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Aghora #1
Aghora: At the Left Hand of God
Aghora: At the Left Hand of God is the first book in the Aghora trilogy. Written almost entirely in Vimalananda's own words, it presents events from his life, tenets of his philosophy, and highlights from his spiritual practices. Designed partly to shock and partly to comfort, but wholly as an offering to his Beloved, Aghora is as clear a picture as possible of a man who was a riddle wrapped up in an enigma. Vimalananda insisted that this book be published only after his demise, that he might be spared pursuit by those whose curiosity might be inflamed by some of the sensational events described within. He believed in devoting his all to the pursuit of the direct perception of Reality, and advised others to be similarly dedicated to attaining personal experience of God. To readers he offered this warning: "Don't take anything I say as gospel truth. I am human, I make mistakes. Test on yourselves what I've told you. Try it out, experience it, and then you will know whether or not I'm telling you the truth."
327 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
452 people are currently reading
4763 people want to read
About the author
Robert E. Svoboda
41 books310 followersDuring and after my formal Ayurvedic training I was tutored in Ayurveda, Yoga, Jyotisha, Tantra and allied subjects by my mentor, the Aghori Vimalananda. He also owned thoroughbred race horses, and I served as his Authorized Racing Agent at the Royal Western India Turf Club in Bombay and Poona between 1975 and 1985.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
February 29, 2024
Oh man! This book was something.
Robert Svoboda answered a lot of my questions and cleared many of my doubts. I need to delve more on it. Robert Svoboda's Guru, the Aghori Vimalananda, became enlightened by the goddess Tara after doing the shava sadhana. Ofcourse rituals and mantras are not mentioned here for obvious reasons.
Highly recommended.
Read this book with open mind and be mature when you read this book.
Robert Svoboda answered a lot of my questions and cleared many of my doubts. I need to delve more on it. Robert Svoboda's Guru, the Aghori Vimalananda, became enlightened by the goddess Tara after doing the shava sadhana. Ofcourse rituals and mantras are not mentioned here for obvious reasons.
Highly recommended.
Read this book with open mind and be mature when you read this book.
August 16, 2011
this book is certainly not for everyone. even if you'd like to learn more about tantra, this book might not be the right choice for you. however, if you are ready to take your knowledge and understanding to a deeper level, give this, and the entire Aghora series, a try. Robert Svoboda does a great job telling the story of his guru, while imparting invaluable knowledge.
October 17, 2019
This book first caught my attention at Higginbotham's, Bangalore. The title, the cover illustrations and the brief snippets caught while skimming got me curious about Aghoris, one of the most interesting but lesser known groups in India.
Robert Svoboda has written this book as a collection of narrations by Aghori Vimalananda, as well as his own commentaries from his time spent with Vimalananda. While the book has been neatly arranged in a sequence to gradually cover the various concepts of Aghori principles, they cannot be read as a serious introduction to the Aghori way.
I found this book disappointing because of the immature tone it uses in its language. It seems from the very beginning, that this book has been written mostly to glamorize the Aghori path of life, among the westerners (read americans), and it tries to sell itself by appeasing to one's vulgar fetish for cannibalism, necrophilia and gore (and no, I am not disappointed by the book because I find these disgusting. I find the book disappointing despite loving these gory stuff).
I was also put off by the immature tone this book uses, the language is too casual and makes the writer sound like a wannabe, the tone is too condescending (the typical India is great and Americans don't know anything, India is the land of spirituality and Indians know great sex while Americans are brainlessly doing it; Jesus is also a part of Hinduism etc.).
I don't doubt the difficulty and strong determination required to become a true Aghori. I also believe that this way of life has its reasons and principles which are old enough, and have reasons enough to convince its followers to take up the rigid, difficult, scary and isolated life. And maybe it gives them a satisfaction and something else in return.
But a book which claims to give an insight about this small but old sect doesn't do any justice to its greatness by being so immature, inaccurate, insufficient and condescending. It's a badly written book aimed purely for commercialization rather than knowledge.
If one really wants to learn about Aghoris from books, academic books and publications on the subject would be much better and recommended than wasting money on this pulp fiction.
The only good content in this whole book was the last chapter "Devotion", and the final excerpt which goes like this:
"And there is a practice which I follow every night before going to sleep. It is very simple, but it has helped me immensely, and it can help anyone who uses it. It involves only three questions: Have I lived? Have I loved? Have I laughed?"
Robert Svoboda has written this book as a collection of narrations by Aghori Vimalananda, as well as his own commentaries from his time spent with Vimalananda. While the book has been neatly arranged in a sequence to gradually cover the various concepts of Aghori principles, they cannot be read as a serious introduction to the Aghori way.
I found this book disappointing because of the immature tone it uses in its language. It seems from the very beginning, that this book has been written mostly to glamorize the Aghori path of life, among the westerners (read americans), and it tries to sell itself by appeasing to one's vulgar fetish for cannibalism, necrophilia and gore (and no, I am not disappointed by the book because I find these disgusting. I find the book disappointing despite loving these gory stuff).
I was also put off by the immature tone this book uses, the language is too casual and makes the writer sound like a wannabe, the tone is too condescending (the typical India is great and Americans don't know anything, India is the land of spirituality and Indians know great sex while Americans are brainlessly doing it; Jesus is also a part of Hinduism etc.).
I don't doubt the difficulty and strong determination required to become a true Aghori. I also believe that this way of life has its reasons and principles which are old enough, and have reasons enough to convince its followers to take up the rigid, difficult, scary and isolated life. And maybe it gives them a satisfaction and something else in return.
But a book which claims to give an insight about this small but old sect doesn't do any justice to its greatness by being so immature, inaccurate, insufficient and condescending. It's a badly written book aimed purely for commercialization rather than knowledge.
If one really wants to learn about Aghoris from books, academic books and publications on the subject would be much better and recommended than wasting money on this pulp fiction.
The only good content in this whole book was the last chapter "Devotion", and the final excerpt which goes like this:
"And there is a practice which I follow every night before going to sleep. It is very simple, but it has helped me immensely, and it can help anyone who uses it. It involves only three questions: Have I lived? Have I loved? Have I laughed?"
