Myths of the World

 

The  Aghori  (from  Sanskrit :  अघोर ,  lit.   ' not dreadful', 'dreadless ' ,  IAST :  aghora ) are a  monastic order  of  ascetic   Shaivite   sadhus  based in  Uttar Pradesh, India .  They are the only surviving sect derived from the  Kāpālika  tradition, a  Tantric , non- Puranic  form of  Shaivism  which originated in  Medieval India  between the 4th and 8th century CE.  Similarly to their Shaivite predecessors,   Aghoris usually engage in   post-mortem   rituals, often dwell in   charnel grounds , smear   cremation   ashes on their bodies,   and use bones from human corpses for crafting   kapāla   ( skull cups   which   Shiva   and other   Hindu deities   are often iconically depicted holding or using) and jewellery.  They also practice post-mortem   cannibalism , eating flesh from foraged human corpses, including those taken from   cremation ghats .  Their practices are sometimes considered contradictory to orthodox   Hinduism . Many Aghori   gurus   command grea