Aghor Panth is a small Hindu sect in Trinidad. Its members have always been few but committed to their way of worship. One such individual is 65year-old Birbal Bissoon of Chickland, Freeport. A retired mechanical technician with Kiss Baking Industry, Birbal identifies with Aghori practices in his daily worship. He took me inside his shrine and it was like any Sanatanist shrine but unique about it were photos of his father and other senior gurus of the Aghor Panth including Lakicharan Dass of Las Lomas, the reputed founder of the local chapter of this sect.
It is said that Lakicharan Dass knew when he was going to die and that he walked around the village and told everyone that he was leaving. In fact, he turned down an offer to conduct a Guru Gadhi Puja, remarking that “I am leaving on that day… you go ahead with your puja.” Lakicharan Dass left his mortal coil that evening in the year 1946. According to Birbal, “while the puja was in progress, the message came that Lakicharan Dass had passed on.”
Known for many miracles including healing the sick, “Baba would know their problems before they open their mouths,” said Birbal. One story told in Las Lomas was that a villager had a court matter and went to Lakicharan Dass for help. He told the defendant that when black crows are seen circling the court, that the verdict would be not guilty. Eye witnesses said that they noticed the black grows circling above the court and soon after, the matter was dismissed and the defendant was exonerated of all charges.
Felicity was an active branch of the Aghori Panth. It most prominent devotee was Mahant Gopinath. When Motilal Dass of India arrived in Trinidad, he visited Felicity and initiated Gopinath before proceeding to Guyana. A prominent disciple of Gopinath was Siewsankar Dass who was the guru of Birbal’s father. Today, the aghoris in Felicity, central Trinidad, is headed by Mahant Pancham.
Alcohol was viewed as prashadam and was offered to the deity in very small amounts. Overtime there was a large quantity of alcohol in the possession of Gopinath Dass. Someone with an evil intent informed the police who visited the shrine of Gopinath Dass and charged him for possession of a large quantity of alcohol without a license. The numerous bottles of alcohol were taken by the police for use as exhibits in the trial.
It is said that when the magistrate asked Gopinath Dass “how do you plead-guilty or not guilty? – and he said not guilty.” The bottles seized were brought out and instead of alcohol, the bottles had milk. The magistrate had no choice but to dismiss the case.
According to Birbal, the main teaching of the aghor sect is to see the atman or equanimity in all of nature and not differences. He said that while the teachings of the aghor sect exhort the devotees not to kill any animal, devotees are allowed to eat flesh and drink alcohol to make them conscious of the all-pervading Atman.