A Historical Murder-Cult in Former India

Abstract

Thugs constituted a cult/order of males, who concealed themselves as ordinary people. In the winter season they would go on roads, join travelers and at the proper moment strangle them and obtain their possessions. Their belief certified that the practice pleased their goddess Kâli. The religious aspects of their deeds imparted many rituals into the “play”. After centuries of clandestine activity accompanied by tolerance and even collaboration by the local figures of power, the order was finally discovered and annihilated by the British
authorities.