This is a small and simple Upanishad which discusses the bhikshaatana rules for the sanyaasies who accept sanyaasa directly (as Sankaracharya did) or after passing through brahmacharya, gruhastha, sanyaasa / vaanaprastha. (Do not translate the bhiskhaatana word, as begging. accepting bhiskhsa and giving bhiksha are two holiest dharma).
There are four levels for the bhikshus known as kuteechika bhikshus, Bahoodaka bhikshus, Hamsa bhikshus, Paramahamsa bhikshus. Gouthama, Bharadwaaja, Yajnavalkhya and Vasishta Maharshies are respectively included in the four classes, in that order.
Kuteeechika bhikshus satisfy with eight hand full of annam / food
Bhahoodaka bhikshus take little food but they should have a three feet long bamboo piece+ kamandalu+ yajnopaveetha + saafron cloth
Hamsa bhikshus live with little milk products and stay not more than a day in a village, five days in a town and seven days in holy places.
For parama Hamsa bhikshus nothing is a criteria they live in a state where nothing is important and no rules.
For the parama Hamsa bhikshus the gold and stone are alike.
They don’t have any attachment or feelings like happiness, unhappiness, fear, sorrow and so on.
Parama Hamsa bhikshus may live naked or half naked in forests or places similar to that.
They eat food just to maintain life/ jeevaathma in the body.
Courtsey - ISSH- GN
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