gosain
An Indian term for a Hindu holy man or ascetic — typically a member of one of the Shaivite monastic orders, often a wandering renunciant who has left household life behind to pursue spiritual practice.
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An Indian term for a Hindu holy man or ascetic — typically a member of one of the Shaivite monastic orders, often a wandering renunciant who has left household life behind to pursue spiritual practice. Gosains historically played important social and economic roles in South Asia, sometimes functioning as merchants, moneylenders, or soldiers alongside their religious identities. The word appears frequently in colonial-era Indian history and literature, and remains in use in religious and ethnographic contexts in India today.
A gosain sat at the temple gate, ash-smeared and still, a small fire burning before him.
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(India) A Hindu holy man.
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- godman63%
An Indian English term for a charismatic male spiritual leader or self-proclaimed guru who claims divine powers or special access to the divine. Godmen often attract huge followings, build ashrams, and wield significant social and political influence in India. The word carries a healthy dose of scepticism — Indian media regularly uses it when reporting on fraud cases involving self-styled holy men who exploit devotees. It's a shorthand for the uncomfortable intersection of faith, celebrity, and alleged manipulation.
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