A beggar or person who asks for charity, from the Hindi word for begging.
From Hindi भिखारी (bhikhārī), derived from Sanskrit भिक्ष (bhikṣ) meaning 'to beg' or 'alms.' The suffix -ārī indicates 'one who does' the action, making it 'one who begs.'
In Indian philosophy, 'bhiksha' (alms-giving) is considered a sacred virtue, so the word 'bhikhari' isn't necessarily derogatory—a wandering sage seeking alms would be honored as a 'bhikhari.' The word reflects how the same action can be viewed very differently depending on spiritual context in South Asian cultures.
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