Feared across India , the exiled Aghori monks of Varanasi feast on human flesh and reside near cremation sites in search of spiritual enlightenment . Showing the monks with painted faces and beads strung around their necks , these incredible images were taken by Italian photographer Cristiano Ostinelli , who spent time with the tribe to discover more about their way of life . The mysterious tribe members live in cemeteries and feast on human flesh as part of their rituals , as well as drinking from human skulls , chewing the heads off live animals and meditating on top of cadavers in search of spiritual enlightenment . The Aghori monks of Varanasi are feared throughout India and are believed to be able to see the future . Italian photographer Cristiano Ostinelli spent time with the mysterious tribe to capture their mysterious way of life . The monks feast on human flesh , drink from human skulls and are even said to bite the heads off life animals for their rituals . Mr Ostinelli explained : 'There is a great mystery around them and the Indians fear them , they say they can predict the future , walk on water and do evil prophecies . ' The monks use a combination of marijuana , alcohol and meditation to help them reach a disconnected state of heightened awareness and bring themselves closer to revered Hindu god Lord Shiva . The Aghori also believe that by immersing themselves without prejudice in what others deem taboo or disturbing , they 're on course to achieving enlightenment . The Varanasi tribe live near cremation sites and use a combination of alcohol and marijuana with meditation to reach enlightenment . The monks trace their roots to the 17th-century puritan Baba Kinaram , who is said to have lived to the age of 170 . With painted faces and often seen wearing little or no clothing , their way of life is said to discourage an attachment to earthly delusions . The monks believe that the body is inconsequential and flesh and blood are simply transitory , which is why they surround themselves with death and decay . They live among India 's cremation sites - where Lord Shiva and goddess Kali Ma are said to dwell - and feed on what others throw away . Bodies are often cremated and then scattered into the sacred Ganges river , but some bodies are disposed of without cremation . The Aghori are said to collect these remains and use them for their spiritual enlightenment , wearing the corpses , consuming them or building alters from them . The mysterious tribe drink alcohol from human skulls , known as kapalas , and are said to also drink urine and eat faecal matter . The Italian photographer spent time with the tribe , which lives on the fringes of society , to capture incredible images of their way of life . Their religion is a sect of Hinduism , but the monks are often viewed with disgust and fear by their fellow countrymen . The tribe 's belief extend to them often walking around without clothes to signify the human body in its purest form . There are just 20 of the group said to be living in Varanasi today , but in the 19th century they numberes in their hundreds . The monks use their unusual rituals to bring them closer to the revered Hindu god Shiva . The monks believe that flesh and blood are transitory and that the body is ultimately inconsequential . They emphasise this notion through their habit of dwelling in cemeteries and by surrounding themselves with death and decay . The Aghori shun material belongings and often walk around unclothed . This encourages detachment from what they see as earthly delusions and better signifies the human body in its purest form . Today 's Aghori trace their roots to 17th-century puritan Baba Kinaram , who is said to have lived to the age of 170 .
The Aghori monks of Varanasi are feared throughout India for their extreme practices . The monks are said to be able to predict the future and make evil prophecies . Comment: