The Dark Truth About Aghoris: Inside India's Most Mysterious Sect

Aghoris practice some of the most extreme spiritual rituals in the world, including the consumption of human flesh and living among the dead in cremation grounds. Dating back to the 11th century CE, this mysterious sect worships Lord Shiva in his most terrifying form—Bhairava, the Lord of Annihilation.

Despite being shunned by mainstream Indian society, the lifestyle of aghoris revolves around transcending fear and societal norms as a path to spiritual freedom. In fact, they believe the human skull contains the most energy in the body and use it as a vessel for their daily meals. Where do aghoris live? Most commonly in the holy city of Varanasi, though they can also be found in deserts, caves, and mountains across India. Many wonder: are aghoris dangerous or simply misunderstood? Throughout this article, we'll explore the dark truth behind their practices and examine whether aghoris are good or bad through the lens of their unconventional spiritual journey.

Who Are the Aghoris?

"The Aghori tradition emerged as a distinct sect of Shaiva sadhus (holy men) in the medieval period, around the 11th century CE, under the influence of the great saint and philosopher, Gorakhnath, who is regarded as the founder and the leader of the Nath tradition."

The mysterious Aghori sect represents one of Hinduism's most extreme and misunderstood traditions. These ascetics follow a radical spiritual path centered around conquering fear itself. Unlike mainstream Hindu practitioners, Aghoris embrace what others reject, seeing divinity in everything – even what society considers impure or taboo.

Origins in Shaivism and Tantra

The Aghori tradition has deep roots in Shaivism, one of Hinduism's oldest branches dedicated to Lord Shiva. Historically, Aghoris emerged from the ancient Kapalika and Kalamukha sects that flourished between the 7th and 8th centuries CE. These predecessors were known for their tantric practices, including the worship of fierce deities and ritualistic use of intoxicants. Notably, modern Aghoris remain the only surviving sect derived from the Kapalika tradition.

The name "Aghori" comes from Sanskrit "Aghora," meaning "not dreadful" or "fearless," pointing to their goal of transcending all fears, particularly the fear of death. Their practices revolve around Tantric traditions and non-dualism (Advaita), seeking to break free from conventional distinctions between sacred and profane.

While ancient Tantric roots run deep, most scholars identify Baba Keenaram as the founder of the contemporary Aghori movement. Living in the 18th century, legends claim he survived to the remarkable age of 150. His birth was reportedly marked by miraculous signs, including being born with a full set of teeth – considered a rare phenomenon indicating spiritual power. Baba Keenaram established key practices and centers, particularly in Varanasi (Kashi), which remains central to Aghori tradition today.

Beliefs about purity and impurity

At the core of Aghori philosophy lies a radical principle that challenges conventional Hinduism: nothing is truly impure. While mainstream Hinduism emphasizes ritual purity, Aghoris deliberately embrace what others consider polluted or unclean. This stems from their monistic worldview – the belief that everything originates from Brahman, the ultimate reality.

Aghoris maintain several distinctive beliefs:

• Non-duality is supreme – They see no fundamental difference between good and evil, pure and impure, or life and death
• Breaking societal norms leads to liberation – By challenging taboos, they aim to break the "eight bonds" (pleasure, anger, greed, obsession, fear, hatred, pride, and discrimination)
• Everything contains divinity – Since everything is a manifestation of Shiva, nothing can be inherently impure or sinful
• Confronting taboos accelerates spiritual growth – Embracing the feared and rejected aspects of life can lead faster to moksha (liberation)

"By confronting and embracing the taboo, Aghori sadhus seek to break free from societal conditioning and realize the inherent divinity within all," explains an expert on Aghori traditions. Furthermore, their practices deliberately challenge mainstream views as a way to transcend the illusory nature of conventional categories and distinctions.

Unlike most Hindus who seek purity through ritual, Aghoris see transcendence through deliberately embracing the impure. This radical approach explains their extreme practices – not as mere shock value, but as a profound spiritual discipline aimed at breaking through conventional limitations of consciousness.

Why they live in cremation grounds

Manikarnika Ghat in Kashi, the eternal city

Perhaps the most striking aspect of Aghori lifestyle is their choice to live and meditate in cremation grounds – places most people avoid with dread. This practice serves multiple spiritual purposes beyond merely shocking outsiders.

