Membership
In Hinduism there are two ways to live and be a Hindu. There is the Householder (Grihastha) and the Renunciate (Sannyasa). Those who choose the Householder lifestyle often date, get married, have children, etc. Those who choose the Renunciate lifestyle become monks/nuns living in monasteries, hermits living in dwellings in the forests, or complete renunciates called Sadhus who own nothing, not even clothing, and wonder from place to place. Below is listed how the Shri Ganapatikamesh Matha arranges these in terms of membership "levels".
Grihastha (Householder)
Chela - a regular and basic member of the organization. They have a spiritual (Hindu) name, participates in the various functions, events, and activities of the organization, and have a voice and vote on matters.
Dhurya/Dhuryi - a regular and basic member of the organization that has received a spiritual (Hindu) name, participates in the various functions, events, and activities of the organization, has a voice and vote on matters, can hold elected offices, received the Upanayanam (sacred-thread), and chosen to attempt to follow the Four Vows as listed in the Mathasthiti. They can return to being a chela at anytime should they choose to do so. Annudha/Annudhi - a special member who has chosen to dedicate themselves more fully to the organization and to spiritual life. They have chosen to follow the Four Vows as listed in the Mathasthiti and to undergo diksha (initiation). At anytime they can return to Dhurya/Dhuryi status. Abhyasi/Abhyasini - a special member who has chosen to make a more dedicated commitment to the organization and spiritual life through following the Four Vows of the Mathasthiti. The person may choose, if after some time, to return to the Annudha/Annudhi status. Mathavasi/Mathavasini - this is the highest Grihastha member. They have chosen to take on a lifelong commitment to the Four Vows of the Mathasthiti and because of this commitment are ordained by the organization. Mathavasi/Mathavisini subdivisions Ahvayaka Dutaka Sthavira Adhyaksha Pala Pradhana |
Sannyasa (Renunciate)
Sadhaka/Sadhika - a person who has decided to attempt to live by the 27 vows as listed in the Mathasthiti as a monk/nun living in a monastery.
Divisions: Sadhaka/Sadhika Yogi/Yogini Sannyasi/Sannyasini - a person who has dedicated themselves to live by the 27 vows as listed in the Mathasthiti as a monk/nun living in a monastery. Divisions: Sannyasi/Sannyasini Swami/Swamini Shramana/Shramani - a person who has chosen to to renounce everything by becoming a hermit living alone in a dwelling. Sadhu/Sadhvi - a person who has chosen to renounce everything, owns no personal property, etc. |
Other types of members
Acharya - these are members who choose to teach on various Hindu subject matters in the organization.
Pandit - these are members who have chosen to study and learn, becoming scholars, on various Hindu subject matters.
Pujari - these are members who have chosen to learn how to do ritual worship (puja) and other rites at organization events, activites, etc.
Purohit - these are members who have chosen to learn how to do ritual worship (puja) and other rites for members in their homes or other places that are not specific to the organization and its events, activities, etc.
Pandit - these are members who have chosen to study and learn, becoming scholars, on various Hindu subject matters.
Pujari - these are members who have chosen to learn how to do ritual worship (puja) and other rites at organization events, activites, etc.
Purohit - these are members who have chosen to learn how to do ritual worship (puja) and other rites for members in their homes or other places that are not specific to the organization and its events, activities, etc.
Other "labels"
Guru - the term is specifically applied to a spiritual leader, teacher, advisor, and counselor of the organization.
Baba/Babi or Pita/Mata - the term is specifically used to apply to the spiritual head of the organization with Baba/Pita or Babi/Mata used interchangeably.
Mathadatra - the term is used in reference to the founder or establisher of the organization.
Baba/Babi or Pita/Mata - the term is specifically used to apply to the spiritual head of the organization with Baba/Pita or Babi/Mata used interchangeably.
Mathadatra - the term is used in reference to the founder or establisher of the organization.
Naming Convention/Style
The organization's naming style is such that the honorific Shri is used first, then a title of job, then a familiar, either Bhai/Bahin (brother/sister), then their given Hindu names followed by the title of their rank. Let's take a made-up person as an example:
Shri Pujari Bhai Vigneshwara Dasa Dhurya
Honorific: Shri
Job Title: Pujari
Familiar: Bhai
Hindu Name: Vigneshwara Dasa
Rank Title: Dhurya
Shri Pujari Bhai Vigneshwara Dasa Dhurya
Honorific: Shri
Job Title: Pujari
Familiar: Bhai
Hindu Name: Vigneshwara Dasa
Rank Title: Dhurya