Fakir

Herbert Ponting's 1907 photograph of "a fakir in Benares" (Varanasi), India

A fakir or faqir, is a Sufi who performs feats of endurance or magic. The word comes from faqr (Arabic: فقر), meaning "poverty".

In English, the word is often for Hindu ascetics (e.g., sadhus, gurus, swamis and yogis) as well as Sufi mystics. It can also be used to for a common street beggar who chants holy names, scriptures or verses. It has become a common Urdu and Hindi word for "beggar".

Many stereotypes of the great fakir exist, including a near-naked man easily walking barefoot on burning coals, sitting or sleeping on a bed of sharp nails, floating in the air while meditating, or "living on air" (refusing all food).