Shiva’s Flesh

The act or practice of feeding on dead bodies (necrophagia) is beyond comprehension in the western world. But in other cultures ritual cannibalism is a fact. This astonishing documentary filmed in India provides a very rare recording of this practice as well as its philosophical background.

Varanasi is the holy city of Hinduism. More than 1 million believers arrive in this city every year, after a long trip, to die in the banks of the holy Ganga river. There, the Aghori Sadhus, members of a sacred and ancient sect, are searching for their way to heaven: Human remains from the cremation grounds. They believe that by eating human flesh from the dead bodies floating in the Ganga they humiliate themselves therefore are reaching closer to God.

Aghoris seem to follow a path, which is strikingly opposite to that of ideal Hinduism. They take liquor, eat flesh and utter obscenities, meditate at night and have uninhibited sex. Aghoris are one of the most controversial of Hindu holy men (sadhus). People believe that Aghoris possess magical powers and stories of Aghoris curing people suffering from serious diseases are common in the Indian villages.