Aghoris are a small group of people in Hinduism who follow unusual practices. Aghor cult is a cult of Hindu religion and people who follow Aghor cult are known as aghori. They worship Lord Shiva, the god of destruction, and live in ways that might seem shocking to others, like using human skulls for rituals.
Aghori is usually cut off from the society. They have their world apart from the society. Aghoris are a type of sadhus with uncommon rituals and ways of worship. They are simple beings or beings who live with complete simplicity.
Does Aghoris eat human flesh?
Ahgori is known for their nature to eat anything. While some Aghoris may occasionally eat human remains, it is not something they do regularly. If it happens, it is a part of their ritual, meant to break away from worldly rules and seek spiritual freedom.
They believe in going beyond the ideas of what is “clean” or “dirty” and in accepting life and death as one. If you can eat human flesh like a chicken with no disgust that implies you have gone beyond your senses. They consume in a bowl made out of a human skull.
Why do Aghoris eat human flesh?
They eat the flesh of human as a part of their aghor practice but they do not kill any creatures just to fill their stomach. They only eat the abandoned dead bodies in the cremation grounds. The government does not punish them for this as they are not doing anything illegal. It is a test meant for Aghoris from their guru.
So, while eating human flesh is part of some very rare rituals, it is not the main thing Aghoris do, and it’s not a regular part of their life.
What do Aghoris do?
Aghoris follow a very different way of life. They focus on spiritual practices to connect with Lord Shiva and achieve enlightenment. Here’s what they typically do:
- Live in unusual places: Aghoris often live in cremation grounds or remote areas, as they believe these places help them overcome attachments to the physical world.
- Meditate and pray: They spend a lot of time meditating and praying to Shiva to gain wisdom and spiritual power.
- Perform extreme rituals: Aghoris sometimes do rituals that may seem strange to others, like using human skulls, sitting on dead bodies, or performing ceremonies in graveyards. These practices are meant to help them break away from society’s ideas of what is pure or impure.
- Challenge taboos: They may do things that most people consider wrong, like eating things considered impure or drinking alcohol, to show that they don’t fear or follow worldly rules.
- Seek spiritual freedom: Ultimately, Aghoris aim to achieve freedom from the cycle of birth and death (moksha) and become closer to the divine.
Their practices are meant to help them go beyond ordinary life and reach a higher state of spirituality.
Aghori sadhana
Their idea behind sadhana (Aghor practice) on cremation ground is to destroy the fear of death which is the greatest fear of all living creatures on the earth. They also seek to free themselves from the bonds of greed, obsession, anger, and sensual pleasure and become Sadashiv. Aghori perform three types of practices Shiva sadhna, cremation, and cremation sadhana. In Shiva sadhana, keeping the feet above the dead body and doing meditation is done. The rest of the way is similar to cremation.
The clan does not have any sort of hatred or contempt in them. A true aghor is known to be above human frailties like fear or hatred, he or she is always on a devotional path of intense yogic and tantric sadhana.
Aghori woman
Aghori women are very rare, as the Aghori tradition is mostly followed by men. However, there are some women who follow similar practices and beliefs. Like male Aghoris, they worship Lord Shiva and aim to reach spiritual enlightenment through extreme rituals and ascetic practices.
Where do Aghoris live?
Aghoris typically live in places that are considered “impure” by mainstream society, such as cremation grounds, burial sites, and remote areas near rivers or forests. These locations are chosen because they believe that living in such places helps them detach from worldly attachments and rise above societal norms of purity and impurity.
In general, Aghoris live in simple, often austere conditions, focusing on their spiritual practices and rejecting material comforts. They don’t follow the usual rules of society and are more concerned with spiritual growth and breaking through the dualities of life and death.
Do Aghoris drink alcohol?
Yes, some Aghoris do drink alcohol as part of their spiritual practices. They believe that drinking alcohol, along with other taboo actions, helps them break free from social norms and attachments. For Aghoris, it is about transcending the idea of what is “pure” or “impure”.
However, drinking alcohol is not done for pleasure but as a ritualistic act to push boundaries and focus on spiritual growth. It’s important to note that these practices are very specific to their beliefs and are not followed by everyone in Hinduism.
Do Aghoris do black magic?
Aghoris are sometimes thought to practice black magic, but this is a misunderstanding. While they perform rituals that might seem strange or scary to outsiders, their main goal is spiritual growth and breaking free from worldly attachments.
Some of their rituals may involve the use of mantras or special practices that outsiders might associate with black magic, but Aghoris themselves do not aim to harm others.
What powers do Aghoris have?
Aghoris are believed to have spiritual powers, but these powers are not for personal gain. Instead, they are seen as a result of their intense spiritual practices and connection with Lord Shiva. Here are some of the powers people believe Aghoris may have:
- Healing powers: Some Aghoris are believed to have the ability to heal illnesses or remove bad energy from people.
- Control over death: They are thought to have a deeper understanding of life and death. Some believe they can calm or even control death-related situations.
- Psychic abilities: Aghoris are sometimes said to have psychic powers like seeing the future, reading minds, or sensing hidden things.
- Spiritual strength: Through their rituals and meditation, they are thought to gain great inner strength and a deep connection to the divine.
- Ability to overcome fear: Aghoris are said to be able to face things that others find terrifying, like death, ghosts, or evil spirits, without fear.
These powers are not the main focus for Aghoris. Their main goal is to break free from worldly attachments and reach spiritual enlightenment.