A surreal and intriguing sight greets visitors at the Aghori camp in Sector 19 of the Maha Kumbh. Men clad entirely in black, their bodies smeared with ash, long unkempt hair flowing down their backs, rudraksha beads adorning their necks, and piercing red eyes. Some wear black turbans while others have earrings dangling from their ears. Outside the camp, a large black flag with “Alakh Niranjan†flutters in the wind. This is the enigmatic world of Aghoris, a sect often shrouded in mystery and misunderstanding.
The Aghori way of life is not merely a set of practices; it is a spiritual journey that defies conventional norms. Bhola Nath, head of the Kathmandu Aghori Ashram, explains, “Aghor is not something you can learn from books. It is an experience that transforms you from within. To walk this path, one must serve in an ashram under a guru for three years. Only then does the guru decide whether the seeker is ready for initiation.†Aghoris have long been the subject of myths and misconceptions. One such falsehood is the idea that they engage in human sacrifice. Bhola Nath refutes this, stating, “There is a lot of misinformation about us. People spread rumors on social media, and some self-proclaimed Aghoris add to the confusion. It is true that ancient practices included symbolic offerings, but taking a life has never been a part of Aghor tradition. Even a single drop of blood was considered sufficient in ancient rituals.†Their connection to cremation grounds is another aspect of their practices often misunderstood. These sacred spaces are central to their spiritual discipline, where they engage in Shamshan Sadhana, Shiva Sadhana, and Shava Sadhana. In the latter, it is believed that the dead can fulfill certain desires during the rituals. Offerings of meat and liquor are made as part of these practices, which are conducted in strict secrecy, inaccessible to outsiders. One of the most controversial beliefs is that Aghoris consume the flesh of burning corpses.
While some rituals may involve symbolic acts linked to decomposition, these are deeply philosophical rather than grotesque. Aghoris aim to transcend fears and attachments, seeing life and death as different manifestations of the same existence. Bhola Nath elaborates, “For an Aghori, everything is Shiva. The body, whether living or dead, is just a mix of five elements. Our rituals teach us to see beyond dualities like life and death.â€
