Cannibalism and sex with corpses: the Aghoris, the Hindu sect of 'spiritual liberation'

Gaston Sanchez

07/31/2021 7:00

• Clarín.com

• International

Updated 07/31/2021 7:00 AM

In India there is a tribe that breaks with most of the concepts known to Western man.

They

seek

to elevate themselves spiritually, and for that the

Aghoris

eat

human flesh

, drink from

skulls

-which are used as bowls-, smoke

marijuana

and even eat their own

feces

.

In some they cause astonishment, and in others they generate terror.

They live on the outskirts of the city of

Benares

and it is very difficult to establish relationships with them.

Foreigners who come to this intense and populous city are discouraged in their search.

They tell them that this sect does not exist, that they are crazy or that they will kill them trying.

They are afraid of them.

Or perhaps it is just the fact that they are very frowned upon by the rest of

Hinduism

, to which of course they belong, even though their practices are forbidden by the laws of purity.

They do not wear clothing and anoint their bodies with cremation ashes.

Nudism and cannibalism

Aghoris

comes from Sanskrit and could be translated as "not scary". They seek spiritual liberation to overcome the cycle of reincarnations. They do not believe in opposites and reject conventional notions of "good and" bad ", thus seeking to overcome

social taboos

, thus believing that by doing everything that others reject they will achieve a greater state of consciousness.

They think that by breaking

social conventions

and exposing themselves to public rejection they will achieve greater humility. Thus, they roam

naked

, covered in the

ashes

of some

cremation

or, in some cases, dressed with the shroud of a deceased. They also usually carry a

human skull

that is used as a bowl to drink their own urine or store their excrement.

They live a life of

meditation

and

spirituality

, transcending the traditional laws of purity of

Hinduism

to achieve spiritual enlightenment and unity with the whole.

They smoke

marijuana

, some smear their bodies with

excrement,

and live mostly as hermits.

The few times they can be seen is during the Kumbhamela, a pilgrimage that takes place four times every twelve years.

They seek to assume taboos and break them to achieve enlightenment.

Spiritual progress

His life unfolds in full contact with

nature

.

And despite the extreme conditions in which they live, they are very long-

lived

.

"The underlying principle of their practice is to transcend the laws of purity to achieve spiritual enlightenment and be one with God," says the British Indologist James Mallinson about this particular clan.

And he adds: "Their path to spiritual progress involves crazy and dangerous practices, such as

eating human flesh and even their own feces

. But they believe that by doing these things that others avoid, they reach a higher state of consciousness."

Some even assumed they had sex with dead corpses.

The origin of their customs

The

Aghoris

, totally isolated from society, inherited their practices from the

Kapalikas

(skull bearers).

These dreaded ascetics were known to even practice

human sacrifice

.

It is important to note that the majority of adherents to this tribe come from the lower castes of India and most of them lose all contact with their family upon entering.

"They see everything as a manifestation of a supreme being. They do not reject or hate anyone or anything.

That is why they do not make a distinction between the meat of a slaughtered animal and human meat

. They eat what there is," explains Manoj Thakkar, author from the book "The Aghori: a biographical novel".

And he adds: "They are very simple people who live with nature. They don't ask for anything."

They also sacrifice animals, a practice of worship.

Sex with corpses

The

Aghoris

usually feed on the

raw meat

of

human

corpses

that come from

the Ganges River

. Hindu devotees often go to its shores to burn the bodies of the deceased in search of their absolute salvation. They believe that cannibalism gives them physical benefits to prevent aging and supernatural powers. For them a corpse is simply natural matter without vital force.

This tribe that lives naked among corpses also usually consumes its own

feces

.

They practice

tantrism

, specifically the modality "path of the left hand", which includes meditation and a sexual ritual in the midst of human corpses.

Also, some Aghoris admitted to having sex with corpses.

The Aghoris run a hospital for people with leprosy.

This lonely tribe believes that God is everywhere.

They mainly worship

Shiva

, one of the most important gods of Hinduism, he represents universal destruction and transformation.

His name, which derives from the Sanskrit

siva

, means "the benevolent."

They allow ritual sex with

prostitutes

, but incredibly if they have a taboo: they do not consent to 

gay sex

.

When they die, their body cannot be eaten by other Aghoris.

By joining this clan, each member breaks relations with his family and becomes a lonely person.

The rest of the Indian population considers that crossing with a member of this tribe brings bad luck, therefore, they are avoided even by their own society.

However, the Aghoris work in a Varanasi hospital for

leprosy

patients

.

There, people who are abandoned by their families find a refuge to stay.

They receive medical help, from modern Western medicine to traditional Ayurvedic medicine.

Thus, those who are disconnected from reality help others, specifically those whom they consider as "the most untouchable people of humanity."  

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