Cremation grounds represent the perfect environment for confronting humanity's greatest fear – death itself. By living among the dead, Aghoris work to overcome attachment to the physical body and transcend the fear of mortality. These ash-covered grounds symbolize the temporary nature of physical existence, reminding practitioners that the body is merely "a mass of flesh and blood which does not deserve physical comfort."

Consequently, meditation on corpses serves as a powerful practice in non-attachment. Each decomposing body becomes a profound teacher, reminding the Aghori that all material forms eventually return to their elemental state. The ash they smear on their bodies – called bhasma – carries deep symbolism as the final form of all matter and represents Shiva's cloak of destruction and rebirth.

Additionally, cremation grounds provide isolation from conventional society, allowing Aghoris to practice their unconventional rituals without interference. The energy of these places, with their direct connection to death and transformation, is considered especially potent for spiritual practice.

Unlike spiritual paths that avoid confronting death, Aghoris consider direct engagement with mortality essential for liberation. Through this extreme practice, they seek to transcend the fundamental dualities that bind human consciousness – particularly the distinction between life and death that causes so much suffering through attachment and fear.

Where do Aghoris live today? While primarily associated with Varanasi's cremation grounds, they can be found throughout India, often in places associated with Lord Shiva. Their unconventional path, however challenging for outsiders to understand, represents one of Hinduism's most direct approaches to spiritual liberation – albeit one most practitioners would never attempt.

Inside the Aghori Lifestyle

Life as an Aghori sadhu revolves around radical spiritual practices that challenge conventional notions of purity and impurity. Their routines and rituals, often misunderstood by outsiders, serve a deeper spiritual purpose beyond mere shock value.

Daily routines and spiritual practices

The typical Aghori embraces extreme simplicity, rejecting material possessions entirely. They carry minimal items—typically just a staff, a skull bowl, and perhaps a cloth. This renunciation reflects their focus on spiritual growth rather than worldly comforts.

Throughout their day, Aghoris engage in practices most would find disturbing. They smoke marijuana through a chillum (pipe-like device) and consume alcohol—not for recreation, but as spiritual tools to alter consciousness and overcome worldly distractions. Many Aghoris believe these substances help them connect with divine energies.

Their daily routines include intense spiritual disciplines: chanting mantras, performing rituals, and seeking alms. When accepting food, they practice complete non-discrimination, consuming whatever is offered regardless of its perceived purity. This practice embodies their core belief in the oneness of all creation and rejection of conventional distinctions.

Use of human skulls and ashes

Aghori Sadhu uses a skull for religious rituals

Perhaps the most recognizable aspect of Aghori identity is their use of human remains. The skull (kapāla) serves as both a powerful symbol and practical tool. After initiation, an Aghori searches for this crucial object, which then becomes their bowl for eating and drinking.

According to tradition, the skull represents several spiritual concepts:

• It serves as a constant reminder of mortality
• It symbolizes their connection to Shiva, who is depicted carrying a skull
• It functions as a focal point for meditation on impermanence

Equally significant is their use of cremation ashes. Aghoris smear these ashes (bhasma) on their bodies for multiple purposes: as protection against disease, as imitation of Shiva, and as a symbol of detachment from physical appearance. The ash represents the final form of all matter, reinforcing their meditation on life's transient nature.

Role of meditation and detachment

At the core of Aghori practice lies intense meditation aimed at transcending dualities. Their meditation often takes extreme forms, including sitting atop corpses during tantric rituals. This practice helps them connect with divine energies and achieve higher states of consciousness.

The Aghori meditation path targets what they call "aṣṭamahāpāśa" or the "eight great nooses" that bind souls: sensual pleasure, anger, greed, obsession, fear, hatred, pride, and discrimination. By confronting and embracing what others fear or reject, they work to dissolve these bonds.

"The gurus and disciples of Aghor believe their state to be primordial and universal," notes one scholarly account. "They believe that all human beings are natural-born Aghori." From this perspective, their extreme practices represent a return to an original state of non-discrimination that humans unlearn through socialization.

Do Aghoris eat human flesh?

Yes, some Aghoris do engage in cannibalism, yet with important distinctions from how most people imagine it. They do not kill for flesh, instead consuming remains from bodies found in cremation grounds or floating in the Ganges River. This practice, while extremely rare and usually performed privately, stems from their philosophy of non-discrimination.