January 22, 2020
Abandoned midway through the chapter on sex. If I wanted to hear some guy go on about what an edgelord he is and why all women should mother men and so forth I would go to 4chan.
July 13, 2016
Trying to understand a spiritual concept by reading a book, is an exercise in futility, since all that we read therein are 3rd party accounts, hearsay, claims, and sundry tall tales. Despite knowing this, I had rather foolishly got impressed by various glowing reviews at Goodreads, that had hailed this book as the next ‘Cosmos’, only this one looking at the inner heavens (& hell) rather than outer.
Expectedly, I was in for a crashing disappointment.
Let me clarify.
Firstly, this book is a compilation of stuff narrated or recounted by Aghori Vimalananda. They included various versions of “I know ****”, “I can do ****”, “my Guruji could do ****”, “look what happened to ****, who had done ****”, and so on, with the reader practically encouraged to fill up the **** with anything that comes to their mind.
Secondly, since this book was written primarily for Western readers, it is obsessively preoccupied with sex, and contains numerous errors in its depiction of various mythological stories, presented as anecdotes.
Thirdly, it fails to mention a single proof that might be checked & duplicated to understand as to whether the so-called Left-Hand Path to God actually exists, or if all these were merely non-Lovecraftian weird tales.
If you are looking for a proper scholarly account of the various concepts & practices of Tantra, I’m afraid this is NOT the right book.
If you are looking to read some good, frightening stories, try to find out two stories written by the great Bengali writer, Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay (yes, he who had written “Pather Panchali”, the basis of Ray’s masterpiece) named: “Taranath Tantriker Golpo (তারানাথ তান্ত্রিকের গল্প)”, and “Taranath Tantriker Dwitiyo Golpo (তারানাথ তান্ত্রিকের দ্বিতীয় গল্প), followed by a slim book of stories written by his son Taradas Bandopadhyay, named: “Taranath Tantrik (তারানাথ তান্ত্রিক)”. You would be pleasantly terrified, I assure you.
This book, is NOT RECOMMENDED.
Expectedly, I was in for a crashing disappointment.
Let me clarify.
Firstly, this book is a compilation of stuff narrated or recounted by Aghori Vimalananda. They included various versions of “I know ****”, “I can do ****”, “my Guruji could do ****”, “look what happened to ****, who had done ****”, and so on, with the reader practically encouraged to fill up the **** with anything that comes to their mind.
Secondly, since this book was written primarily for Western readers, it is obsessively preoccupied with sex, and contains numerous errors in its depiction of various mythological stories, presented as anecdotes.
Thirdly, it fails to mention a single proof that might be checked & duplicated to understand as to whether the so-called Left-Hand Path to God actually exists, or if all these were merely non-Lovecraftian weird tales.
If you are looking for a proper scholarly account of the various concepts & practices of Tantra, I’m afraid this is NOT the right book.
If you are looking to read some good, frightening stories, try to find out two stories written by the great Bengali writer, Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay (yes, he who had written “Pather Panchali”, the basis of Ray’s masterpiece) named: “Taranath Tantriker Golpo (তারানাথ তান্ত্রিকের গল্প)”, and “Taranath Tantriker Dwitiyo Golpo (তারানাথ তান্ত্রিকের দ্বিতীয় গল্প), followed by a slim book of stories written by his son Taradas Bandopadhyay, named: “Taranath Tantrik (তারানাথ তান্ত্রিক)”. You would be pleasantly terrified, I assure you.
This book, is NOT RECOMMENDED.
January 23, 2014
I wish I'd read it years back when I had been suggested the book. Brilliant book!
It is just so much more than knowledge on the Aghora cult. It is words of wisdom. By the time I reached to the end of the book, I knew of so many things we do wrong today. It also makes you realise that your karma is going to tie you to rnabandhana forever, and there's only a lucky few who'd be able to break those ties. Will move on to Book II soon. I'm sure it will be another sort of eye opener to a foolish mortal like myself.
It is just so much more than knowledge on the Aghora cult. It is words of wisdom. By the time I reached to the end of the book, I knew of so many things we do wrong today. It also makes you realise that your karma is going to tie you to rnabandhana forever, and there's only a lucky few who'd be able to break those ties. Will move on to Book II soon. I'm sure it will be another sort of eye opener to a foolish mortal like myself.
October 14, 2013
When I picked up this book I assumed this would be a standard work dealing with the history, practise and philosophy of Aghora.
Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to have a storytelling aghori (Vimalananda) address the reader as if he just met him at a bar.
This is perhaps the best way to really get the know Aghora, through stories, anecdotes, witty yet wise aphorisms and stern truthfulness.
Contrary to the common misunderstanding that aghori's are hedonists, Vimalananda asserts that they are ascetics and only indulge in these seemingly debaucherous acts in a ritualistic context. Vimalananda stresses that enacting such acts for its profane pleasure (and by extension pretty much all acts in general) won't go without its karmic consequences.
Rnanubandhana ( bondage to karmic debt ) as a concept returns many times throughout the book. One cannot act and think to get away with it. Yet one needs to realize Nature is providing for all, a paradox the student needs to understand if he or she wishes to devote him/herself to God.
Vimalananda doesn't hide his contempt for the Western mindset, which to him seems like a confused, loveless and traumatized child instead of the apex of historical unfolding.
He, scrupulously, reaffirms his own Indian tradition as possessing everything for reaching spiritual fulfillment. Unashamed he claims India is the only place on Earth where you can still find the most powerful and real guru's, although he admits it too is plagued by Kali Yuga and has its fair share of charlatans and spiritual self-applauding egomaniacs.
For the Western reader it's sometimes difficult to get past his sometimes rigid understanding of gender roles, the family unit, sexuality and religiosity. Our recently acquired sense of pluralism might conflict with this sort of dogmatism, but Vimalananda isn't invested in changing the world, nor lecturing Westerners on how to organize their society.
This is the world he knows best and of which he sees the metaphysical reasons for being as such. Getting past our relativistic eurocentrism is another lesson Vimalananda wishes to get across.
Very often his tales border the fantastic and one wonders if they actually happened for real or were plays of his powerful imagination. Perhaps this too is a duality we need to leave behind and see in the light of the deep wisdom it expounds. And say they really took place, so much more the truthfulness in the power of magic.
