are they yogis? or Hathyogi?
trying to overcome worldly emotions-Pain
via http://columbia.edu 

a photo from Faizabad-Ayodhya
group of Sadhu sanyasi of various level of hierarchy
titled:The Chowk, Fyzabad," a photo from c. the 1880's
via columbia. edu

ascetic at Bhubaneshwar, photogravure from Martin Hurlimann, 1928
via http://columbia.edu 
Sadhu
reminds of couplet of Kabir
कर का मनका डार दे मन का मनका फेर
माला फेरत जुग भया, फिरा न मन का फेर
also Karma is more important that's why earth is भूलोक कर्मभूमि कर्मलोक कार्मिकलोक

street singer or sadhu at Bangalore
what they are known as in Kannada?
photo via http://columbia.edu 
few men sang our epics/legends/folklore to spread message to instill social values/human values, in return accepted alms. such art & artists depended on society for livelihood

many traditions were prevalent across our country, 1 was portable shrine, remember phad painting, Kavad or Kavadi? patta chitra etc
it's similar relics symbols carried by men in Baroda
Fakir with relics in Baroda by A. de Neuville from 'Le Tour du Monde1870
spread2 social values

orientalists wrongly termed many things
termed as Hindoo beggar
but he seems Sadhu 1 of sects from Dasnami akhada parampara they only sing praise of Lord & live on alms, in Prayagraj-Mahakumbh they assemble together
see Konch & cymbal there
do u know name?

Fachiri devoti by Giulio Ferrario, from 'Il costume antico e moderno', Florence, 1824

many such ascetic sadhu lived on fringes of society, practicing & learning denouncement of worldly leisure-temptations
even hunger & #climatechange
via http://columbia.edu 

Sunyasee
painting/illustration by William Taylor of Bengal Civil Service, 1842
Sanyasi Sadhu Fakir Yogi?
Ascetic via http://columbia.edu 
Palm/date tree, bamboo umbrella, hookah-chilam, Tiger skin all there, but they didn't have worldly charms!

Fakir and acolyte," a watercolor, Patna, 1824
and Holy man
painting/illustration by European artists
first is may be Nath sampraday second is shaiv sanyasi?

two fakirs

Ascetic 1874-76
wandering don't stay longer at any place
on right seems from sect of Dasnami Akhada sant parampara-they sing praise of lord-Shiv
Tretyakov Gallery
http://tretyakovgallery.ru 
Acquired 1880 at auction of works by V.V. Vereshchagin in St. Petersburg

Ascetic
Sadhu at Temple
Company School painting, 1800's
mendicants? via http://columbia.edu 
it seems some ritual being performed, i hope not at time of death? in backdrop temples are depicted, similar to Terracotta temple Bishnupur? not sure may be other place, river front

This reminds me of one of my elder grandfather who lived at Maharaj Ghat Bithoor Kanpur as Dandi swami दण्डि स्वामी। temple was said to be constructed by Peshwa Baji Rao 2 who was exiled. https://twitter.com/kamlesm/status/1334453241296248833?s=19

Ascetic Yogi
Sanyasi nath sampraday नाथ सम्प्रदाय
Foundation laid on Adinath later Matsyendranath & Gorakshnath. Belong to Siddha Kapalik parampara https://twitter.com/kamlesm/status/1232722900479664128?s=19