Dashnami

Dashnami refers to a Hindu monastic tradition of renunciates instituted by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century CE. The term is usually rendered as "ten names" or "ten orders," reflecting the system by which sannyasis are organized into ten sub-groups. Each sannyasi adopts one of the ten das-nama prefixes as a formal name, signaling their lineage within the Dashnami tradition.

Traditionally, Dashnami sannyasis are organized in connection with the four monastic centers established by Shankaracharya, known as the four mathas: Sringeri, Dwarka, Puri, and Jyotir Math. These mathas preserve the lineage, orchestrate initiation and training, and maintain the guru–disciple chain called parampara within the Dashnami order.

Practices and lifestyle: Sannyasis renounce worldly life, take vows of celibacy and poverty, wear saffron robes, and often live as wanderers or in ashrams, depending on their lineage. They rely on alms and devotional study, teach Vedanta, and perform temple duties, religious discourses, and social service as part of their mission to spread Hindu philosophy.

Impact and contemporary presence: The Dashnami order remains a significant component of Hindu monasticism, with numerous lineages across India and the broader Hindu world. While most Dashnami monks are associated with Advaita Vedanta, the tradition intersects with many regional practices and temple networks and continues to influence spiritual education and monastic networks.