This book is a meeting with Aghora and that makes it such a refreshing read. Reading it doesn't look feel as terrifying as the book cover makes it look and that's perhaps the most important lesson to learn from Aghora, there's really nothing to be afraid of. It's all part of nature, so why not embrace it?
Vimalananda is a guru and he can only show the path he walked and what the destination is: devotion to the true source of all, Ma.
He's not trying to sell his teachings, it's too late for that anyways ( god bless him ).
I have come across many guru's and Vimalananda is one of the few who I felt to be genuine, sticking up to his guns and having only one ambition, selflessly loving Kali, the mother of all.
Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to have a storytelling aghori (Vimalananda) address the reader as if he just met him at a bar.
This is perhaps the best way to really get the know Aghora, through stories, anecdotes, witty yet wise aphorisms and stern truthfulness.
Contrary to the common misunderstanding that aghori's are hedonists, Vimalananda asserts that they are ascetics and only indulge in these seemingly debaucherous acts in a ritualistic context. Vimalananda stresses that enacting such acts for its profane pleasure (and by extension pretty much all acts in general) won't go without its karmic consequences.
Rnanubandhana ( bondage to karmic debt ) as a concept returns many times throughout the book. One cannot act and think to get away with it. Yet one needs to realize Nature is providing for all, a paradox the student needs to understand if he or she wishes to devote him/herself to God.
Vimalananda doesn't hide his contempt for the Western mindset, which to him seems like a confused, loveless and traumatized child instead of the apex of historical unfolding.
He, scrupulously, reaffirms his own Indian tradition as possessing everything for reaching spiritual fulfillment. Unashamed he claims India is the only place on Earth where you can still find the most powerful and real guru's, although he admits it too is plagued by Kali Yuga and has its fair share of charlatans and spiritual self-applauding egomaniacs.
For the Western reader it's sometimes difficult to get past his sometimes rigid understanding of gender roles, the family unit, sexuality and religiosity. Our recently acquired sense of pluralism might conflict with this sort of dogmatism, but Vimalananda isn't invested in changing the world, nor lecturing Westerners on how to organize their society.
This is the world he knows best and of which he sees the metaphysical reasons for being as such. Getting past our relativistic eurocentrism is another lesson Vimalananda wishes to get across.
Very often his tales border the fantastic and one wonders if they actually happened for real or were plays of his powerful imagination. Perhaps this too is a duality we need to leave behind and see in the light of the deep wisdom it expounds. And say they really took place, so much more the truthfulness in the power of magic.
This book is a meeting with Aghora and that makes it such a refreshing read. Reading it doesn't look feel as terrifying as the book cover makes it look and that's perhaps the most important lesson to learn from Aghora, there's really nothing to be afraid of. It's all part of nature, so why not embrace it?
Vimalananda is a guru and he can only show the path he walked and what the destination is: devotion to the true source of all, Ma.
He's not trying to sell his teachings, it's too late for that anyways ( god bless him ).
I have come across many guru's and Vimalananda is one of the few who I felt to be genuine, sticking up to his guns and having only one ambition, selflessly loving Kali, the mother of all.
August 13, 2013
Five stars for the content. I don't know what made me pick this book at TVM airport. Whatever force it was, reading this book has given me an entire new insight on another dimension of spirituality. It is not for the faint hearted nor for the strict conservative. But if you’re the sort of one-dimensional rationalist who is stuck with an entirely scientific outlook, presuming that ancient Hindu beliefs were just exercises in silliness, challenge you to read this book. This is a book unlike any I’ve read. Cant wait to get my hands on Part II.
September 16, 2013
this is the kind of book that comes to you than vice versa... Robert has done an impeccable job of writing this without any prejudice of his own. It's as if Vimalananda is speaking to you.
November 15, 2012
Aghora : mesmerized me !!
October 20, 2021
Pure serendipity made me pick up this book in a library. I went home, read the first two chapters, came back and returned the book. Before leaving my home though, I placed an order for the series so that I don’t have to part with my copies. Ever.
The author Svoboda, as a mouthpiece for his guru, did a magnificent job presenting the mercurial Aghori Vimalananda. Vimalananda, “an extremist”, “conformed to none of the usual guru stereotypes” constantly questions the status-quo and is more than happy to break the conventional patterns of thinking and being. Full of Vimalananda’s life experiences that frequently border on the excessive, the book is obviously not for the faint-hearted nor for the easily offended. It invokes feelings of epic incredibility, appears downright inconceivable, and deals with “unbelievably alien” extremes as Vimalananda unravels the myth of normalcy.
I was introduced to new concepts and new perceptions which deserve to be assimilated.
On Rnaanubandhana:
“I allow every person who has any rnanubandhana with me to take from me whatever they are entitled to. Whether they are destined to make my life miserable, or to make me poor, or whatever, I don’t mind. Let them do it; they cannot take from me any more than the value of the debt I owe them.”
“The more freer you are, accepting when it is given and giving when it is requested, the more of your rnanubandhanas are effaced and the closer you come to your goal (self-realization).”
“The worst fear of all is the fear of death; once you go beyond the fear of death, you go beyond all fears because you go beyond expectation and anticipation, which are the cause of most karmas: “I must experience this enjoyment before I die”, or , "I must prevent that person from interfering with my enjoyments.” When death has no value for you, time loses its value, and then you don’t bother about anything. Then you say, “If I am meant to experience this enjoyment, I will experience it; why bother about it?”"
If the concept of ‘rnanubandhana’ isn’t one of the life-altering phenomena, I don’t know what is. It brings back a primal sanity to your world. Certainly did to mine, as it answers the ever frustrating question “Why?”. It has taught me to immerse myself into life without fear and inhibition and with complete faith and trust in your deity. I step forward, falter a lot, grow, stumble towards progress poco a poco. Applying the principles to your life certainly demands a lot from you - utter honesty, ruthless introspection, grit and unwavering discipline.
On Mentors:
“A disciple may think he really loves his guru and has done a lot for him, but the disciple is too stupid to realize that his guru is absolutely burning to give something to him, to give his essence."