For Aghoris, consuming human flesh serves multiple spiritual purposes: it helps overcome disgust, demonstrates their belief that everything contains divinity, and represents the ultimate transcendence of societal taboos. Some practitioners also believe it confers spiritual and physical benefits, including prevention of aging.

During special rituals under the new moon, some Aghoris chant mantras, make offerings to Shiva, and consume human flesh—yet most authentic practitioners consider this act so sacred they refuse to perform it for cameras or onlookers.

Where do Aghoris live in India?

The Maha Kumbh unfolds as a vibrant interplay of spiritual journeys, each distinct yet interconnected. The collective act of holy immersion contrasts sharply with the introspective solitude of the Aghoris, offering a compelling portrait of devotion. This festival transcends the boundaries of ritual, showcasing a spectrum of spiritual expressions that redefine the essence of faith.

Primarily, Aghoris are found in Varanasi (Kashi), considered their most sacred location. The Keenaram temple in Varanasi, built after the death of Baba Keenaram (their tradition's founder), remains their primary pilgrimage site. The ghats along the Ganges River, with their cremation grounds, provide the perfect environment for Aghori practices.

Nevertheless, Aghoris can be found throughout India in smaller numbers. They often inhabit remote areas including:

• The cold caves of the Himalayas
• Dense jungles of Bengal
• Hot deserts of Gujarat
• Holy sites associated with Lord Shiva

Most significantly, they gather during the Kumbh Mela, India's largest religious gathering. This rare public appearance allows them to participate in the spiritual energy of this massive event while otherwise maintaining their isolation from mainstream society.

Rituals That Shock the World

"They engage in death rituals, such as smearing themselves with ashes, wearing human skulls, and consuming human flesh, as a way of confronting and overcoming the fear of death, and as a way of honoring and worshiping Lord Shiva, who is the lord of death and the destroyer of the universe."

Beyond their daily routines, the Aghoris engage in rituals that most people find profoundly disturbing. These practices, often misrepresented in media, serve specific spiritual purposes in their quest for liberation.

Cannibalism and corpse rituals

The most controversial Aghori practice involves consuming human flesh—not from murder victims, but from corpses found floating in the Ganges River or from cremation grounds. This ritual, performed privately under the new moon, involves chanting mantras and making offerings to Shiva before consumption. Most importantly, authentic Aghoris consider this act deeply sacred rather than shocking.

Aghoris believe consuming human flesh grants them immense spiritual power and even prevents aging. This practice emphasizes their core philosophy that nothing is inherently impure—everything contains divinity, including what society considers taboo.

Beyond consumption, Aghoris perform other corpse-centered rituals:

• Meditating while sitting on corpses during tantric ceremonies
• Using human bones as ceremonial tools
• Covering themselves in cremation ashes as a symbol of detachment

These practices remain exceedingly rare, even among initiated Aghoris. As one practitioner explained, "It's not about the act itself, but about transcending the limitations of societal conditioning."

Use of psychoactive substances

Aghoris openly incorporate intoxicants into their spiritual practice. Cannabis holds particular significance, as it's considered sacred to Lord Shiva. Many Aghoris smoke marijuana through a chillum (pipe), not for recreational purposes but as a channel to enter meditative states.

In Tantric traditions, Aghoris embrace the "Pancha Makara" (five forbidden items) which includes "Madya" (alcohol). Through controlled consumption of these substances, they aim to overcome duality and ego.

Furthermore, some Aghoris use intoxicants to facilitate communion with deities during intense rituals. Unlike recreational use, these substances serve as tools for altering consciousness specifically for spiritual growth and divine connection.

Sexual rites and taboo-breaking

Perhaps most shocking are the sexual practices of some Aghoris. In rare instances, they engage in ritual intercourse with corpses in cremation grounds. This practice, accompanied by drumming and chanting, is believed to bestow supernatural powers and profound spiritual experiences.

Another controversial ritual involves sexual intercourse with menstruating women in graveyards by moonlight. Aghori practitioners ensure these acts are consensual and specifically seek menstruating partners, as this state is considered especially potent for certain tantric practices.

