Raw Aghori Sect of India

A small section of India lives with some extremes — from rubbing ash all over their body to eating corpses, these Shiva devotees believe in accepting the rawness of human existence with every sadhana. But first, who are they?

Aghori Baba smoking from chillum (2011). Source: Wikimedia Commons

They are natural-born individuals who choose to be independent of contemporary society's programming. This programming includes physical pleasure, rage, greed, obsession, fear, and hatred. Released from these bonds, the aghora attains moksha. Shiva is flawless (omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent) and is responsible for all circumstances, causes, and consequences. Shiva signifies termination, and for them, Shiva signifies the end of all such relationships. The aghora's life is committed to eradicating all conditioning's blinders.

To deny the perfection of anything is to deny the sacredness of all life in its entirety, as well as that of the the Supreme Being’s.

Their cremation ground rituals are used in an attempt to destroy fear; sexual practices with certain riders and controls attempt to release one from sexual desire. Their nakedness is an attempt to destroy shame. By shedding all the layers they allow everything, the truth, the raw nakedness of life to be expressed.

The Aghoris' rituals revolve around the breaking of these bonds of worldly life. Their trust is in Hinglaj Mata, whom they see as their Kuladevta. A kuladevta is a clan's object of devotion to whom they devote their beliefs in Indian culture.

Hinglaj Devi Mandir is a cave temple in Balochistan, Pakistan where Aghoris periodically meet for ceremonies. It is one of Pakistan's oldest and greatest Hindu pilgrimage destinations. On the banks of the Hingol River, resides one form of Durga is Hingraj Devi. She is worshipped as a stone idol on which sindoor is smeared.

Shiva carried Sati's charred body, and fragments of her dismembered body dropped at fifty one sites around the subcontinent, where today people come to worship shakti. Hinglaj Mata Shakti Peetha is one of the three such sites in Pakistan.

Cannibalism is one of the most intriguing elements. They are known to consume meat from freshly deceased bodies. Their everyday rituals require them to live in death-filled environs, consume flesh, and perform tantric rites with human skulls. They declare that nothing is unholy or distinct from God and in consuming human flesh, there is no distinction. Their practices are seen and documented as bizarre and extreme; which is a testament to their deep faith in their spirituality.

Despite their rigorous rituals and lifestyle, an Aghor will never kill and will never harm or destroy anybody. The sadhana is their framework, which is unadministered but held together by personal practice and faith.

They claim to be endowed with magical abilities capable of curing any illness. This has come about as a result of their tremendous sadhana. Their entire existence revolves around performing seva for Shiva.

An Aghor smearing ash on his face. Source: thesun.co.uk Jay Skwara