I don’t know the answer to this question. But I have been curious. Maybe in the olden days, there were ample crematoriums and obscure corners in the city where this tribe could thrive. However, in today’s fast developing world filled with CCtv cameras and scrutiny/security – where can an Aghori practice?
If Aghora fascinates you I would recommend the Aghora trilogy by Robert Svoboda. It is a fairly well-acclaimed series in the spiritual circles that I frequent. And I myself found it very enriching. I have blogged my reviews of the 3 books. And it is conveniently available on Amazon if you are interested in buying it.
Aghora Book 1: Left Hand of God My Review Amazon Link | Aghora Book 2: Kundalini My Review Amazon Link | Aghora Book 3: Law of Karma My Review Amazon Link
In fact, after reading these books I even did a few Ayurveda courses from Robert Svoboda and found a lot of value from his insights. And this brings us to a question:
Are All Aghoris Black Clothes, Vibuti-Coated, Matted Haired Yogis with a Fire & Skull Around Them?
Can we expect the black clothed vibhuti-coated yogi with matted hair sitting somewhere with a fire and a skull around him? Some narratives suggest that not all Aghoris are so obvious. After all, the path of ‘Aghora’ is about facing the aspects that most terrify us. For a lot of people, death is one of the most terrifying. Thus, the various practices around crematoriums and skulls. But for many Aghoris that may not be the most terrifying? And they would be in different situations facing their greatest fears? The Aghora series of books actually showcases this, where Aghori Vimalananda did spend a lot of time as a common Mumbai citizen despite having a deep rooted Aghori practice going on.
The short answer is that people like Vimalananda will influence whether we find them or not. We can only go on our quest. Maybe we will also see these “obvious-looking” black clothes, vibhuti smeared, matted hair yogis with skulls and a fire. And that brings us to the next question,
Why Are We Fascinated with Aghoris?
I think largely the fascination with Aghoris comes from the high quality photographs and travelogues which have romanticized these folk in some way. The proverbial spiritual quest that brings many foreigners to India and in search of these yogis has been given an almost exalted status in some circles. Some of us may be genuinely curious. For some there will be a wannabe element. For some it may be morbid fascination. For some a rebellious streak against the trad religious establishments.
If we were to ask some of the older folk in India, they tend to stay away from Aghoris and such. There is much fear of this group or any group of arcane spiritual practitioners. The fear can be about – kids being kidnapped, family members leaving their social lives and becoming sanyasins, black magic, fear of ‘wrath of God’ for forsaking their own trad paths etc… So, they most likely won’t go in search of Aghoris.
I recommend that if there is a quest in us to scout out Aghoris, let’s set our intentions clear. Because many powerful spiritual tools are available for us, which are way more socially accepted. Getting attracted to the obscure due to random quirks of the mind is not necessarily a spiritual quest. One needs to be careful of our mind, it’s propensity to mire itself into cheap thrills and irrelevant stuff is great. Setting a clear intention that is down to earth and aligned to our spiritual path / inner calling will help us if we do meet any Aghoris to make use of that situation holistically for everyone’s well-being. Because there is a potential of harming ourselves or disturbing the Aghori sadhana. Let’s ensure that doesn’t happen.
For myself, I feel that the world is changing fast. Will it always remain conducive for a tribe like Aghoris? Maybe not. So, it is good to keep an eye out for them. That way we can support them in some small ways – even if by driving some acceptance into people around us. And we can also see them when we still have a chance. I can’t be sure how much the Indic cultural depth and wisdom will change in the coming future – understanding, observing, documenting will help.
Moreover, I feel we Indians tend to live in our mythological stories and hearsay too much when it comes to our own culture. Like the Rudraksha seed – the common Indian will revere it, but if a Rudraksha tree is growing in front of us, we can’t recognize it. That’s why I wrote a blog about where we can find Rudraksha trees in India. Similarly, about Aghoris – so much hearsay, but how much do we actually know?
Now, without further ado,
Places Where the Aghoris Still Walk
Varanasi or Kashi, Probably
Varanasi, with its rich spiritual heritage, will inevitably top this list as of now. It probably still offers obscure temples, nooks and crannies for the Aghoris to practice as they would have earlier when the world was still disconnected. But moreover, there is the Baba Kinaram connection. He is often considered the founder of the Aghora path of today, and his main ashram is in Varanasi. Some places in Kashi, that might offer us some glimpses of the Aghoris,
Harishchandra ghat
This is the lesser known cremation ghat in Varanasi situated on the banks of Ganga, not too far from Manikarnika. I know from reliable sources that Aghoris did frequent here in the past. However, since Varanasi’s ambiance, demographics and volume of people has been changing rapidly over the years, they don’t frequent here as often as before.
Baba Kina Ram’s Ashram, Aghora Peeth
The full name of this place is Baba Keenaram Sthal, Krim-Kund. Here, Kina Ram is buried in a tomb or samadhi which is a centre of pilgrimage for Aghoris and Aghori devotees. Map Location: Here
Batuk Bhairav Temple, Varanasi
Some sources seem to suggest the Batuk Bhairav temple in Varanasi may be a good place to scout some Aghori activities. Kashi has 8 bhairava temples as the kshetrapaal (guardian deities). The main Kaal Bhairava temple is well-known and frequented by tourists and visitors. But I suspect, the other kaal bhairava temples aren’t that frequented. So, surely one of them, like the Batuk Bhairav temple may see some Aghori activities.
There are a few videos on Aghori babas on YT. I found this documentary really moving. The footage is excellent and the crew has taken the effort to get deeper into actual Aghori circle and get their quotes. It is really beautiful, do watch when you have time.
Nepal with its Tantric Hinduism is Aghori-friendly
Outside of India, but exuding Indic culture, it seems Aghoris are in Nepal too. I can see many pictures and vlogs of foreigners when I search. However, they are all at least a decade old content. So, I don’t know where Aghoris may frequent now. But the content points to Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath temples in Kathmandu.
There will be other places also especially because these two temples are quite well-known thus, potentially more ‘developed’ and ‘crowded’. So, surely, there will be more obscure places around where more Aghori activity would be happening.
Devi temples since Aghoris do Worship the Fierce ones
Most likely, Aghoris worship fierce goddesses like Chinnamasta, Smashan Tara and such. So, some of the powerful Devi temples especially where some form of occult/tantra may be practiced could be places to scout.
Some names that seem likely are Kamakhya in Guwahati, Tarapith Tara temple in West Bengal and Kalimath near Guptkashi.
Girnar Has Historic Significance for the Aghori Lineage
I visited an Aghori Jhuggi at the Girnar base. The main yogi who established it is not there anymore. However, a cigar smoking local has been keeping the diya lit for many, many years. I wrote about the coexistence of the Jain & Aghori lineage at the sacred Girnar mountain. However, the Aghora trilogy by Robert Svoboda mentions that Aghoris don’t frequent Girnar anymore due to certain reasons. While, I did see murals painted in the town with Aghori-type sadhu imagery, however the book series was quite explicit about this matter. So, this might NOT be the place to explore to find current yogis anymore.
Know other places we should add to this list? Pls share! 🙂
Embarking on a spiritual journey to witness the mystical world of Aghoris in India can be a transformative experience. However, it is important to approach these encounters with respect, an open mind, and a genuine desire to understand them. This will help us use these observations as a tool on our spiritual path. The path of the Aghoris may seem unconventional, but it offers a unique perspective on spirituality and the human experience that can leave a profound impact on one’s soul.
Honestly Documentary is no where for Aghor Panth. To know more about Aghor and Tantra then Rajarshi Nandy very good reliable source. Kamakhya Shaktipeeth is well known for that.