The Seventh World

Note: This is the first story in my workography that would explain the life of Aghori Sadhus. I did month research for this story and since I had been in my busy schedule for my CA Foundation Exams, yet managed to work on this story. 

Since the story is taking place in North Indian states, I have written everything in English, to make the readers understand the language. Since, Aghoris speak a different language but, fluent in Sanskrit and speaks broken languages of Tamil and others. 

Lord Krishna said, “The meaning of Karma is in the intention. The intention behind the action is what matters. Those who are motivated only by a desire for the fruits of action are miserable, for they are constantly anxious about the results of what they do.” 

Karma can be simply described as the outcome for action but in an implicit manner. It can be both good and bad. But to closely understand Karma, Lord Krishna says that even if we are about to do something wrong, at the end of the day if the reason behind this is sacred or pure, then it is fair. 

Krishna also quoted, ''No one who does good work will ever come to a bad end, either here or in the world to come.'' 

The balance of life should always be measured between right and wrong and one will always pay for his/her Karma. If someone has always followed the correct path of life and understood the real difference between good and bad, nothing bad shall ever happen to him/her.

2006: 

VARANASI, INDIA: 

KASI TEMPLE: 

As mentioned previously, "No one who does good work will ever come to a bad end, either here or in the world to come." On 7 March 2006, the Indian city of Varanasi witnessed a series of bombings in which at least 28 people were reportedly killed and 101 injured. Varanasi is considered holy by Hindus and is one of the oldest living city in the world. 

During the bomb blasts, one of the victims with his half-hand, leaves his seven-year-old son at an underground, full of Aghori Sadhus, before getting killed by the terrorists. The boy is adopted by an Aghori Sadhus. 

Aghora literally means the obscurity of ignorance. The Aghori ascetic considers himself to be a symbol of Lord Shiva. The Aghori spends his life on earth in the pursuit of rising above the tangible to conquer death itself. 

FOURTEEN YEARS LATER: 

MEENAKSHIPURAM, POLLACHI: 

THE WORLD OF BEGGARS: 

A Journalist named Shivani in News Five channel stands up from her chair and tells: 

"This is the world of beggars in Meenakshipuram. Almost every child who begs on Pollachi's streets has faced some form of physical or verbal abuse and some are inflicted serious injuries to "solicit empathy to have higher earnings." 

So, when the city police began a crackdown on beggars earlier this week, they decided to focus on children and those who accompany them. Three of every four children suffers sexual exploitation, and many said they were forced to consume alcohol or hallucinogens. Most of the girls surveyed were subjected to sexual abuse and did not know how to overcome their trauma. They were found to have psychological issues like fear and insecurity."  

She further tells her senior, "The world of beggars is controlled by a cruel man called Ramachandran. He gave the law and political influences in his hands. Hence, police officers remain silent for his atrocities." 

MEENAKSHIPURAM-GOPALAPURAM BORDERS: 

With his bald head and cruel eyes, Ramachandran beats up a few children for not begging properly in the streets. He additionally burns one of the child's hands so cruelly. 

However, her senior Journalist brushes off her research and theories, citing image problems and for the cruelty of Ramachandran. 

"The collection of `50 to `200 by 70% of the beggars is not just their daily earning but the targets which are set by "employers", which if not met, the children are either not given food (48%), forced to beg extra hours (40%) or punished (57%). However, our senior is never understanding this." Shivani angrily said this to her friend Ananya, who accompanied her. 

Both of them are wearing shawls and have worn their ID cards. As she is redemption this, Ananya consoled her by telling, "Leave it Shivani. Everyone is forced to act helplessly according to the qualities he has acquired from the modes of material nature; therefore no one can refrain from doing something, not even for a moment." 

Deeply filled with remorse for her helplessness in helping the children, Shivani decides to go for Varanasi, sometimes along with Ananya. They packs up their things and go to Varanasi. 

While going, Shivani reads about Bhagavad Gita as it is, due to some boredom feeling and when reading about the Transcendental Knowledge, which explains the fruit of selfless devotional action, she hears from someone explaining about Aghori Sadhus to her child. 

Fascinated deeply with this, she asked Ananya, "Ananya. Who are Aghori Sadhus? Any ideas? Since you are a Brahmin, right?" 

Initially hesitant, she said to Shivani, "You shouldn't fear as I am telling this to you." 

