› added 1 year ago

57

TIL the Aghori is a Hindu Shaivite monastic order, who's practices focus on breaking taboos, and rejecting purity. They include living in cemeteries, smearing cremation ashes on their bodies, making items from bones, meditating on corpses, and even having sex in the presence of corpses.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

x6e00 TIL You probably know that snails are petty slow creatures, but did you know that they also take the longest naps? One nap can last up to three years!
wLYG7 TIL the best man’s original purpose was to serve as an accomplice in case the bride needed to be kidnapped from disapproving parents.
7rvNZ TIL Elvis Costello is banned from appearing on SNL after refusing to play “Less Than Zero” at Lorne Michaels’ request. He saw it pointless to play a song about UK politics over here. He played a few bars, then kicked into “Radio, Radio,” which was a criticism of corporate-controlled broadcasting.
DQgZr TIL of a German cave, Hohle Fels, where some of the oldest human artifacts have been found. A 35,000-40,000 year old human figurine and a 42,000 year old flute have been found there.
vP5Zr TIL Emperor Genghis Khan's conquests caused such devastation that vegetation regrowth in his enemies' former lands led to a notable decrease in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.