Difference between Naga and Aghori Sadhu

 As we know, the world's largest gathering festival, Kumbh, is going on. Sadhus from across India and even the world have visited Prayagraj. Among them, two famous names, Naga Sadhu and Aghori, have become a buzz. Let's know the difference between them



Naga Baba:


Naga: Naga means serpent or those who practice kundalini hath yoga - a sacred meditative exercise.
Guru: Naga Sadhus adore Bhagwan Adi Shankaracharya as their Guru.
Lineage: Naga sadhus belong to Dashnami sect of Hindu monk
Dwelling: They generally stay in woods or deserted temples in upper Himalayas.
Festival: They regularly participate in Kumbh Snana - a sacred fest that occurs after 12 or 6 years of Hindu panchang.
Training: Naga sadhus go through a rigorous verification and then training process along with sacred vows. It takes 12 years to become a Naga sadhu.
Naga sadhus study Vedas, yoga and traditional martial arts.
Naga sadhus are celibate and totally detached to assets, family and society in general.
Sacred fire: Naga sadhus worship sacred fire known as Dhuni. They smear its ashes on body
Naga sadhus are generally Shaiva - devotees of Shiva; but, they can also be devotees of Ganesh Surya, Vishnu or Shakti.
Food: Naga sadhus subsist on Bhiksha (alms) that is procured from seven homes. They are generally vegetarian.


Aghori Sadhu:




Aghori: Aghora means simple or one without any bondage.
Guru: Aghoris adore Bhagwan Dattatreya as their Guru.
Lineage: Aghoris are ascetics; who worship Aghoranath (Lord Bhairav) through tantra.
Dwelling: They stay near cremation grounds, river banks or deep jungles in India and Nepal.
Festival: They generally appear in ambubachi mela at Kamakhya shrine.
Training: They are well versed in tantra (occult) and are trained by their respective gurus.
Aghoris have partners; but are too detached to family and possessions.
Sacred fire: Aghoris worship cremation fire and indulge in very secretive tantrik rites or occult.
Deity: Aghoris also worship “Das Mahavidyas” (occult version of Goddess Durga).
Food: Aghoris consume all kind of flesh (dead); but don't consume beef.
Naga sadhu practice Yoga; Aghori practice occult.

References 
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Hinduism philosophy 













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