Babas @ Shivaratri @ Pashupati, a photo by mysansar14 on Flickr. Babas at Pashupati, Shivaratri

Babas @ Shivaratri @ Pashupati, a photo by mysansar14 on Flickr. Babas at Pashupati, Shivaratri

Sadhus are sanyasi, or renunciates, who have left behind all material and sexual attachments and live in caves, forests and temples all over India and Nepal. A Sadhu is usually referred to as Baba by common people. The word baba also means father, grandfather, or uncle in many Indian languages. Sometimes the respectful suffix -ji may also be