The term “Aghori” is unique and extraordinary. We’ve reduced it to a sect or cult, but that’s a childish understanding. If merely wearing a garland of skulls and performing rituals in a cremation ground made one an Aghori, many misguided individuals would have attained that status. But have they reached Shiva?
Shiva is the true Aghori, who never abandoned Parvati to flee to a cremation ground. He balanced the worldly and spiritual aspects of life. His wedding procession included ghosts and goblins, symbolizing the union of opposites!
The Aghori state is not about adopting a particular sect or creed; it’s a state of consciousness. It’s about transcending duality, embracing the ultimate truth. Like a child growing from infancy to old age, a person enveloped in Maya’s illusions must journey toward self-realization.
As you progress, you’ll realize that the distinctions between good and bad, pure and impure, are mere illusions. You’ll understand that the repulsive and the attractive are two sides of the same coin. The fear of death, the fear of the unknown, will vanish.
Aghora means “fearless” in Sanskrit. It’s not about being fearless in the face of physical challenges but about conquering the fear of one’s own ego. The true Aghori has severed their ego, recognizing the ultimate truth that “everything is Brahman” (Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma).
For an Aghori, everything is equal – gold and filth, life and death. They’ve transcended the Maya-induced distinctions. They’ve realized that the gold ornament was once a part of the earth, and the excrement was once a delicious meal.
The Aghori has grasped the ultimate truth, liberating themselves from the cycle of birth and death. They’ve understood that the distinctions between life and death, purity and impurity, are mere illusions.
You might have seen Aghoris eating whatever they find. This doesn’t mean they’re seeking to indulge in non-vegetarian food or other vices. Rather, they’ve cultivated a consciousness where everything is equal. They’re not bound by societal norms or dualistic thinking.
Krishna, the greatest Aghori, said, “Dharayate iti dharma” – “That which sustains is dharma.” This is the mantra of the Aghori path. Krishna, who accepted the universe in its entirety, is the true embodiment of the Aghori spirit.
The genuine Aghori is not someone who wears a fearsome appearance or indulges in external rituals. They’re someone who has transcended the limitations of the mind, embracing the ultimate truth. You might meet a true Aghori, but you won’t recognize them, for this state is beyond external appearances.
