The Aghori are a Hindu monastic order of ascetic Shaivite sadhus based in Uttar Pradesh, India. They are the only surviving sect derived from the Kāpālika tradition, a Tantric, non-Puranic form of Sha
An Aghori at a ghat in Varanasi
An Aghori with a human skull, c. 1875
An Aghori in Badrinath smoking hashish or cannabis from a chillum
Shaivism is an umbrella-term for a number of Hindu religious traditions, which worship Shiva as the supreme being. The followers of Shaivism are called Shaivas or Shaivites, numbering about 385 millio
Aghori
…The Aghori (from Sanskrit: अघोर, lit. 'not dreadful', 'dreadless', IAST: aghora) are a Hindu monastic order of ascetic Shaivite sadhus based in Uttar Pradesh, India. They are the only surviving sect derived from the Kāpālika tradition, a Tantric, non-Puranic form of Shaivism…
Shiva (above) is the primary God in Shaivism.
The "Pashupati" seal from the Indus Valley civilisation
Shiva is worshipped as Adiyogi (the first yogi), the originator of yoga and the lord of yogis, in Shaivism and broader Hinduism.
Kushan coin of Vima Kadphises (2nd century CE), with a possible Shiva, holding a trident, in ithyphallic state and next to a bull, his mount, as in Shaivism. The deity was described by the later Kushans in their coinage as "Oesho", a possibly kushan deity.