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D E N I S E W I L K E R S O N
A L V I N N G U Y E N
J E R R Y B O U N S A N G A
W E N D Y A N D R A D E
Aghori
Religion origin
The Aghori are a Hindu sect believed to have split off from the Kapalika order (which dates from 1000 AD)
Their origin is based off of Hinduism. Most Hindus don’t believe that the Aghori are not Hindu because their practices are tabooed(disliked).
This religion takes place mostly in Varanasi a city in Indian, but there are other places in the world that people practice this religion including America.
Who started it?
It was said that Kinaram started it. An Aghori ascetic that was believed to have lived for 150 years.
The reincarnation of Lord Shiva
There is a statue of Kinaram in the temple of Varanasi
Kinaram believed that eating the flesh of humans would bring them closer to their god Lord Shiva.
Kinaram
Practices
Cannibalism We consider it Cannibalism but they consider it a spiritual
connection with Kinaram. They say nothing is profane nor separate from God.
They will eat the natural matter, what we consider dead bodies, over a flame or just raw.
They meditate in the Crematoriums
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEpJdHS1pV0
Animal Sacrifices
They would cover themselves in ashes of the dead.
Aghori practices
Icons
Lord Shiva: The Hindu god they worship
Kinaram: The man that started this religion
The Skull Cup (Kapala): a symbol of offerings to Shiva. They must eat and drink from this bowl to obtain the highest level of enlightment.
Basic Beliefs
They believe that by consuming the flesh of the dead they will heal and relieve pain from their intense practices
The crematoriums are believed to be the homes of the ghost and spirits by the Hindus. To the Aghoris they meditate and live at the crematoriums. So the Hindus tend to stay away from them.
Aghoris base their beliefs on two principles, that Shiva is perfect and that Shiva is responsible for everything. Shiva is thought to be responsible for every rock, tree, animal, and thought. Consequently, everything that exists must be perfect, and to deny the perfection of anything would be to deny the sacredness of all life in its full manifestation, as well as deny God/Goddess and the demigods' perfection.
Beliefs
Members
To be a member of the Aghori’s anyone can join this religion. But they would have to go through a series of guidance by a teacher. You are required to meditate for 12 years.
Complete a series of rituals.
Denounce your friends and family.
Find your own skull bowl and eat and drink from the same bowl.
These aghoris eat anything, including rotten food, food from the dumps, animal feces, animal urine, etc.
Most of the Aghori members are Indians.
Members
Who Runs the Service Ritual?
Usually elders run the service because they have the most experience and they teach the other members the ways of the Aghori.
They would also lead prayers and chants in the cremation grounds.
Songs
Shiva Chalisa Stotra or Shiv Chalisa Song is the Hindu devotional bhajan song addressed to Hindu/Aghori God Shiva or Mahadeva. Shiva Chalisa is the forty verse prayer to Lord Shiva, the divine consort of Goddess Girija or Parvati Devi.
Jai Ganesh Girija Suvan Mangal Mul Sujan Kahat Ayodhya Das Tum Dey Abhaya Varadan Jai Girija Pati Dinadayala Sada Karat Santan Pratipala Bhala Chandrama Sohat Nike Kanan Kundal Nagaphani Ke Anga Gaur Shira Ganga Bahaye Mundamala Tan Chhara Lagaye Vastra Khala Baghambar Sohain Chhavi Ko Dekha Naga Muni Mohain
Music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRVde5E0U9o Song of Lord Shiva
Prayers
The Aghoris perform pooja at Bhootnath cremation ground. They knead together an offering in a bowl with oil in it, over a fire. They make offerings to the fire.
One man is chanting a prayer and the others will follow him. Once they finish their prayer they would toss the offerings into the fire and the next person would start their prayer.
The offerings consist of human ashes, oil, and parts of the animals they have sacraficed.
What do they pray for?
They usually pray about good health and protection by Lord Shiva. Prayer is believed to be a connection to Lord Shiva along with the flesh eating.
The prayers take place at various cremation grounds
Art
Works Cited
http://hinduismfacts.org/2011/05/aghori/
http://troolyunbelievable.blogspot.com/2008/02/aghori-sadhus.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEpJdHS1pV0
http://www.hindudevotionalblog.com/2009/01/shiva-chalisa-lyrics-and-devotional.html
http://cogitz.com/2009/08/26/aghori-human-flesh-eating-monks/
