of ancient India, which produced the structured ascetic orders of Jainism and Buddhism. Jain monasticism is defined by the Mahavratas (Five Great Vows) and a rigorous adherence to non-violence (ahimsa). Similarly, the Buddhist Sangha follows the Vinaya, a disciplinary code balancing asceticism with communal living.

In Hinduism, monasticism is formally recognized in the Sannyasa stage of life, where practitioners (sadhus) renounce worldly