“The disciple is expected only to be sincere.”
It was enlightening to see how gurus play with their disciples and teach them in the process, even though it seems extreme and unorthodox. Many stories illustrate how “a real guru pushes you to the limits of your endurance and then further”, his boundless compassion, timely and life-long protection and what a privilege it is to find them.
On Sadhana:
“No effort is ever wasted. What you do not complete in this lifetime you will most certainly complete later if you have a real desire to do so.”
“Nature will teach me what I want to learn.”
Keeping at your passion, doing it with your heart and soul, with utmost sincerity you can muster is all that is needed!
On Life:
It suffices to just apply the parting words of the book to your life:
“Have I lived? Have I loved? Have I laughed? It is this intense desperation to live life to the fullest which is the hallmark, the stamp, of a true Aghori.”
The first book is a bait to lure you into reading the other two books in the series which are dense, prodigiously written, full of intricate, complex teachings that upend conventional wisdom. The series is an absolute treasure in its entirety. It is a wild ride, in every sense of the word and all you can do is surrender to the glorious experience.
The author Svoboda, as a mouthpiece for his guru, did a magnificent job presenting the mercurial Aghori Vimalananda. Vimalananda, “an extremist”, “conformed to none of the usual guru stereotypes” constantly questions the status-quo and is more than happy to break the conventional patterns of thinking and being. Full of Vimalananda’s life experiences that frequently border on the excessive, the book is obviously not for the faint-hearted nor for the easily offended. It invokes feelings of epic incredibility, appears downright inconceivable, and deals with “unbelievably alien” extremes as Vimalananda unravels the myth of normalcy.
I was introduced to new concepts and new perceptions which deserve to be assimilated.
On Rnaanubandhana:
“I allow every person who has any rnanubandhana with me to take from me whatever they are entitled to. Whether they are destined to make my life miserable, or to make me poor, or whatever, I don’t mind. Let them do it; they cannot take from me any more than the value of the debt I owe them.”
“The more freer you are, accepting when it is given and giving when it is requested, the more of your rnanubandhanas are effaced and the closer you come to your goal (self-realization).”
“The worst fear of all is the fear of death; once you go beyond the fear of death, you go beyond all fears because you go beyond expectation and anticipation, which are the cause of most karmas: “I must experience this enjoyment before I die”, or , "I must prevent that person from interfering with my enjoyments.” When death has no value for you, time loses its value, and then you don’t bother about anything. Then you say, “If I am meant to experience this enjoyment, I will experience it; why bother about it?”"
If the concept of ‘rnanubandhana’ isn’t one of the life-altering phenomena, I don’t know what is. It brings back a primal sanity to your world. Certainly did to mine, as it answers the ever frustrating question “Why?”. It has taught me to immerse myself into life without fear and inhibition and with complete faith and trust in your deity. I step forward, falter a lot, grow, stumble towards progress poco a poco. Applying the principles to your life certainly demands a lot from you - utter honesty, ruthless introspection, grit and unwavering discipline.
On Mentors:
“A disciple may think he really loves his guru and has done a lot for him, but the disciple is too stupid to realize that his guru is absolutely burning to give something to him, to give his essence."
“The disciple is expected only to be sincere.”
It was enlightening to see how gurus play with their disciples and teach them in the process, even though it seems extreme and unorthodox. Many stories illustrate how “a real guru pushes you to the limits of your endurance and then further”, his boundless compassion, timely and life-long protection and what a privilege it is to find them.
On Sadhana:
“No effort is ever wasted. What you do not complete in this lifetime you will most certainly complete later if you have a real desire to do so.”
“Nature will teach me what I want to learn.”
Keeping at your passion, doing it with your heart and soul, with utmost sincerity you can muster is all that is needed!
On Life:
It suffices to just apply the parting words of the book to your life:
“Have I lived? Have I loved? Have I laughed? It is this intense desperation to live life to the fullest which is the hallmark, the stamp, of a true Aghori.”
The first book is a bait to lure you into reading the other two books in the series which are dense, prodigiously written, full of intricate, complex teachings that upend conventional wisdom. The series is an absolute treasure in its entirety. It is a wild ride, in every sense of the word and all you can do is surrender to the glorious experience.
April 12, 2019
Eerie and shocking, in the beginning. But if you read this book for long enough, you'll start getting used to being surprised!
Starting with a disclaimer. This book is not for everybody. The author has written this with no intentions of being gentle in conveying the truth, so people that take offense easily should NOT be picking this book up at all.
Insights into the life and path of an Aghori, there are many mystical and valuable insights to take away. Some aspects can seem almost unbelievable, so I'd just say - take what you need and leave out the rest.
There are many interesting topics that were covered in depth, like Kundalini energy, Karma, Astral Projection (though the term isn't directly used), Type of Souls, Tantra, the Shiva-Shakti dynamic, etc.
Keep ego aside and read this book with a little bit of distance, you'll learn a lot. If you go into the not gritty, you'll never make it through.
But an invaluable book that needs to be read by anyone walking the path of Self Awareness, whether they opt for Aghora or not.
Starting with a disclaimer. This book is not for everybody. The author has written this with no intentions of being gentle in conveying the truth, so people that take offense easily should NOT be picking this book up at all.
Insights into the life and path of an Aghori, there are many mystical and valuable insights to take away. Some aspects can seem almost unbelievable, so I'd just say - take what you need and leave out the rest.
There are many interesting topics that were covered in depth, like Kundalini energy, Karma, Astral Projection (though the term isn't directly used), Type of Souls, Tantra, the Shiva-Shakti dynamic, etc.
Keep ego aside and read this book with a little bit of distance, you'll learn a lot. If you go into the not gritty, you'll never make it through.
But an invaluable book that needs to be read by anyone walking the path of Self Awareness, whether they opt for Aghora or not.
March 14, 2018
Castaneda for Vedaphiles. Barely made it through the ridiculous chapter on sex near the end. So fictionalized you can never decide whether any of the utilized fragments of actual teachings are valid or not.
April 6, 2025
You cannot read this book like a conventional script and need to have an open mind. Some parts are pretty interesting, but its hard to keep up with the book when the protagonist keeps drifting into more incredulous feats and more random stories till it stretches your 'believable quotient' to the hilt.
