Lord Shiva & the Holy Cannabis Plant

Once upon a time, a long long way from where we now stand, there lived a powerful and divine being known as Lord Shiva. He was one of the three Supreme Gods of Hinduism and was said to reside atop of Mount Kailash in the Himalayas.

One day, Lord Shiva set out on a journey of self-discovery and exploration. Along the way, he encountered a sacred plant known as cannabis. Feeling the plant’s pure energy, Lord Shiva was inspired and consumed the leaves and flowers of the cannabis plant. The energy of the divine plant was overwhelming, calming and energizing all at once.

Once the effects of the cannabis had taken hold, Lord Shiva experienced incredible visions. He saw both the depths of life and the beauty of it, understanding the intricate balance that exists in the Universe. Upon coming to the realization that each moment of life is a precious gift, he embraced all of creation – from the trees to the stars – as part of himself.

Lord Shiva’s connection to cannabis remained strong, and he is said to have invented the holy bhang, a cannabis infused beverage, to boost himself and his followers’ spiritual awareness and connection to the divine.

And, to this day, Shiva himself is often represented with a cannabis leaf over his third eye, reminding us of the importance of that plant’s power and significance. To this day, many still believe that the true path to inner peace can be found through the use of cannabis and with the blessing of Lord Shiva.

Shiva has been a part of Hindu mythology since ancient times, and he has been greatly revered by millions around the world, in India and beyond. He is the all-powerful Hindu God of destruction and rebirth, often depicted with four arms and a trident in hand, dancing the Tandava. On the other side of the spectrum, Cannabis has been widely used around the world for hundreds of years, both recreationally and medicinally, as an aid in achieving a higher state of consciousness and health. This paper will discuss the relationship between Lord Shiva and Cannabis, looking at their history and uses for religious and medicinal purposes.

History

The relationship between Lord Shiva and Cannabis has been around for centuries. As early as 2000 BC, Cannabis was widely used in India for medicinal reasons and as an aid in achieving altered states of consciousness. Culturally, the use of Cannabis was associated with Shiva, who was often referred to as the Lord of Bhang. Bhang is an Ayurvedic herb mixture including Cannabis as its main ingredient and other herbs such as rose petals and spices. This mixture was then made into a drink and offered to Shiva as a way of showing devotion.

The use of Cannabis in traditional Indian culture is mentioned in various Hindu scriptures such as the Atharvaveda and Sushruta Samhita. It is also mentioned in written records by travelers to India such as the Greek writer Herodotus who noted its medicinal properties. Cannabis was used in India in the form of Bhang as well as charas, which is the resin of the female Cannabis plant smoked in a chillum (ornamental clay pipe).

Symbolism

Cannabis was seen as a symbol of both vitality and destruction in ancient Hindu culture. Shiva’s use of Cannabis is seen as a representation of his ever-changing states from destruction to creation, from death to life. It is thought that the use of Cannabis helped Shiva to both find and maintain balance in his life, and thus provided an example of how Cannabis can be used for personal and spiritual growth.

There is also the idea of Cannabis being used as an offering to Shiva in order to obtain his blessings and bestow prosperity on a person or a kingdom. As well as being consumed as a drink or smoked, Cannabis was also used as a votive offering, where it was offered as an offering of thanks, or burned in the fire as part of a Puja ceremony.

Medicinal Uses

The medicinal uses of Cannabis are well known, and have been around for centuries. Cannabis has been used for a variety of medical conditions, including pain relief, anxiety, and even as an aid for sleep. The active compounds in Cannabis, known as cannabinoids, are known to affect certain receptors in the body, leading to a variety of therapeutic effects. Research has found that the use of Cannabis can be beneficial for a range of medical conditions, and can improve quality of life for those suffering from chronic pain, insomnia, and more.

Lord Shiva and Cannabis have a long history together, and are both actively used in various Hindu rituals and traditions. Shiva is often seen as using Cannabis to both achieve and maintain balance in his life, while Cannabis is increasingly being used in the modern world for its medicinal properties. The relationship between Shiva and Cannabis is one that is complex, but ultimately can be seen as a practical way of using a natural substance to achieve balance and better health.