śramaṇa

This painting is called śramaṇa (श्रमण) meaning "one who labors, toils, or exerts themselves for spiritual practices or seeker, one who performs acts of austerity, ascetic."

The term in early [Vedic literature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedas) is predominantly used as an epithet for the *[Rishis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rishi)* with reference to *Shrama* associated with the ritualistic exertion.

The later śramaṇa tradition includes followers of the [Buddh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism)a and Mahavira, and others such as the [Ājīvikas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80j%C4%ABvika), [Ajñanas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aj%C3%B1ana) and [Cārvākas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charvaka).

The śramaṇa movements arose in the same circles of [mendicants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mendicant) in ancient India that led to the development of meditation/[yogic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga) practices, as well as the popular concepts in all major [Indian p](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_religions)aths (called religions now) such as *[saṃsāra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sa%E1%B9%83s%C4%81ra)* (the cycle of birth and death) and nibbana/*[moksha](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moksha)* (liberation from that cycle).