April 7, 2024
Expecting myself to be a spiritual enough being, this was my first encounter to the left hand of god or as you may call it the Aghora way. This book is certainly packed with surprise, shock, moments so unbelievable that they compel you to sift through the narratives, separating what you deem genuine spirituality from what might merely be the glorified legends of the Aghori.
The book serves as a mirror, reflecting how deeply one has waded into the waters of spirituality in this lifetime. It posits a deeply personal question of connection, challenging the reader to discern how much of its essence resonates within their own spiritual journey.
One aspect that stands undeniable is the book’s ability to captivate and intrigue. It keeps you teetering on the edge of skepticism and belief, urging you to question and speculate upon the text. I found myself particularly drawn to the chapters discussing Shiva and Shakti, which were executed with a depth and insight that left an indelible mark on my understanding of these divine forces.
The book has endless things to offer with a warning do not consider it as a gospel truth, which surely means believe, absorb and replicate as what you want in your life. Conversely, the extensive focus on the chapter concerning sexual practices was less appealing to me. While recognizing its significance within Aghora rituals, I felt it overshadowed other spiritually rich content.
This book is highly recommended for those with a keen interest in spiritual narratives, coupled with the intellectual rigor needed to navigate through the tales and extract the most meaningful lessons. It beckons to those ready to explore the depths of their own spirituality, armed with an open mind and a critical eye.
The book serves as a mirror, reflecting how deeply one has waded into the waters of spirituality in this lifetime. It posits a deeply personal question of connection, challenging the reader to discern how much of its essence resonates within their own spiritual journey.
One aspect that stands undeniable is the book’s ability to captivate and intrigue. It keeps you teetering on the edge of skepticism and belief, urging you to question and speculate upon the text. I found myself particularly drawn to the chapters discussing Shiva and Shakti, which were executed with a depth and insight that left an indelible mark on my understanding of these divine forces.
The book has endless things to offer with a warning do not consider it as a gospel truth, which surely means believe, absorb and replicate as what you want in your life. Conversely, the extensive focus on the chapter concerning sexual practices was less appealing to me. While recognizing its significance within Aghora rituals, I felt it overshadowed other spiritually rich content.
This book is highly recommended for those with a keen interest in spiritual narratives, coupled with the intellectual rigor needed to navigate through the tales and extract the most meaningful lessons. It beckons to those ready to explore the depths of their own spirituality, armed with an open mind and a critical eye.
August 13, 2021
This was my fourth book of twenty-one in 2021.
Before I begin to review this book, I remind myself of something: there is a saying around the book "Be Here Now" by Ram Dass that the book finds you when you are ready to receive its contents. Likewise, in the book "Ask and You Shall Receive" by Abraham Hicks, the prologue says you will be able to pick up this book and finish it when you are energetically aligned to it, and if you are not energetically aligned to it, they advise to carry the book around so the book will lift your vibration naturally and you will be ready to read it. Now, I don't know if those are necessarily true for the books aforementioned but this book will definitely reach you in the time you are prepared to read it.
I have held onto this book along with Aghora II: Kundalini and Aghora III: The Law of Karma from 2018. Although I had always made it a point to want to finish it, the contents of the book were too jarring for me, and reading about the deep, jarring content always scared me- death, necrophilia, etc., they are not for those unready to read. I shared this book with my family member a year after I myself ATTEMPTED to read it, but he never finished the book due to its density as well. Again why I say, the book reaches you only if you are prepared to take its contents. Then, I encountered it again when I was deep into the practice of Khadgamala stotram. Perhaps, the divine Goddess deemed me ready or I, perhaps, gained some mental acuity to suspend my disbelief while reading this book. I began to listen to the book as audio, but soon, audio was not enough for me- I wanted to literally lap up the knowledge in this book.
The chapters are heavy, no doubt. But, this is a book of genuineness. Although it is penned by Dr. Svoboda, the words all belong to his teacher Vimalananda who asked him to publish this only after he has long passed so that he does not have to endure an influx of unprepared minds who wants to learn of the Tantra vidyas in this book. Frankly, reading this book opened my mind a lot and opened it permanently. This book has 10 chapters: Introduction, Shakti, Shiva, Rnanubhandha, Mentors, Aghora, Spirits, Avishkara, Sex, and Girnar. Each chapter is gold with important reminders to us, but my personal favorite chapters were Shakti, Rnanubhandha, Mentors, and Sex. I also liked how this book reaffirmed that without Shakti, you cannot have Shiva. And, without Shiva, Shakti. Nowadays, in a world that affirms masculinity and rejects feminity, it is important to turn back to our ancestral heritages to see how the feminine (if not, women themselves) and its characteristics were still vital. Also, I really loved the story about Kalidasa. In the book, they mention that Kalidasa was an ardent devotee of Kali Ma for 9 lives, and in his 10th life, he was born as an ugly, dense woodcutter who lived a simple life. In the kingdom he lived in, the princess was stubborn and after an altercation in her family, the King marries her off to Kalidasa. On their wedding night, the princess realizes the punishment that she has been given by her father and she throws Kalidasa out. He runs to a Kali temple and begins to bash his head in ardent frustration for himself when Kali ma comes to console him. When he doesn't believe her, he sticks his tongue out at her and she bestows upon him a transformation and gives him the gift of speech. When he goes back to the kingdom, he says beautiful prose about the princess to which the princess cries that she wants to marry this man, only to realize that she already is married to him. The lesson is to remind the reader that Ma always knows the faith behind our tribulations and guides us as per our karma. But, what astonished me is the love that Kali Ma gives him over the span of 9 lives. To spend nine lives at the cradle of the Goddess herself is a boon of its own. And there are other stories of Kali Ma doing what is necessary for the devotee, as man disposes but God predisposes. And no knowledge is to waste as you continue in this life, the study you have started in your previous lives.
