Varanasi is an ancient city renowned for its religious and spiritual significance. It is one of the oldest cities in India, and it holds a special place in the hearts of many Hindus. One of the most unique aspects of this city is its Aghoris, a sect of Hinduism known for their extreme ascetic practices.
What are Aghoris?
Aghori is one of several sects within Hinduism that follow ascetic practices in order to attain moksha, or liberation from material existence. They are famous for their unconventional practices such as eating from human skulls, drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana, sleeping on corpses, smearing ashes on their bodies and engaging in sexual activities with the dead. These rituals are believed to bring them closer to Shiva, the Hindu god.
My Experience with Aghoris
I had heard much about these mysterious figures but never had an opportunity to meet any until recently when I visited Varanasi. As soon as I arrived at my hotel I was approached by two men who looked like they belonged to this sect. They asked me if I wanted to come with them and witness some of their ceremonies.
“We will take you places where no other person has been before,”, one of them said as he patted me on my shoulder.
“Come along then,”, he said as he grabbed my hand.
The Ceremony:
-
- We walked through narrow alleys until we reached a secluded spot near a river bank.
-
- One man began chanting mantras while another spread out his mat and started drawing various symbols on it using white powdery ash.
-
- Soon enough there was smoke coming out from all directions which created an eerie atmosphere around us.
-
- I was asked to close my eyes and meditate while they performed certain rituals that were meant to invoke spirits present in nature.
- When everything was done they spoke many words that were incomprehensible to me but seemed powerful enough to make me feel uneasy yet calm at the same time.
Conclusion
It was certainly an experience unlike any other – both unsettling yet mesmerizing at the same time . The encounter made me realise how little we know about our own culture , let alone understanding something deeply rooted within faith . In spite of all that , it gave me great insight into what lies beneath this ancient city’s surface – something beyond language or imagination .
