Naked In Ashes

A wonderful documentary on a lifestyle that is mind-blowing piece of humanity's cultural heritage.in India there are 13 million yogis, saddhus, and babas, out of a 1 billion population. Some of them are standing babas who never sit or lie down for decades. Other keep their right arm raised continuously for years. Only a very few of them do any kind of fancy asana, beyond plain old half lotus or tailor sitting.The main focus is Shiv Raj Giri, as he and his tiny band of disciples, including 14-year-old boy Santosh Giri, treks around between Hardiwar and the Himalayan foothills and the Kumbh Mela mega-festival. They wear no or little clothes, they smear their entire bodies with ash, they love the Ganga river. All yogi's in this movie, no yogini's. In many ways they are like homeless people the world over, though they seem a bit more content (Don't believe me about that homeless reference? Read quotes below). It also covered aghori yogi's, who live at the cremation sites full-time, and a number of others.I could see, as the small band was filmed wandering all over Northern India, how the rest of India was kind of growing up around them, beginning to get overdeveloped with new buildings, power lines, concrete sluices in the rivers, etc. It gave them a melancholy air. Later on Shiv Raj commented on this very point, saying that the government wanted to clear out a lot of old temples and sacred natural areas, and put hotels and parking lots on them. Sad.One other tiny group is just a duo, Hanuman Das and Barfani Das. They form an interesting pair because the lone disciple's legs are wasted, and he cannot walk. Therefore, the guru carries him everywhere they go, on his shoulders. They live in a small tent by a river and spend their days collecting driftwood for their fire. And of course chanting and so on.Quotes from the Yogis:"We are hermits and we will give our life for the sake of our souls.""I have stood for 12 years to get peace in my soul.""After one sees the Supreme Lord, this whole world is like insects, whatever you see is worms.""The trees are being cut down. In the near future we will be scorched by the heat. We know Mother Ganga (river) comes for 5000 years. Now 3500 years are gone, and 1500 years should remain. But due to cutting trees, the time will be much shorter. Mother Ganga will go away from us soon. Clean pure air will also become rare.""The earlier life ends, the better.""We humans need vessels to eat. Just so, the gods need human vessels for their feeding. So man is like a vessel to god.""Shiva is Lord of the Homeless, King of the Himalayas.""The body has no reality.""Even after becoming a yogi, there is no peace.""It is not easy to go to the Parliament to voice your opinions without clothes.""I pulled a fully loaded jeep for 1 kilometer with my [...]. This [...] control is not easy. No [...] control, no good holy man.""Every human has 10 senses.""Today the population of yogi's is going down. in another 50 years you will hardly hear the word 'yogi'.""When the body suffers one remembers god. For devotion one needs one of two things: either fear or suffering."

If you are looking for in depth information on the practice of Puja, Dhyana, Pranayama, Raja Yoga, Hatha Yoga, etc... you will have to look else where. Likewise if your only experience with Yoga has been at the local recreation center or YMCA you may be disappointed.If you are interested in Yoga as a Mystical Religion, then this film will absolutely uplift your soul and inspire you to new heights within your own spiritual practice. It offers a rare darshan for Western Yogis living a long way from the shores of India.This film will share with you the very heart of Yoga and give you a glimpse into the life style of the Naga Babas. You will meet many Yogis and even a Yogini, here are a few quotes;"You can not become a Yogi by wearing some robes, you can not become a Yogi by just wanting to be one, you can only become a Yogi by the mercy of the Lord.""The life of a Sadhu is meant for doing good to other living beings.""You will not see God through these eyes, the third eye will open through Yoga.""It is a saints duty to try to attract people to the good and try to help overcome evil.""All prayer is beneficial""You Can Find God.""We do get donations but we try to live our lives as simply as possible, when we do have money as often as we spend it we give it away.""By doing all these Yoga Asanas I attract people and then I preach to them."I highly recommend this film to all Western Yogis.Aum Namah Shivaya

The recently released film documentary `Naked In Ashes' directed by Paula Fouce is an absolutely breathtaking up close and personal look into the hearts and minds of the modern day Holy Men of India. Travel up and down the River Ganges and meet a variety of yogis, sadhus, gurus and sages as they dispense wisdom and forgiveness to mankind by performing austerities and rituals in an effort to combat the current dark age known as the Kali Yuga.I simply cannot say enough good things about this amazing production. The urban and rural cinematography is gorgeous, the interviews are insightful and filled with wisdom, and the camera positioning is so close you feel as though you're on the spiritual journey as a participant, not a viewer.An added and unexpected plus in this documentary are some pointed, timely, possibly prophetic comments concerning the political climate of the country, the ongoing impact of the Kali Yuga on present day spirituality and the envisioned decline of ascetic life in India in the next fifty years. These insights interspersed here and there amongst the wonderful spiritual teachings conveyed in this film make 'Naked In Ashes' a truly intelligent, accessible, unique and important documentary.The film also contains a mesmerizing Indian soundtrack that adds intensity and wonder to the already exotic atmosphere.My Highest Recommendation!

While this documentary was not quite what I had expected, I was intrigued, inspired and amazed by this group of wandering yogis. When I ordered it, I thought it would cover a more varied experience of individuals and territory. Though this film covers a small spiritual group of men in one particular area - magnify this in your mind, if you can, to 13 million. India is a country of one billion people! Of these, there are at least 13 million holy people who have devoted themselves entirely to the Divine! and each day whether they eat or do not eat, where they lay their heads - all is relied upon Divine gift and the generosity of fellow believers. It is a beautiful film and deeply touching.There is so much detail in this film, it should be watched several times I feel. Also, I would venture to recommend it to those who have some degree of familiarity with Indian religions, esp. Hindu (even if the familiarity is only slight, it would give a better basis for understanding what the film portrays).