Beneath the divine aura of Badrinath, where Lord Vishnu is worshiped penitently, an intriguing story unfolds every year during the pilgrimage season. Clad in saffron robes and exuding an air of aloofness, saints and sages gather in holy towns. For six months, they sit on the Aastha Path, which stretches from the steps of Badrinath Dham to Vijayalakshmi Chowk, collecting alms from devotees. But far from living an ascetic life in poverty, these holy men amass considerable wealth, often earning hundreds of thousands of rupees in a single season.

As the gates of Badrinath Dham open, heralding the beginning of the pilgrimage, hundreds of sadhus flock to the town. Inspired by faith and tradition, devotees offer coins, currency, clothes and other gifts as dakshina.

For many, this act of giving is intertwined with their own spiritual journey as they seek blessing and forgiveness. It is known that rich pilgrims, in particular, fill the sadhus’ coffers with significant sums by donating generously.

Coins to Crores: The Journey of Charity

What begins as a small act of charity by countless pilgrims soon grows bigger. The coins thrown into the sadhu’s cloth spread on the ground, one by one, slowly accumulate wealth.

According to Praveen Dhyani, president of Panda Panchayat in Badrinath, many sadhus earn lakhs during the Yatra season. While some entrust their collections to trusted business partners, others meticulously save the money until the Dham’s doors close, signaling the end of the season.

According to Dhyani, wealthy devotees often contribute generously, believing that their offerings will wash away their sins and bring blessings. “Lord Vishnu is in meditation here in Badrinath and hence meditation and endowment are of utmost importance,” explains Dhyani.

Once the yatra is over, the sadhus retire to their ashrams or villages in the plains, carrying their earnings. Some use the money for personal needs or to support themselves in the off-season, while others invest it in properties or farmland in their villages.

This phenomenon became so common that local authorities began to take notice. “We have seen a significant increase in the number of sadhus in the area and it is clear that they are benefiting financially from the donations,” said a local official who requested anonymity.

Travelers turned into wealth makers

Most of these sadhus come from states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and West Bengal. Their journeys often began in childhood, when they gave up worldly life to seek spirituality in the Himalayas. For decades, they traveled to remote villages and towns learning scriptures and meditation practices before arriving at the revered temples of Badrinath and Kedarnath.

Despite their modest appearance, these sadhus have adapted to modern realities. Some now have bank accounts, cell phones and even vehicles. A few even used their earnings to build small ashrams in their own villages, providing them with a sense of stability as they pursued their spiritual quest.

Interestingly, some sadhus use this money to buy property in their own villages, blurring the line between spiritual detachment and material ties. “They are saints in the mountains but they can return to their villages as homeowners,” says a local shopkeeper near Badrinath.

One such sadhu, who goes by the name Swami Ramanand, recalls leaving his village in Punjab in his youth. “I wanted to find God, but in the process I found generosity. People give because they believe we are closer to the divine. We accept this as part of the cycle of karma.

But not all sadhus view earnings as purely transactional. For many, donations are used to meet their modest needs during the pilgrimage and to keep them afloat during the harsh winters of the Himalayas.

Swami Hari Om, a sadhu from Rajasthan, shares his story: “I left my home when I was 12 years old. I wandered around Mathura, Varanasi and Haridwar for years before finding peace here in Badrinath. I don’t need much; I just need a place to meditate and food to survive. But donations help us get through the harsh winters while the dham is closed.”

Interestingly, some sadhus use their earnings to invest in properties in their villages. “Not all saints live in caves,” laughs Swami Hari Om. “We are human too. If I can buy a small piece of land to build a hut for my old age, what’s the harm in that?”

The duality in the existence of sadhus (renunciation on the one hand, accumulation of wealth on the other) raises questions among pilgrims. But the devotees’ act of giving is more about faith than the recipient’s use of the donation.

“Donation is of great importance here,” explains Dhyani. “It is believed that donating to a saint brings blessings and spiritual virtue. What sadhus do with money is their personal choice.”

As the Himalayan winter sets in and temples close their doors, sadhus quietly disperse. Some return to remote caves and huts, while others set out for the plains; their bags become heavy with the weight of coins and bills. Ultimately, their story remains a strange mix of spirituality and survival, a reminder of the complexities of faith in the modern world.