Though Marijuana is illegal in India, during Mahashivratri, mortals are allowed to consume cannabis in the form of ‘Bhang,’ because Bhang is favourite of Shiva. Its made out of cannabis leaves with a mixture of almonds, spices, cold milk and sugar. Worshipers offer ganja to Shiva and also consume it to attain a blissful state. Many Sadhus might not drink alcohol but are allowed ganja and bhang. Villagers in Rajsamand district, Rajasthan consume bhang instead of their morning tea. They don’t consider bhang as an intoxicant, but as prasad , offering of Lord Shiva.
While sadhus can be divided into a zillion different sects, most follow either Shri Vishnu the preserver or Shiva, the destroyer, and thus, the rejuvenator. While many followers of Shri Vishnu manage to find reasons to smoke charas (hash) for enlightenment, it's the latter group that really has a ready excuse. According to sadhus Shiva is generally pictured meditating alone in the Himalayas, his eyes half closed from the effects of his hash habit. Sadhus say, charas is intimately connected with Shiva: he smokes it, he is perpetually intoxicated by it, he is The Lord of Charas." Or as one young sadhu less eloquently put it, "Shiva is a cool god!" This perception goes a long way in explaining the Indian government's lax attitude toward marijuana and hash. Thousands of backpackers descend on India each year, some of them lured by easily available cannabis and hash. So by becoming social outcasts and smoking ganja or charas, the sadhus can claim that they are only trying to emulate Shiva. If even the most devout Hindu man were to sit down to talk with a group of sadhus, he would have no choice but to join in if the chillum came his way. To refuse the pipe would be to pass up the chance, the obligation really, to share a holy experience with the ascetics! πΏππ±
Bum Bum Bhole ~ Jai ShivaShakti!
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