Aghori
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The Aghori are a Hindu sect believed to have split off from the Kapalika order (which dates from 1000 AD) in the fourteenth century AD.[1] Most other Hindus condemn them as non-Hindu because of their cannibalistic rituals.[2] Aghoris or Aughads command extreme reverence from rural populations as they are supposed to possess powers to heal and relieve pain gained due to their intense practices.
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[edit] Doctrines
Aghori ascetics, while being devotees of the Hindu God Shiva, are monists who adhere to the common Hindu belief in liberation (moksha) from the cycle of reincarnation (samsara). This liberation is a realization of the self's identity with the absolute. Because of this monistic doctrine, the Aghoris maintain that all opposites are ultimately illusory. The purpose of embracing pollution through various practices is the realization of non-duality through transcending social taboos, and seeing the illusory nature of all conventional categories.The Aghoris are not to be confused with The Shivnetras who are also ardent devotees of Lord Shiva but does not indulge in extreme practices known to some extent as Tamasic (which involves meat,cannabalism,cremation grounds), although they enjoy close ties with the shivnetras, netras are a complete opposite of the aghoris and is purely Sattvic in nature and worship.
In essence, Aghoris base their beliefs on two principles. First, that Lord Shiva is perfect. Second, that Shiva is responsible for everything; every rock, tree, animal, and even every thought. Due to this, everything that exists must be perfect, and to deny the perfection of anything would be to deny the Gods.[citation needed] Aghoris eat any form of food and toxicant, engage in a variety of sexual practices, ritually and otherwise and also allegedly meditate on dead bodies.[3]
[edit] History
Although akin to the Kapalika ascetics of medieval Kashmir, with whom there may be a historical connection, the Aghoris trace their origin to Kina Ram, an ascetic who is said to have lived 150 years, dying during the second half of the eighteenth century.[4] Kina Ram was held to be an incarnation of the Shiva, as have been each of his successors.[citation needed]
Aghoris go in search of the powers and they gain it by all means and they again go in search for the next bigger power than the gained one. So they believe that by gaining more and more powers they can avoid the punarjanma (rebirth) in this life.[citation needed]
When they visualize that their death is not far away, they then pick one of their students (successor) and takes the student to the deep forest area and they give the responsibility of their body to their shishya (successor) who then eats the guru. This practice is also called shavabhojana and their belief is that the guru (teacher) is inside his shishya and has transferred all their powers to his shishya (successor).[citation needed]
[edit] Symbols
The Aghori ascetic is himself a symbol of the God Shiva. He goes naked or wears the shroud of a corpse, he covers himself in the ashes of the cremation ground. The corpse upon which he meditates is a symbol of his own body and the corpse devouring ritual is a symbol of the transcendence of his lower self and a realisation of the greater, all pervading self.
[edit] Adherents
Due to the secrecy of this religious sect, no official figures are available.
[edit] Headquarters
The main akhada of Aghoris is Kina Ram's hermitage or ashram in Varanasi. Here Kina Ram is buried in a tomb or samadhi which is a centre of pilgrimage for Aghoris and Aghori devotees. Another centre is Aghor Sodh Sansthan, Ravindrapuri, Varanasi. Apart from this, any cremation ground would be a holy place for an Aghori ascetic..
[edit] Cannibalism
The Aghoris distinguish themselves from other Hindu sects and priests by their alcoholic and cannibalistic rituals. The corpses, which may be either pulled from a river [including Ganges] or obtained from cremation grounds, are consumed raw as the Aghoris believe that what others consider as a "dead man" is, in fact, nothing but a natural matter devoid of the life force it once contained. Therefore, while for ordinary folks it may be called cannibalism, for them it's using what is useless for the rest of the world. In fact, The Aghoris claim to be scientists trying to discover how matter converts from one form to another.[5]
[edit] In popular culture
- In Tad Williams' Otherland series, the main member of the resistance group the Circle, Nandi Paradivash, spent several years as an Aghori ascetic while preparing for the final confrontation with the Brotherhood.
- 2009 Tamil movie Naan Kadavul's lead character is an Aghori named "Rudhra", played by Arya.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Indian doc focuses on Hindu cannibal sect, MSNBC
- ^ The Shape of Ancient Thought By Thomas McEvilley, ISBN 1-58115-203-5 page 229
- ^ , Encountering Kālī By Rachel Fell McDermott, Jeffrey John Kripal p125-126
- ^ Parry, Jonathan P. (July 1994). Death in Banaras. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521466253. http://www.cambridge.org/uk/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521466253.
- ^ Indian cannibal sect eats human corpses, believing it give them supernatural powers
[edit] References
- Dhallapiccola, Anna. Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend. ISBN 0-500-51088-1
- Svoboda, Robert. Aghora: At the Left Hand of God. ISBN 0-914732-21-8
- Svoboda, Robert. Aghora II: Kundalini. ISBN-10: 0914732315
