The Aghori are followers of a Hindu sect believed to be 1,000 years old.
These ascetics are often regarded as holy men, and have devoted their entire lives to the achievement of moksha (meaning ‘liberation’). Unlike other holy men, however, the Aghori follow an unconventional and radical path towards enlightenment.
Some call them the Cannibal Priests of India.
These practices are considered as contradictory to orthodox Hinduism, and the Aghori have earned the reputation as being the most feared holy men in India. The Aghori are also said to be highly respected.
So, who are the Aghori, and what are the practices that have earned them their much feared reputation?
The present form of the Aghori sect may be traced back to Baba Keenaram (Kinaram), a 17th century ascetic who they say lived until the age of 170. After his death, Baba Keenaram was buried in the holy city of Varanasi, and the Keenaram temple that was built there is considered by the Aghori as a most sacred site.
The Aghori worship Shiva or Mahakala, the destroyer, and Shakti or Kali, the goddess of death. The Aghori are usually found residing near cremation sites, most famously, in Varanasi.
Nevertheless, they can also be found in other areas which are much more remote, including the cold caves of the Himalayas, the dense jungles of Bengal, and the hot deserts of Gujarat.
According to Aghori belief, liberation may be achieved by embracing practices which are considered taboo by orthodox Hinduism. Furthermore, they believe that when these practices are done properly, faster spiritual progress can be achieved. The way of the Aghori is certainly not for the faint of heart, as those who fail to do their practices appropriately risk binding themselves down more tightly to the wheel of existence.
The mysterious tribe members live in cemeteries and feast on human flesh as part of their rituals, as well as drinking from human skulls, chewing the heads off live animals and meditating on top of cadavers in search of spiritual enlightenment.
One of the most famous practices of the Aghori is cannibalism. It must be noted that the Aghori do not deliberately kill people for their flesh. Instead, it is the flesh of corpses brought to the cremation grounds that they consume. This human flesh is often eaten raw, though at times it is roasted over an open fire.
The Aghori believe that distinctions are merely delusions, and are obstacles in the path of one’s spiritual development. Thus, they see no difference between good and evil, nor do they see a difference between human and animal flesh. The consumption of the flesh of corpses, therefore, is an affirmation of the Aghori’s belief system.
Apart from human flesh, the Aghori are also known to drink urine and eat feces. These practices supposedly help to kill the ego and derail the human perception of beauty.
Another Aghori practice is the shunning of clothes. Aghori often move around with nothing but a loincloth, and at times, in the nude. This act is meant to allow the Aghori to overcome their feelings of shame, and is also aimed at the renunciation of the material world and attachment to material objects.
Additionally, the Aghori smear themselves with ash from human cremated remains. The use of human ashes is meant as an imitation of Shiva, and is believed to protect the Aghori from diseases.
In addition to human ashes, the Aghori also use other human remains, most notably the human skull. The skull, or ‘kapala’, is the real sign of the Aghori, and once initiated, an Aghori will go in search of this object.
The skull is then used as a bowl for all the Aghori consume. They also share this bowl with animals such as dogs and cows.
According to one myth, Shiva once decapitated one of Brahma’s heads, and was forced to roam about the outskirts of society whilst carrying the head.
Therefore, seeking to emulate Shiva, the Aghori also carry human skulls with them.
It has also been suggested that the Aghori keep human skulls due to the belief that after death, the life force of the deceased clings in the top of the skull. Furthermore, the Aghori believe that with the use of certain mantras and offerings (especially alcohol), they are able to summon the deceased’s spirit and gain control over it.
The practices of the Aghori are indeed highly unorthodox and extreme, and would almost certainly be rejected by the majority of Hindus.
Though the Aghori themselves perceive their actions as a faster means to achieve moksha, the necessary rituals to achieve their goal are far too radical for most people.
Needless to say, this is not a path that many would want to, or would be able to, follow.
