Ever heard of a place in the world where they practice cannibalism? 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.
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 the 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.
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.
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.