These sexual rites represent the ultimate taboo-breaking, demonstrating their belief in finding purity within what mainstream society considers impure. Through these acts, Aghoris claim to transform sexual energy into spiritual growth.

Photos of Aghoris: What's real and what's staged?

Many images of Aghoris circulating online show theatrical figures posing dramatically—but authentic practitioners rarely seek publicity. In Varanasi especially, many individuals pose as Aghoris for tourist photographs, creating a misleading impression of the tradition.

As one photographer noted after visiting Varanasi: "The Aghoris I encountered didn't feel like holy men. They wore sunglasses, smoked openly, posed theatrically, demanded money, and tried to pull me in for photos."

Genuine Aghoris typically avoid cameras and perform their most sacred rituals in private. The commercialization of their image has created what one observer calls "spiritual cosplay"—performers rather than practitioners. This phenomenon makes distinguishing between authentic ritual and staged spectacle increasingly difficult for outsiders seeking to understand this mysterious tradition.

Are Aghoris Dangerous or Misunderstood?

The relationship between Aghoris and society presents a fascinating paradox of fear and reverence. Most people encountering stories about their extreme practices immediately wonder: are these ascetics dangerous or simply misunderstood?

Primarily, the fear surrounding Aghoris stems from their unconventional lifestyle rather than any documented threat they pose to others. Although their practices involving human remains and breaking societal taboos trigger alarm, they "have never been part of mainstream society and have always lived a secluded life on their own". This isolation has fueled misconceptions while simultaneously allowing their traditions to continue undisturbed.

Aghoris are good or bad: Public

Public perception of Aghoris exists on a spectrum from horror to deep respect:

• Rural communities often revere them, believing Aghoris possess "mystic supernatural powers" and seek their help with personal problems
• Urban and Western observers typically react with disgust or fear, viewing their practices as barbaric
• Hindu traditionalists sometimes distance themselves from Aghoris, considering them a "fringe cult" that misrepresents Hinduism
• Those who've interacted directly with authentic Aghoris frequently describe them as "kindest souls to exist" despite their intimidating appearance

Essentially, misrepresentation in media has exacerbated negative perceptions. When CNN's show "Believer" featured an episode showing host Reza Aslan consuming human brain tissue with an Aghori, it sparked outrage. Critics argued it "characterizes Hinduism as cannibalistic" and was "unbelievably callous and reckless" given rising hate crimes against Indian-Americans.

Nonetheless, authentic accounts from those familiar with genuine Aghoris paint a different picture. "They may look scary, but they are knowledgeable people who have no intentions to hurt anyone". Furthermore, "though their practices are a source of horror for many, the fact that they do not resort to killing human beings or forcing anyone into accepting their way of life has allowed society to tolerate them for years".

Overall, the greatest misconception about Aghoris might be viewing them through a binary lens of good versus evil—precisely the duality they themselves reject. Their path represents neither danger nor virtue in conventional terms, but rather a radical spiritual approach challenging our fundamental assumptions about reality.

FAQs

Q1. What are the core beliefs of Aghoris? Aghoris believe in non-duality, seeing no fundamental difference between pure and impure. They embrace what others consider taboo as a path to spiritual liberation, believing that everything contains divinity and that confronting societal norms accelerates spiritual growth.

Q2. Where do Aghoris typically live? While primarily associated with Varanasi, especially its cremation grounds, Aghoris can be found throughout India. They often inhabit remote areas such as Himalayan caves, Bengal jungles, Gujarat deserts, and sites associated with Lord Shiva.

Q3. Do Aghoris really practice cannibalism? Some Aghoris do engage in the consumption of human flesh, but it's important to note that this is extremely rare and considered a sacred act. They do not kill for flesh but consume remains from bodies found in cremation grounds or the Ganges River as part of their spiritual practice.

Q4. What is the significance of the human skull in Aghori practices? The human skull serves as both a symbol and a practical tool for Aghoris. It's used as a bowl for eating and drinking, represents mortality, symbolizes their connection to Shiva, and functions as a focal point for meditation on impermanence.

Q5. Are Aghoris dangerous to society? Despite their extreme practices, Aghoris are generally not considered dangerous to society. They live secluded lives and do not force their lifestyle on others. While their practices may seem alarming, those who have interacted with authentic Aghoris often describe them as kind and knowledgeable individuals with no intention to harm others.