shramana

A (Sanskrit ) or (Pāli) is a wandering monk in certain ascetic traditions of ancient India, including Jainism, Buddhism, and Ājīvika religion (now extinct). Famous include religious leaders Mahavira and Gautama Buddha.Traditionally, a is one who performs acts of mortification or austerity. According to typical worldviews, a is responsible for their own deeds. Salvation, therefore, may be achieved by anybody irrespective of caste, creed, color or culture (in contradistinction to certain historical caste-based traditions). The cycle of rebirth () to which every individual is subject is viewed as the cause and substratum of misery. The goal of every person is to evolve a way to escape from the cycle of rebirth, namely by discounting ritual as a means of emancipation and establishing from the misery of , through pious religious activities.
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