sanskritic in the use of sādhu Mv i.174.4 ff., and consequently no need for Senart's note); sādhū, sādho, m.c., §§ 3.21, 71.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionarySanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Relevant definitions
Search found 178 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:
| Sadhushila | Sādhuśīla (साधुशील).—mfn. (-laḥ-lā-laṃ) Virtuous, righteous, wisely or virtuously inclined. E. ... | |
| Sadhudhi | Sādhudhī (साधुधी).—f. (-dhī) A wife’s or husband’s mother. E. sādhu pious, dhā to have, affs. k... | |
| Sadhuja | Sādhuja (साधुज).—mfn. (-jaḥ-jā-jaṃ) Well-born, of respectable family or descent. E. sādhu the s... | |
| Sadhupushpa | Sādhupuṣpa (साधुपुष्प).—n. (-ṣpaṃ) A flower, (Hibiscus mutabilis.) E. sādhu pure, puṣpa a flowe... | |
| Sadhuvriksha | Sādhuvṛkṣa (साधुवृक्ष).—m. (-kṣaḥ) The Kadamba tree, (Nauclea Cadamba.) E. sādhu handsome or ex... | |
| Sadhuvritta | Sādhuvṛtta (साधुवृत्त).—m. (-ttaḥ) A virtuous or pious person. n. (-ttaṃ) Virtue, piety. Adj. W... | |
| Sadhvacara | Sādhvācāra (साध्वाचार).—mfn. (-raḥ-rā-raṃ) Virtuous. E. sādhu, and ācāra observance. | |
| Sadhuvahin | Sādhuvāhin (साधुवाहिन्).—m. (-hī) A well trained horse. E. sādhu agreeable, pleasing, vāha bear... | |
| Sadhusammata | Sādhusaṃmata (साधुसंमत).—a. approved by the good. Sādhusaṃmata is a Sanskrit compound consistin... | |
| Sadhuvada | Sādhuvāda (साधुवाद).—m. (-daḥ) A cry of approbation. | |
| Sadhudevi | Sādhudevī (साधुदेवी).—a mother-in-law. Sādhudevī is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms... | |
| Sadhusiddha | Sādhusiddha (साधुसिद्ध).—a. quite finished, perfect.Sādhusiddha is a Sanskrit compound consisti... | |
| Sadhumata | Sādhumata (साधुमत).—a. highly thought of or prized. Sādhumata is a Sanskrit compound consisting... | |
| Sadhubhava | Sādhubhāva (साधुभाव).—kindness. Derivable forms: sādhubhāvaḥ (साधुभावः).Sādhubhāva is a Sanskri... | |
| Sadhuphala | Sādhuphala (साधुफल).—a. having good results. Sādhuphala is a Sanskrit compound consisting of th... |
Relevant text
Search found 59 books and stories containing Sadhu, Sādhu, Sāḍhū; (plurals include: Sadhus, Sādhus, Sāḍhūs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 7: The two physicians < [Chapter X - The recovery of draupadī]
The six daily duties < [Notes]
Part 2: Previous birth of Vasudeva < [Chapter II - Marriages of Vasudeva with maidens]
Shakti and Shakta (by John Woodroffe)
Chapter XIII - Sarvānandanātha < [Section 1 - Introductory]
Chapter XXIII - The Psychology of Hindu Religious Ritual < [Section 3 - Ritual]
Chapter VI - Śakti and Śākta < [Section 1 - Introductory]
The Brahmanda Purana (by G.V. Tagare)
Chapter 31 - Paraśurāma advised by Brahmā to approach Śiva about Haihaya < [Section 3 - Upodghāta-pāda]
Chapter 32 - Yugas and classes of people: lineage of sages < [Section 2 - Anuṣaṅga-pāda]
Chapter 20 - Description of the netherworlds (pātāla) < [Section 2 - Anuṣaṅga-pāda]
The Bhagavata Purana (by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)
Chapter 25 - The Glories of Devotional Service < [Canto III - The Status Quo]
Chapter 10 - Deliverance of the Yamala-arjuna Trees < [Canto X - The Summum Bonum]
Chapter 5 - Narada Muni Cursed by Prajapati Daksa < [Canto VI - Prescribed Duties for Mankind]
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)