There are so many beautiful anecdotal stories and treasured pieces of advice in this book that deserve a read. As some other review says, for anyone even a little "witchy", this book will become your Bible. And it has become mine. Life makes sense to me now more than ever. Everything is a rnanubhanda, and all which you have is the work of your penances over lifetimes that you can't even comprehend. And, it is a boon to become stupid at the beginning of every life so as to not need to carry the pain of hundreds of births. I believe this review has gotten fairly long enough already, but all I want to say is I hope this review can somehow encourage you to be interested in the Aghora trilogy. It is really a journey to read this book because it is like the pressure which turns coal into a diamond. To grow, you must stretch the limits and this book stretches the limits of the mind towards the Goddess herself.
May this book find you in the right time.
Before I begin to review this book, I remind myself of something: there is a saying around the book "Be Here Now" by Ram Dass that the book finds you when you are ready to receive its contents. Likewise, in the book "Ask and You Shall Receive" by Abraham Hicks, the prologue says you will be able to pick up this book and finish it when you are energetically aligned to it, and if you are not energetically aligned to it, they advise to carry the book around so the book will lift your vibration naturally and you will be ready to read it. Now, I don't know if those are necessarily true for the books aforementioned but this book will definitely reach you in the time you are prepared to read it.
I have held onto this book along with Aghora II: Kundalini and Aghora III: The Law of Karma from 2018. Although I had always made it a point to want to finish it, the contents of the book were too jarring for me, and reading about the deep, jarring content always scared me- death, necrophilia, etc., they are not for those unready to read. I shared this book with my family member a year after I myself ATTEMPTED to read it, but he never finished the book due to its density as well. Again why I say, the book reaches you only if you are prepared to take its contents. Then, I encountered it again when I was deep into the practice of Khadgamala stotram. Perhaps, the divine Goddess deemed me ready or I, perhaps, gained some mental acuity to suspend my disbelief while reading this book. I began to listen to the book as audio, but soon, audio was not enough for me- I wanted to literally lap up the knowledge in this book.
The chapters are heavy, no doubt. But, this is a book of genuineness. Although it is penned by Dr. Svoboda, the words all belong to his teacher Vimalananda who asked him to publish this only after he has long passed so that he does not have to endure an influx of unprepared minds who wants to learn of the Tantra vidyas in this book. Frankly, reading this book opened my mind a lot and opened it permanently. This book has 10 chapters: Introduction, Shakti, Shiva, Rnanubhandha, Mentors, Aghora, Spirits, Avishkara, Sex, and Girnar. Each chapter is gold with important reminders to us, but my personal favorite chapters were Shakti, Rnanubhandha, Mentors, and Sex. I also liked how this book reaffirmed that without Shakti, you cannot have Shiva. And, without Shiva, Shakti. Nowadays, in a world that affirms masculinity and rejects feminity, it is important to turn back to our ancestral heritages to see how the feminine (if not, women themselves) and its characteristics were still vital. Also, I really loved the story about Kalidasa. In the book, they mention that Kalidasa was an ardent devotee of Kali Ma for 9 lives, and in his 10th life, he was born as an ugly, dense woodcutter who lived a simple life. In the kingdom he lived in, the princess was stubborn and after an altercation in her family, the King marries her off to Kalidasa. On their wedding night, the princess realizes the punishment that she has been given by her father and she throws Kalidasa out. He runs to a Kali temple and begins to bash his head in ardent frustration for himself when Kali ma comes to console him. When he doesn't believe her, he sticks his tongue out at her and she bestows upon him a transformation and gives him the gift of speech. When he goes back to the kingdom, he says beautiful prose about the princess to which the princess cries that she wants to marry this man, only to realize that she already is married to him. The lesson is to remind the reader that Ma always knows the faith behind our tribulations and guides us as per our karma. But, what astonished me is the love that Kali Ma gives him over the span of 9 lives. To spend nine lives at the cradle of the Goddess herself is a boon of its own. And there are other stories of Kali Ma doing what is necessary for the devotee, as man disposes but God predisposes. And no knowledge is to waste as you continue in this life, the study you have started in your previous lives.
There are so many beautiful anecdotal stories and treasured pieces of advice in this book that deserve a read. As some other review says, for anyone even a little "witchy", this book will become your Bible. And it has become mine. Life makes sense to me now more than ever. Everything is a rnanubhanda, and all which you have is the work of your penances over lifetimes that you can't even comprehend. And, it is a boon to become stupid at the beginning of every life so as to not need to carry the pain of hundreds of births. I believe this review has gotten fairly long enough already, but all I want to say is I hope this review can somehow encourage you to be interested in the Aghora trilogy. It is really a journey to read this book because it is like the pressure which turns coal into a diamond. To grow, you must stretch the limits and this book stretches the limits of the mind towards the Goddess herself.
May this book find you in the right time.
April 26, 2025
This book is not meant for all spiritual seekers, only those who have basic knowledge of Aghora should try to explore this book. A few years before, I came across one documentary which was shown on National Geographic Channel, it was about Kumbh Mela and Aghoris. There the anchor of that show tried to shoot one Aghori and his way of life. In that show, Aghori did one trick which amazed the westerner anchor and the viewers of that show. He tied 5 red bricks worth approx 20 kg on his testes and he walked like it was nothing. That Aghori was a skinny man with much less than 150 pounds of weight. After seeing that show I’m pretty sure these Aghori people are not ordinary men they are people with some mystic powers. I now know pretty much about the Aghori people and the things they are capable of. So after reading this book I felt not much wonder or surprise. If one reads this book with less knowledge of Aghori even if he/she is a spiritual person will think the content is a bunch of lies of some spiritual man. But actually, it is not, that's why I’m repeatedly saying do not read if you do not know who Aghori is.
Coming back about the book, Robert E Svoboda, the author, is more specific about the content in every chapter. The way of writing and his English is pretty amazing. We will get an in-depth knowledge of the beliefs and how Aghora Sadhanas different from normal Sadhanas which are practiced by the spiritual leaders that we know. As the book name suggests, ‘at the left hand of God’, that is the Aghori way. Normally spiritual leaders say about positive energy and peace. But Aghoris are just opposite to that, it is not the ‘Right hand’ way, it is the ‘Left hand’ path to spirituality. But the teachings are all the same. It is all about the ultimate god who owns this world, the creator, but the approach is different. From this book, we will get a clear understanding of who Aghoris are. They are not only spiritual gurus, they are god, the proper manifestation of Lord Shiva. This book is not a biography, it is an experience of a spiritual god, Vimalananda. He says, "Live Life to the Fullest", without any Fear. The word Aghora/Aghori itself is "non-terrifying".
