Hindu asceticism and its role in the salvation process

India has a special geography and culture for our country. Because we have political, economic and cultural ties with the Indian subcontinent. The country's dominant religious tradition, Hinduism, interacts with Eastern and Western civilizations. In this religious tradition, various beliefs and teachings have emerged in the historical process and have reached their current appearance through change, transformation and interaction. However, the original aspects of Hinduism have also been preserved. On the other hand, when asceticism is mentioned, it is one of the important religions that comes to mind. This research has examined the place, importance and role of asceticism, which is a phenomenon in many religious traditions, in Hinduism in terms of salvation (moksha). Asceticism has many aspects, but although it is found in many religions in terms of its dominant characteristics, it is a phenomenon that is shaped according to the religion it is in. It has a mythology, ritual, belief and philosophy dimension. Hindu asceticism, which shapes these characteristics with its own practices, has a unique structure. Asceticism, as in other religions, is associated with the doctrine of salvation, purification and atonement in Hinduism. In the present study, the relevant dynamics have been carefully examined in terms of the History of Religions in the context of the belief in salvation. The findings obtained during the research process were examined within the framework of qualitative research methods. In this context, descriptive approach, situation analysis, literature review and partially comparative method were used together; especially the principles of the phenomenological approach were taken into consideration. In order to correctly interpret the information in the sacred texts in a historical context, the textual content analysis method was used. This methodological integrity aimed to increase both the theoretical and practical depth of the research. The research consists of an introduction, four chapters and a conclusion. In the introduction section, the subject, purpose, scope and limitations of the research, studies conducted in the field on the subject, method and methods were explained. In the first section, the philosophical aspects of asceticism, which is a religious phenomenon, its widespread forms across cultures and the focus of the research, Hindu asceticism, were discussed. Again, in this section, the titles given to Hindu ascetics, the belief dimension of Hindu asceticism and its role in the salvation process were tried to be revealed. In the second section, the sacred texts that form the basis of Hindu asceticism are mentioned and, in this context, the Samnyasa Upanisads, the Laws of Manu, other major dharma texts and the Bhagavad Gita are examined within the framework of both asceticism and the belief in salvation. In the third section, ashrams, the basic characteristics of ascetics and the status of women in ascetic life are discussed to reveal the basic characteristics of Hindu asceticism. In the fourth and final chapter, philosophical perspectives on Hindu asceticism are examined and their perceptions throughout the historical process are presented under different headings. When the results of the study are examined, the place and function of Hindu asceticism within the doctrine of salvation (moksha) are addressed in different dimensions. In Hindu thought, salvation is defined as the goal that aims to free man from existential pain and the cycle of samsara; in this context, asceticism is considered as a part of the process in question, but it is not presented as the only way. Although the ascetic lifestyle is one of the many paths suggested for the individual who wants to achieve salvation, it is systematically intertwined with other paths (for example, through knowledge, action and love). In this respect, the study reveals that asceticism is not central to the Hindu understanding of salvation but is evaluated as a spiritual discipline and an ideal method at the highest level for those who adopt it. As a result, Hindu asceticism is seen as one of the difficult and subtle paths of salvation; and for those who prefer it, it gains meaning as a comprehensive purification and transformation process.