Feared
across India, the exiled Aghori monks of Varanasi feast on human flesh
and reside near cremation sites in search of spiritual enlightenment.
Showing
the monks with painted faces and beads strung around their necks, these
incredible images were taken by Italian photographer Cristiano
Ostinelli, who spent time with the tribe to discover more about their
way of life.
The
mysterious tribe members live in cemeteries and feast on human flesh as
part of their rituals, as well as drinking from human skulls, chewing
the heads off live animals and meditating on top of cadavers in search
of spiritual enlightenment.
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The Aghori monks of Varanasi are feared throughout India and are believed to be able to see the future
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Italian photographer Cristiano Ostinelli spent time with the mysterious tribe to capture their mysterious way of life
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The monks feast on human flesh, drink from human skulls and are even said to bite the heads off life animals for their rituals
Mr
Ostinelli explained: 'There is a great mystery around them and the
Indians fear them, they say they can predict the future, walk on water
and do evil prophecies.'
The
monks use a combination of marijuana, alcohol and meditation to help
them reach a disconnected state of heightened awareness and bring
themselves closer to revered Hindu god Lord Shiva.
The
Aghori also believe that by immersing themselves without prejudice in
what others deem taboo or disturbing, they're on course to achieving
enlightenment.
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The Varanasi tribe live near
cremation sites and use a combination of alcohol and marijuana with
meditation to reach enlightenment
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The monks trace their roots to the 17th-century puritan Baba Kinaram, who is said to have lived to the age of 170
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With painted faces and often
seen wearing little or no clothing, their way of life is said to
discourage an attachment to earthly delusions
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The monks believe that the body
is inconsequential and flesh and blood are simply transitory, which is
why they surround themselves with death and decay
They
live among India's cremation sites - where Lord Shiva and goddess Kali
Ma are said to dwell - and feed on what others throw away.
Bodies are often cremated and then scattered into the sacred Ganges river, but some bodies are disposed of without cremation.
The
Aghori are said to collect these remains and use them for their
spiritual enlightenment, wearing the corpses, consuming them or building
alters from them.
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The mysterious tribe drink alcohol from human skulls, known as kapalas, and are said to also drink urine and eat faecal matter
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The
Italian photographer spent time with the tribe, which lives on the
fringes of society, to capture incredible images of their way of life
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Their religion is a sect of Hinduism, but the monks are often viewed with disgust and fear by their fellow countrymen
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The tribe's belief extend to them often walking around without clothes to signify the human body in its purest form
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There are just 20 of the group said to be living in Varanasi today, but in the 19th century they numberes in their hundreds
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The monks use their unusual rituals to bring them closer to the revered Hindu god Shiva
The monks believe that flesh and blood are transitory and that the body is ultimately inconsequential.
They emphasise this notion through their habit of dwelling in cemeteries and by surrounding themselves with death and decay.
The
Aghori shun material belongings and often walk around unclothed. This
encourages detachment from what they see as earthly delusions and better
signifies the human body in its purest form.
Today's Aghori trace their roots to 17th-century puritan Baba Kinaram, who is said to have lived to the age of 170.
SOURCES ......GIVEN
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