Coming back about the book, Robert E Svoboda, the author, is more specific about the content in every chapter. The way of writing and his English is pretty amazing. We will get an in-depth knowledge of the beliefs and how Aghora Sadhanas different from normal Sadhanas which are practiced by the spiritual leaders that we know. As the book name suggests, ‘at the left hand of God’, that is the Aghori way. Normally spiritual leaders say about positive energy and peace. But Aghoris are just opposite to that, it is not the ‘Right hand’ way, it is the ‘Left hand’ path to spirituality. But the teachings are all the same. It is all about the ultimate god who owns this world, the creator, but the approach is different. From this book, we will get a clear understanding of who Aghoris are. They are not only spiritual gurus, they are god, the proper manifestation of Lord Shiva. This book is not a biography, it is an experience of a spiritual god, Vimalananda. He says, "Live Life to the Fullest", without any Fear. The word Aghora/Aghori itself is "non-terrifying".
March 27, 2019
An Aghori is a man who lives his life closest to death. brushing his skin with the power of death every day. Always on the verge to explode into ecstasy. The left-hand path to God, where one immerses himself into all things dark and profane to gain mastery over them and begin to Realize the dual nature of thought and the non-dual nature of consciousness.
The book talks about a lot of interesting stuff; bhakti (devotion), sadhana, thought projection, ethereal beings, asceticism, the play of Shiva-Shakti and a big chapter on sex.
The book expounds specifically on Smashan Tara, a fierce and terrifying Goddess, who is the Vimalananda's ishta devata (favourite deity). She is a blood-thirsty and death-bearing Goddess who makes the charnel grounds her place of abode. Although she might be a terrifying entity she is a mother and pours out her love and care for the selfless seeker. Worshipping the Divine as a mother is the highest form of worship.
But when you try to draw some sought of rationality into this near fantasy world of an Aghori, you have to go a little beyond reason. The world of the dead is expansive and cannot be contained into theories and formulas. Vimalananda narrates how the world of the dead might aid the living and ways one can benefit from it.
The book makes me conclude that thought is an exceptional tool. Every story narrated in this book is a projection of thought, which manifest in space-time through the sheer will and unwavering faith in the fruits of the action performed.
The book warns everyone from using spirits and demons for their own material expansion. Talks pages on how to get control over such beings and how not to use them.
Reinforces the power of fate and how going beyond fate is near to impossible. But also narrates stories about how Sadhus and Yogis conquered fate and carved out their own destiny.
An interesting read to the one who sees beauty in death.
The book talks about a lot of interesting stuff; bhakti (devotion), sadhana, thought projection, ethereal beings, asceticism, the play of Shiva-Shakti and a big chapter on sex.
The book expounds specifically on Smashan Tara, a fierce and terrifying Goddess, who is the Vimalananda's ishta devata (favourite deity). She is a blood-thirsty and death-bearing Goddess who makes the charnel grounds her place of abode. Although she might be a terrifying entity she is a mother and pours out her love and care for the selfless seeker. Worshipping the Divine as a mother is the highest form of worship.
But when you try to draw some sought of rationality into this near fantasy world of an Aghori, you have to go a little beyond reason. The world of the dead is expansive and cannot be contained into theories and formulas. Vimalananda narrates how the world of the dead might aid the living and ways one can benefit from it.
The book makes me conclude that thought is an exceptional tool. Every story narrated in this book is a projection of thought, which manifest in space-time through the sheer will and unwavering faith in the fruits of the action performed.
The book warns everyone from using spirits and demons for their own material expansion. Talks pages on how to get control over such beings and how not to use them.
Reinforces the power of fate and how going beyond fate is near to impossible. But also narrates stories about how Sadhus and Yogis conquered fate and carved out their own destiny.
An interesting read to the one who sees beauty in death.
September 27, 2012
Compelled to pen down my disappointment as I had high expectations from this book. However, it turned out to be one full of gimmicks and self promotion of a self proclaimed Aghori by his nominated disciple, rather than a deep understanding and interpretation of the apparent chaotic elements of Shiva underlining the philoophy of Aghora. Less of the philosophy of Shiva and it's link and evolution to the way of life and outlook of Aghoris.
July 5, 2007
A very interesting albeit disturbing read.
June 19, 2014
Mind blowing peek into the world of Aghora. Truly amazing. Cannot describe the experience in words.
Not for the weak-hearted definitely.
Not for the weak-hearted definitely.
December 22, 2023
Astroamerica
AGHORA: At the left hand of God - Robert Svoboda, $26.95
Contents:
Preface; Introduction;
1. Ma
2. Shakti: Maya shakti, Kali & Kalidasa, Vidyaranya, Sarvananda & Purnananda, The motherhood of the goddess, The vision of the goddess;
3. Shiva: Mahakala, Death & the smashan, Anjaneya, Sagal shah;
4. Rnanubandhana: The primal debt, Fate & rnanubandhana, Ranu, Author's postscript;
5. Mentors: My three mentors, Devotion to the guru, Guru & disciple;
6. Aghora: The true & the real, Restrictions, Intoxicants, To die while still alive, The left-hand path;
7. Spirits
8. Avishkara;
9. Sex: Man & woman, The nature of sex, The rnanubandhana of sex, Marriage, Creation & procreation, Ojas, Conservation, Svapneshvari siddhi & shiva lata mudra, Amrita, Vajroli, Bhairavi;
10. Girnar: Ginar, Devotion. Glossary.
Comment: This was Svoboda's first book on Aghora, the next phase after tantra.
The right hand path, familiar to the Christian west, is the surrender of our sinful selves to the purity of an external path.
Worship, in other words. It is slow, sure & painful.
The left hand path of tantra requires the previous purification (eg, mastery) of the self (no more internal sin!) in order to conquer the worst of physical life: death, decay & sex.
It is a path that appeals to contrarian sensualists, who quickly come to grief over it.
