Aghori, Aghorī: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Aghori means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Hindi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Aghorī: अघोरी “Nonterrifying.” An order of Śaiva ascetics thought to be derived from the Kāpālika order (ca 14th century). Following the vāmāchāra, “left-hand” ritual of the tantras, they are widely censured for radical practices such as living in cemeteries and using human skulls as eating bowls.
1) Aghorī (अघोरी) refers to a form of the Goddess Caṇḍikā, who appears during the Amṛtamanthāna, according to chapter 46 of the Brahmayāmala-tantra (or Picumata), an early 7th century Śaiva text consisting of twelve-thousand verses.—It is in this chapter that the amṛta comes to fore again in ritual. For the main subject here is amṛta-manthāna, the churning and drinking of the amṛta. [...] Then the terrifying goddess, Caṇḍikā, receives homage. She appears in the form of Aghorī, offering the Sādhaka a boon. The practitioner chooses to drink the milk of Aghorī’s breasts. The chapter ends by saying that having produced the amṛta and having drunk left and right (probably meaning having drunk Aghorī’s milk from both breasts), one becomes omniscient, Bhairava himself. Although Aghorī’s milk and the amṛta that the Sādhaka prepares are not identified, they could well be the same thing.
2) Aghorī (अघोरी) (or Paramā, Yogeśī) (seed-syllable: hā) refers to one of the eight Mother-goddesses (Mātṛs) of the pantheon of Mantra-deities, according to the same Brahmayāmala.—Patterning the processes of inner and outer ritual is the Brahmayāmala’s pantheon of mantra-deities, whose core comprises the Four Goddesses or Guhyakās, Four Consorts or Handmaidens, and their lord, Kapālīśabhairava. Secondary members of the pantheon are a sextet of Yoginīs and an octad of Mother-goddesses [e.g., Paramā].
Note: The eighth Mātṛ, the supreme śakti, Paramā, also called Aghorī or Yogeśī, pervades the entire body, lacking a lotus base and being devoid of ancillary mantras.
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Aghorī (अघोरी) is associated with Ārghīśa: one of the nine Bhairava associated with the nine energies of Navātman, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—[Note: this passage is drawn from the Gurukramasūtra]—Another way in which the nine energies of Navātman may be understood are as nine aspects of the Command that generates the Bhairavas corresponding to its nine letters. [...] In this case Navātman is SHKṢMLVRYŪ(Ṃ): [...] Ārghīśa (Ū) is (generated) by Aghorī. [...] (This) is the excellent teacher within the tradition. He who knows the teacher here is the delight of Kula.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Aghorī, literally ‘undreadful,’ is a frequently used name for the highest goddess in tantric as well as nontantric contexts, from the earliest period of tantrism. It could therefore be considered just another appellation or epithet of the supreme goddess, employed in a way similar to the word Śiva: in both cases, a potentially dangerous and frightening deity is called benig nor ‘undreadful’ by antiphrasis, to avert the deity’s wrath or to transform it into benevolence. Aghorī, however, seems to be more than just another epithet, at least in some early śākta Tantras
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
aghōrī (अघोरी).—a (aghōra) Horrible, frightful, hateful: also vile, filthy, disgusting, loathsome;--used freely of persons inspiring fear or amazement or exciting nausea. 2 An individual of the order aghōramārga.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Hindi dictionary
Aghorī (अघोरी):—(a and nm) filthy, uncouth and unclean (man); detestable; one who indulges in indiscriminate eating; a member of the order of mendicants called 'aghor panth'.
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Kannada-English dictionary
Aghōri (ಅಘೋರಿ):—[noun] a member of the sect ಅಘೋರಪಂಥ [aghorapamtha].
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
1) Aghorī (अघोरी):—adj. 1. foul; unclean; 2. stubborn; obstinate; headstrong;
2) Aghorī (अघोरी):—n. 1. one for whom nothing is filthy; non-terrifying; 3. a group of ascetics whose deliberate practice is to contravene social and moral norms; an order of Shaiva ascetics;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Full-text (+34): Kapaladhari, Aghora, Aghorapamthiya, Athara Akhade, Candika, Cha, Yogeshi, Mercury, Immortality, Invisibility, Elixir, Sandal, Sword, Netherworld, Wish-fulfilling gem, Collyrium, Hathasadhana, Bhairavi, Parama, Shadow.
Relevant text
Search found 17 books and stories containing Aghori, Aghorī, Aghōrī, Aghōri, Aghoris; (plurals include: Aghoris, Aghorīs, Aghōrīs, Aghōris, Aghorises). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine
The transformations of disease in expert and lay medical cultures < [Volume 2 (issue 1), Jan-Mar 2011]
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)
Chapter XIX < [Book III - Lāvānaka]
Note on vile magical practices < [Notes]
Chapter CXXI < [Book XVIII - Viṣamaśīla]
Svacchandatantra (history and structure) (by William James Arraj)
1.6 Reconstructed History of the Svacchanda Tantra < [Introduction]
1.3 Tradition Criticism < [Introduction]
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 41 < [Hindi-Sindhi-English Volume 1]
Page 21 < [Gujarati-Hindi-English, Volume 1]
Page 41 < [Hindi-Bengali-English Volume 1]
World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
Ethnobotany of the aconitum ferox < [2018: Volume 7, March issue 5]
On the use of Human remains in Tibetan ritual objects (by Ayesha Fuentes)
Sourcing, preparation and circulation < [Chapter 4 - Human remains in Tibetan ritual objects: A technical study]
Methodology and structure < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Terms and concepts < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
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