"Hmm. Okay." She opens a book about Aghoris and tells her, "Aghora literally means the obscurity of the ignorance. The Aghori ascetic considers himself to be a symbol of Lord Shiva. The Aghori spends his life on earth in the pursuit of rising above the tangible to conquer death itself. One of the most perverted practices of Aghori sadhus is necrophilia. As per them when goddess Kali demands satisfaction in sex, they find a 'suitable' corpse to fornicate with." 

"With corpse? Are they mad?" Shivani asked laughing, and her neck sweated. 

As she is telling this, Ananya asked her to mind her language and explained further, "Life and death are inseparable, but the Aghori aims to transcend above this cycle. The Aghoris' ultimate aim is to break away from the cycle of rebirth. In order not to fear death, they are found roaming the land of the dead which are the burning ghats. This is done to constantly remind themselves that death is the ultimate end no matter what you do in life. If they curse us, we can't even take a re-birth. Such powerful they are." 

FIVE DAYS LATER: 

Five days later, Shivani and Ananya reach Varanasi and there, they spend some time, celebrating festivals and seeing people, doing holy poojas and praying to Lord Shiva. 

To Shivani's surprise, Ananya takes her to an underground cave, where corpses are burning, surrounded by Aghoris. When going inside, Ananya sees the guru named Aghori Baba and seeks his blessings who blesses them saying, "Live long!" 

When going into the place, Shivani is frightened and Ananya asked her, "What happened Shivani?" 

"Hey. See here. They are eating human fleshes di." As she is telling this, Ananya laughed and tells, "The practice of eating human flesh is done to symbolise the destruction of the lower self to attain a union with the higher immortal self." 

"So, they are been feared people in the world. Am I right?" 

"Although feared because of their strange practices of eating human flesh, they are sought after by people for the healing powers that they allegedly accumulate through years of Tapasya." Shivani told her and further said, "Aghoris are also known to meditate and perform worship in haunted houses!" 

"It's really unbelievable Ananya." Shivani said and she replied, "Yes. You can't believe it. However, Some Aghoris claim to have achieved supernatural powers through years of rigorous meditation." 

Meanwhile, the boy, who was trained up by Aghori Baba(the one, who adopted the boy during 2006 Blasts) becomes an adult. He is named Rudra Shankara. He has a long beard, huge hair growth and is holding Shiva naamaa on his forehead, with a vel, that Lord Shiva holds. 

Because Aghoris immerse themselves in the devotion of Lord Shiva. They believe that Lord Shiva is the answer to everything as he is omnipresent and absolute. They perform penance, which is of three kinds that are called Shiva Sadhana, Shav Sadhana, and Smashaan Sadhana. Some people also believe that they are the incarnations of Lord Shiva. 

He returns to his guru at the cave and while going inside, a child faints, whom he recovered and cures him by giving medicines. 

Shocked with this, Shivani asked Ananya, "Are they this much powerful?" 

Ananya replied, "Aghori’s are said to have the cure for all the diseases. According to them, the human oil that they take from the pyre when the body is being burnt is extremely powerful and effective. They claim that they have the medicines for even the incurable diseases." 

Impressed by this, Shivani insists Ananya take Shankara with them for helping those street children, who are tortured mercilessly by Ramachandran for money. However, she refused to explain her, "Aghoris immerse themselves in the devotion of Lord Shiva. They believe that Lord Shiva is the answer to everything as he is omnipresent and absolute. They perform penance, which is of three kinds that are called Shiva Sadhana, Shav Sadhana, and Smashaan Sadhana. Some people also believe that they are the incarnations of Lord Shiva. It's impossible to take them for humanitarian causes, Shivani." 

"There are two paths in human life — Pravritti, the path of action and progress and Nivritti, the path of inward contemplation and spiritual perfection. Through Pravritti, a welfare society is established by improving the economy and political systems. Humanity for those children is necessary. Let's try to convince them Ananya." Shivani said, to which Ananya agreed and talks with Aghori Baba. 

Aghori Baba calls Shankara and asked him to finish the task, asked by the girls to which he obeys and he further tells, "You shouldn't have any kin and cut off the relationship with them as soon as you return after the work is completed."

Shankara meditates while going on the train along with Ananya and Shivani, chanting the mantras of Lord Shiva and hailing Lord Shiva by telling, "Hara Hara Mahadev." 

A few people seek his blessings when travelling on the train journey. 

FIVE DAYS LATER: 

MEENAKSHIPURAM: 

Shankara reaches Meenakshipuram along with the girls and doesn't allow anyone to touch him. He smokes a cigar outside and finds a cave to the top of Western Ghats in Meenakshipuram, nearby the Azhiyar river, where he meditates by forming a pyre and sitting near the fire. 

