Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c7.s2.t1.87

c7.s2.t1.87

There was no uniform dress for ascetics (sadhus, jogis) of either sex. The more demonstrative carried a deer-skin for a robe, but the nobler spirits disdained such ostentations and vanity.¹ Some of the ascetics contented themselves with a simple loin-cloth (*langota*) and a dried gourd to supply all their needs of clothing and other necessities.² Others who conformed to the rules of their order usually shaved their heads, put heavy rings round their ears, carried a deer horn and besmeared themselves with ashes. A few added to their equipment such prescribed articles as an ochre robe, a *chakra*, a trident, a rosary, necklace of jujubes, wooden sandals, an umbrella, a deer-skin, a begging bowl.³ The followers of Nanak discarded these characteristics of ascetics and wore ordinary dress like other people.