Gods and Bhang?

[Spiritualseeker]

Namaste,

I know that Shiva and Ganesha are connected with Bhang and other usage of the herb. Are there any other Gods that associate themselves with Bhang also?

[PARAM]

Namaste,

I know that Shiva and Ganesha are connected with Bhang and other usage of the herb. Are there any other Gods that associate themselves with Bhang also?

Neither Shiva, nor Ganesha is connected with Bhang. However Shaiv devotees connect Shaivism with Bhang, while in truth they have milk, never bang.

[Spiritualseeker]

http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/co...ing-ocean-milk

[PARAM]

Originally it was milk and not something wrong product, just like anti Hindus has translated sOmRaS into liquor for their own understanding.

[Eastern Mind]

Vannakkam SS: Although there is no denying that is some sects of Saivism, especially within sahus, there is an association with hemp, it is by no means a generalisation. I don't know the facts, but I know many including myself who would prefer there was no association. Any real and lasting mystical a effect comes from prayer and meditation, not from herbal substances.

I believe, but could be wrong, that it is a minority practise. Certainly not something associated with any temples I know of. In fact, if a person came to our temple high, he'd be escorted off the property.

Aum Namasivaya

[Ramakrishna]

Namaste SS,

I have actually been asked about this before by people. They see some program on television of Saiva sadhus smoking cannabis and think that represents all of Hinduism.

I agree with Eastern Mindji that this is a minority practice. I'm not sure what the scriptures say exactly about this. Of course soma is mentioned frequently, but we do not know for sure what exactly soma was. Certainly from a practical point of view the usage of cannabis for any "spiritual" purposes should be discouraged for the most part, and perhaps only undertaken under the guidance of a guru, if at all. I'm not even really sure why some sadhus smoke cannabis, but I really doubt it can be truly connected with any real spirituality in any way.

Jai Sri Ram

[devotee]

Namaste SS,

I know that Shiva and Ganesha are connected with Bhang and other usage of the herb. Are there any other Gods that associate themselves with Bhang also?

Ganesha's worship doesn't include Bhang, as far as I know. Bhang is used for Lord Shiva and Lord Bhairava (chief of Lord Shiva's GaNas). It is believed that Shiva likes Bhaang, Gaanjaa etc. & therefore, offering these to Him propitiates Him.

Being very close to one of Lord Bhairava's devotee in my childhood, I found that the use of these substances is sanctioned by a qualified Guru to get the "final push" to attain oneness with the Lord. These substances reduce the ususal strong bondage to this body-mind entity & helps the saadhak to attain higher realm easily. The devotee I am talking about was very well known to me. He used to take it by the end of the Puja on special occasions (only once in a year) when he used to have the Bhaava of Lord Bhairava (it is popularly called as coming of Bhairava on the devotee). There was a sudden change of facial expression & easily visible physilogical effects when this happened .... and yes, during that time, whatever he spoke (including boons to some) used to come out to be True !

However, due to intoxicating nature of these substances, these substances are more abused than used for the intended purpose. As you very well know, "One man's food is another man's poison.". Indiscriminate use of any intoxicating substance without the guidance of an able Guru is strongly prohibited & must be discouraged. It can only lead to the inevitable downfall of the seeker than any real spiritual progress.

OM

[sm78]

I believe, but could be wrong, that it is a minority practise. Certainly not something associated with any temples I know of. In fact, if a person came to our temple high, he'd be escorted off the property.
Aum Namasivaya

If you read autobiography of a sadhu by Rampuri, which I believe contains very authentic account of the naga sadhus by a naga, you will see these sadhus are inseparable from their pot.

Sarabhanga, one of the original members of this message board had a nice receipe on how to prepare bhang and offer to shiva and consume.

We will believe what we want to believe, but that doesn't change the fact. Intoxicants was and is an integral part of ascetic life, but should be avoided in householder life.

In the bengali book (quite quite old) "tantrabhilasir sadhusanga" - "accounts of holy company among sadhus by a tantra enthusiast" ... I saw an explanation why sadhus consume intoxicants - its not for the "final push" (which I think is an absurdity, as moksha is not a conditional destination which can be "reached" by human "push")...its main purpose is to endure a difficult life, harsh and often very lengthy & difficult rituals which only sadhus will attempt. Remaining awake all night by the fire for days under open sky and in easy prey of insects. Cannabis often helps to overcome this harshness and helps the aspirant to complete his necessary rituals and duties to shiva. Its a gift from shiva and a help from shiva, offered back to shiva. There might be other esoteric purposes which is beyond my understanding.

But the biggest purpose for me, is to shatter these non sense myths around intoxication. Krishna and Arjuna often drank wine in company of Draupadi - the present day krishna bhakt idots will shiver in their spine to imagine this, but it is in mahabharata. Tantras contain one of the most original and early classification of wines - classification of liquor and wine is not only a western discovery.

Those interested in non sense religious oppressive laws will always find some problem with all natural pastimes under the sun, they want to live a conditioned life by obsolete rules created by dead people they never knew, but spiritual people need to be more intelligent.

[rkpande]

sage patanjali has something to say on herbs, if ganja could be classified as one:-
Yoga Sutra 4-1.
The mystic powers arise due to birth, HERBS(ausadhi),mantras,the performance of tapah and samadhi.
Is shiva not considered to be the first teacher of Yoga.

[devotee]

- its not for the "final push" (which I think is an absurdity, as moksha is not a conditional destination which can be "reached" by human "push")

You have no idea !

OM