Some of the Swamiji's asked him, "Why have you turned the fire unclean?" Since he used the fire of god for smoking. 

"Is there anything called clean or unclean in the fire?" 

"You look different! I have not seen you before." One of the Swamijis asked him. 

"Where are you coming from? Where are you here?" The Swamiji's asked him. 

"Myself. I'll be present everywhere." Rudra Shankara told him. 

"I am in all five elements!" 

"Fine! Looks you are from the north. Where are you staying?" 

"Graveyard." 

"Graveyard ascetic? Do you have any power? Will idol come from your mouth?" asked the Swamiji to which, Shankara angrily replies, "It'll come. Blood will come out from your mouth if I kicked." 

THREE DAYS LATER: 

Three days later, another Malayali man Vasudevan Nair gives Five lakhs amount for Ramachandran, to get a few children for begging business, to which he grants and decides to sell a few people. However, those children beg for Shankara's help and in the process of a fight with Ramachandran's henchman, Nair gets killed by Shankara. 

The local police arrest Shankara. However, fears interrogating him, for the fear of the curse. The court dismissed the case, citing the lack of evidence and this agitates Ramachandran. The children seek protection in a nearby Murugan Temple of Gopalapuram. But, Ramachandran finds them and his henchman tries to assault the innocent girl children sexually and the three beat up the kids with plates and sticks brutally. 

When Shivani and Ananya learn this and try to stop this atrocious cruel act by Ramachandran, his henchman beats them up too and knocks them unconscious. 

Now, Ramachandran appears face-to-face with Shankara and fights with him. However, Shankara takes his vel and beats him up severely. Feared and threatened that, he would never be born again for the curse of Aghori, Ramachandran runs away in the road, pleading for help. But, no one comes forward to help him. 

He jumps into a nearby river and tries to escape, only to be stopped by Shankara and the kids, who are beneath his head. 

"No...please don't do anything Swamiji. I will go away from this city itself." After seeing all his henchmen getting killed by Rudra Shankara, Ramachandran begs him to spare. 

"In human birth, you have to do everything that you wish to do, but not with ego, not with lust, not with envy but with love, compassion, humility, and devotion. However, all you have done are sins and cruelty. One must face karma for his or her actions. The meaning of Karma is in the intention. The intention behind the action is what matters. Lord Shiva won't spare you." Shankara said to him that he kills Ramachandran, after which he takes his corpse to the nearby temple and places it in a cemetery. 

He meditates in the cemetery, unlike the other people. Since most people dread to even go close to the cemetery or dead bodies. While Aghori’s are seen to be meditating in a cemetery on a corpse. They also stand on one leg to meditate over a corpse just like Parvati, the goddess standing on the chest of Lord Shiva. 

During the meditation, the children asked Rudra Shankara to take them along with him to Kasi, so that they too can get rid of this cruel world to become Aghori Sadhus to which he accepts saying, "Let Lord Shiva bless you." 

When going, Shivani and Ananya seek his blessings and he tells, "Let God bless you." Finally, he returns to his guru in Kasi. 

EPILOGUE: 

1.) Aghori is known to have sexual intercourse with dead bodies. They say the reason is simply that they find purity in what is considered by the major population as filth. Also, like the believers of the goddess Kali, they say that it is the deeper desire of the goddess that they have to fulfil. Also, it is known to be believed by them that doing sex with the dead give them supernatural powers. 

2.) These sadhus share their food with the animals in the cremation ground. Be it a cow or a dog, every life is the same for them. And they believe the person who hates cannot truly meditate. So, it’s important to live a hate-free life for sadhus to meditate. 

3.) Kina ram, the first Aghori who set grounds for the rest of the aghoris is said to have lived for 150 years and his death happened in the late 18th century. 

4.) These sadhus survive the harshest and extreme weather conditions. They are known to live in the scariest jungles and also the snow-clad mountains. They are also found in the hot desert, in conditions where a normal human being doesn’t survive well. 

5.) Aghoris believe that everyone has Aghori in him/her. They believe that when a child is born he/she doesn’t distinguish between faeces, toys, and garbage. But the child is later taught what’s good and bad according to society and that is how it starts discriminating. 

6.) Aghoris are known to perform black magic but not to harm anyone or anything but they say that it heals them and increases their supernatural powers to talk to the dead. They perform a lot of rituals, strange in the eye of a common man to perform dark magic.