Skull Iconography in Hindu and Buddhist Traditions
Skull Depiction and its Significance, Practitioners of Aghor
In Hindu and Buddhist iconography human skull is depicted as necklaces or bracelets of gods and goddesses, showing their ability to conquer death. This iconography is different from the memento mori symbolism of Christian traditions.
The Sanskrit word Kapala (कपाल in Devanagari) is used for the human skull in Hindu traditions. Skull cups made of this Kapala can be seen in Hindu Tantric and Buddhist Vajrayana Tantric traditions during their rituals. Shaivite Tantric devotees of the 8th century BC, Kapalika or the skull-men, worshipped the Hindu god Shiva. They carried a skull-topped trident (khatvanga) and an empty skull. Nataraja, an incarnation of Shiva, is also shown dancing the cosmic dance with a necklace of skulls.
Hindu deities that carry Kapala or skull include Durga, Kali and Shiva (in Bhairava form). One of the sons of god Shiva, Ganesha, is adopted as Maharakta Ganapati into Tibetan Buddhism and is shown with a kapala filled with blood. Buddhist goddess Vajrayogini or Vajradakini is seen as drinking blood from her Kapala. Other deities of Vajrayana are Mahasiddhas, Dakinis and Dharmapalas. Most of them carry a Kapala in their left hand.
On the contrary, Mundamala is a garland of severed human heads in Hindu and Buddhist iconography. Gods and goddesses and wrathful deities are depicted with mundamala, which shows their fearsome characteristics. The mundamala is also related to Mahavidyas, or the group of 10 aspects of the goddesses. Of which Kali wears a garland of freshly severed heads, generally fifty. The most iconic painting of Kali shows her carrying a sword, a trishula (trident), a severed head, and a skullcup.
The other Mahavidyas like Tara, Chhinnamasta, Bhairavi, Dhumavati, Matangi etc., also wear mundamalas. They may hold a severed head or skull (Kapala) in their hands. Also, Shiva or Mahakala wears mundmala, especially in Pahari paintings. The goddess Chamunda (a form of Durga) wears a garland of severed heads (Mundamala). She holds a Damaru (drum), trishula (trident), a sword, a snake (naga), skull-mace (khatvanga), thunderbolt (vajra), a severed head and skull cup filled with blood.
Kapala in Buddhism is a symbol of wisdom and knowledge used to keep bread & wine in monasteries. The dough cakes or pieces of bread are shaped like Kapala. Sometimes, the skull cup is displayed on the Buddhist altar and is used in rituals to offer the deity Dharmapala.
Buddhists glorify the goddess Vajravarahi as the Kumari, which is worshipped as a goddess in Nepal. On this day, small girls wear a silver mundamala signifying Vajravarahi's ferocious nature.
Apart from this depiction in religious scriptures and paintings, a Hindu group of ascetics, Aghoris (In Sanskrit aghora, i.e. not fearful), uses human calvaria (Kapala) and skull cups as alms bowls and for drinking. Often dwelling on cremation grounds, Aghoris live in a manner most people find culturally offensive.
Aghoris are associated with the Shaiva Tantric tradition of the Kapalikas, who wore necklaces of skulls and offered human sacrifices to goddess Chamunda. Miracles are also attributed to them, including the belief that they can bring the dead to life.
In 1897, British archaeologist Henry Balfour wrote a paper on the life of Aghoris. He also asked his friend Surgeon Captain HE Drake Brockman to arrange a human skull for him. He wanted to study the use of human calvaria by this sect.
Mahakala (or god Shiva), the destroyer and female manifestation of death, #Shakti or #Kali is the deity of Aghoris. Religious scholars believe that most devotees cannot fulfil the demands of Shiva and Kali; only Aghoris are capable of pleasing them. Many Aghoris trace their origin to Kinaram, an ascetic of the 17th century. However, Aghorpanth finds mentions in diverse Hindu religious texts from the last 1500 years.
According to Aghoris, the soul is in the grip of ashtamahapasha (eight great bonds), including sensual pleasure, anger, greed, obsession, fear, and hatred. Aghoris work toward removing these bonds by practising rituals many people would hate.
Although Aghoris don't harm people, they are feared in society and referred to as filthy people. They use skulls for eating, drinking, and smoking. Necrophagy, the eating of corpse flesh, is attested to by a 16th-century Persian source and in 19th-century British accounts.
A Polish photographer Jan Skwara travelled to Varanasi in 2020 and documented Aghoris's life in pictures. His photographs can be found at JanSkwara.com.