This 1903 study of “Sadhuism”—concerning ascetics, monks, and mendicants—covers the stuff of myth and legend. The author’s ramble through history includes miracles, wonders, and prophecy; how European visitors reacted to fakirs; theological subjects like karma and pantheism; and the role of this rich vein of tradition in an age of democratic reform.

This 1903 study of “Sadhuism”—concerning ascetics, monks, and mendicants—covers the stuff of myth and legend. The author’s ramble through history includes miracles, wonders, and prophecy; how European visitors reacted to fakirs; theological subjects like karma and pantheism; and the role of this rich vein of tradition in an age of democratic reform.