It is quick, powerful & incredibly dangerous
There isn't much one can say about any of the fabulous tales in this book, as they all relate to persons, places & practices that are rarely if ever seen in the west.
Indeed, Svoboda himself merely repeats the stories told him by his mentor, guru Vimalananda, adding little material of his own.
Brotherhood of Life/Sadhana Publications, 328 pages.
----
AGHORA: At the left hand of God - Robert Svoboda, $26.95
Contents:
Preface; Introduction;
1. Ma
2. Shakti: Maya shakti, Kali & Kalidasa, Vidyaranya, Sarvananda & Purnananda, The motherhood of the goddess, The vision of the goddess;
3. Shiva: Mahakala, Death & the smashan, Anjaneya, Sagal shah;
4. Rnanubandhana: The primal debt, Fate & rnanubandhana, Ranu, Author's postscript;
5. Mentors: My three mentors, Devotion to the guru, Guru & disciple;
6. Aghora: The true & the real, Restrictions, Intoxicants, To die while still alive, The left-hand path;
7. Spirits
8. Avishkara;
9. Sex: Man & woman, The nature of sex, The rnanubandhana of sex, Marriage, Creation & procreation, Ojas, Conservation, Svapneshvari siddhi & shiva lata mudra, Amrita, Vajroli, Bhairavi;
10. Girnar: Ginar, Devotion. Glossary.
Comment: This was Svoboda's first book on Aghora, the next phase after tantra.
The right hand path, familiar to the Christian west, is the surrender of our sinful selves to the purity of an external path.
Worship, in other words. It is slow, sure & painful.
The left hand path of tantra requires the previous purification (eg, mastery) of the self (no more internal sin!) in order to conquer the worst of physical life: death, decay & sex.
It is a path that appeals to contrarian sensualists, who quickly come to grief over it.
It is quick, powerful & incredibly dangerous
There isn't much one can say about any of the fabulous tales in this book, as they all relate to persons, places & practices that are rarely if ever seen in the west.
Indeed, Svoboda himself merely repeats the stories told him by his mentor, guru Vimalananda, adding little material of his own.
Brotherhood of Life/Sadhana Publications, 328 pages.
----
April 7, 2020
This book is good in that it shows a unique, Tantric perspective on life and spirituality from a practicing Aghori. However, if you are looking to enhance your spirituality by reading this book, I suggest you find something a bit less radical and "left-handed." In my opinion, this book is filled with tales and rituals so far-fetched that it lacks usefulness, meaningfulness, and truthfulness, not to mention the many hypocrisies and inconsistencies embedded in the teachings. It reads like a fantasy world description rather than a practical spiritual guide. In terms of the writing itself, much of it is repetitive. This book could be condensed to half its size and still get the same point across.
July 12, 2015
Honestly speaking, I don't know how to rate this book. While I read it with an open mind, certain things are almost impossible to believe. But then, that was expected. While this book is primarily on the dark side of spirituality, if you try and not take everything literally, it might make sense.Certain arguments were compelling.And surprisingly, it talks about the same concepts as you would find in various literature on the right side of spiritual attainments. Read, at your own risk!
August 24, 2013
Really fascinating read. Especially for someone who has never heard of any of the things that Vimalananda says in the book.
I believe Aghora can convince a dialectic to turn rhetoric or at least give him/her enough reasons to think in that direction. One might agree or disagree. But the book can surely open gates to a whole different world of learning.
I believe Aghora can convince a dialectic to turn rhetoric or at least give him/her enough reasons to think in that direction. One might agree or disagree. But the book can surely open gates to a whole different world of learning.
October 31, 2019
The book shocks you. You need to read it to believe it
March 13, 2023
A crazy and wild book about a crazy and wild tradition ❤️🔥
May 30, 2021
This book is educational in its own, bizarre way.
The book narrates the details of the Aghora discipline via Aghori Vimalananda's stories and teachings - almost like he himself has sat you down and it is now story time!
Throughout the book, Aghori Vimalananda has asserted that those who are Aghoris do the seemingly debaucherous acts they do purely out of a ritualistic context and gives further elaboration on some of them.
This read has been quite enlightening in some expected, some unexpected ways. Having said so, I must say, like mentioned in the introductory chapter, this book may offend some sensitivities of the person who is reading it but do try to give it fair chance by reading it with an open mind.
The book narrates the details of the Aghora discipline via Aghori Vimalananda's stories and teachings - almost like he himself has sat you down and it is now story time!
Throughout the book, Aghori Vimalananda has asserted that those who are Aghoris do the seemingly debaucherous acts they do purely out of a ritualistic context and gives further elaboration on some of them.
This read has been quite enlightening in some expected, some unexpected ways. Having said so, I must say, like mentioned in the introductory chapter, this book may offend some sensitivities of the person who is reading it but do try to give it fair chance by reading it with an open mind.
September 26, 2019
No, thanks. The last few pages on 'Devotion' were nice but that doesn't compensate all the "WTF" moments I had throughout the book.
July 17, 2014
The Aghora Triology - a set of three books that were so fascinating that I finished them all in a fortnight.
The author is an American who had come to study Ayurveda in a college at Poona in the 80s when he meets an Aghori.
The series elucidates about the reasoning and philosophy behind some of the seemingly bizarre practices of Aghora that the society views with contempt and horror.
In addition, the author shed light on the epic poem Ramayana, and explains it in a way that is illuminating for the spiritually inclined. The author deals with Karmic theory, and its implications.
More importantly, the whole larger than life personality of Vimalananda and his Gurus makes you read these books in bated breath.
I highly recommend the series for anybody interested in ancient Indian spiritual practices.
The author is an American who had come to study Ayurveda in a college at Poona in the 80s when he meets an Aghori.
The series elucidates about the reasoning and philosophy behind some of the seemingly bizarre practices of Aghora that the society views with contempt and horror.
In addition, the author shed light on the epic poem Ramayana, and explains it in a way that is illuminating for the spiritually inclined. The author deals with Karmic theory, and its implications.
More importantly, the whole larger than life personality of Vimalananda and his Gurus makes you read these books in bated breath.
I highly recommend the series for anybody interested in ancient Indian spiritual practices.
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