Photo by Ivan Samkov / Pexels

Learn | 10.21.2021

Holy Men In India Use Weed For Spiritual Purposes: Here’s Why

Using cannabis is said to bring devotees closer to spirituality and help them focus on meditation.

Shiva is one of the three major gods in Hindu, and he also has a love for cannabis which he shares with other holy men during The Night of Shiva festival.

“Shiva loves marijuana. So we come to share Shiva’s prasad offerings with everyone else,” explains a 60-year-old holy man Radhe Baba.

The Night of Shiva celebrates the day Shiva saved the universe from darkness and married the goddess Parvati. To help celebrate, hundreds of holy men and some women have traveled down to Pashupati, one of Nepal’s most sacred Hindu temples located in the capital city of Kathmandu.

Photo by iStock / Getty Images

Days before the festival, they prepare by praying and lounging to be well-rested to commune with Shiva. Some of these practices include smoking hashish by bonfires. “Fire represents God,” says Ram Das Bairagi. “We do bonfires for Shiva, to call him. Maybe he will see the fire.”

It’s believed that Shiva uses marijuana both to relax and focus on his meditation. Another holy man by the name of Madhan Lal explained that “The marijuana helps keep off worldly desires. Sharing the prasad (cannabis) shows our love for Shiva.”

Photo by Claude Renault

Holy men invite visitors to sit, smoke, and relax with a conical clay pipe called chillum to share the prasad. They proceed by smearing ashes over the visitor’s forehead as a blessing. They will light bonfires to warm Shiva and signify winter’s end.

“God is such a mysterious thing, but you have to follow it because it’s inside you,” says 72-year-old Dandi Baba. “We don’t follow the money or day-to-day things. They’re not important; you don’t need those things. The only thing humans need is to share the love with each other and share our culture.”

Moose Labs MouthPeace Collection: Social Smoking Redefined

/

Rachel Abela


The Best Dispensaries In New Mexico

/

Jeffrey Tiu

/

enter your email below to get insider updates delivered straight to your inbox.

READ MORE

How Hinduism’s cannabis god fuels India’s weed-loving culture
Culture |
14.08.2019
How Hinduism’s cannabis god fuels India’s weed-loving culture
The Links Between Weed And Spirituality
Learn |
04.08.2023
The Links Between Weed And Spirituality
What Is Bhang?
Learn |
20.03.2023
What Is Bhang?
In India, Cannabis And Tantric Sex Go Hand-In-Hand
Learn |
17.11.2021
In India, Cannabis And Tantric Sex Go Hand-In-Hand
This Cannabis Shake Will Help You Talk To The Gods
Learn |
22.10.2021
This Cannabis Shake Will Help You Talk To The Gods
Welcome To Women-Only Weed Camp; Time For Fat Blunts And Radical Self-Love
travel |
22.10.2017
Welcome To Women-Only Weed Camp; Time For Fat Blunts And Radical Self-Love
Road To Legalization: Weirdest Weed Laws Around The World
Legalization |
17.05.2022
Road To Legalization: Weirdest Weed Laws Around The World
Ganja Yoga: How To Combine Cannabis And Yoga
guides |
22.11.2022
Ganja Yoga: How To Combine Cannabis And Yoga
Pack Your Bags, Holi Is The Festival of Color… and Marijuana Smoothies (Photos)
travel |
21.10.2017
Pack Your Bags, Holi Is The Festival of Color… and Marijuana Smoothies (Photos)
Here’s How Cannabis Can Improve Meditation Rituals
Learn |
21.07.2022
Here’s How Cannabis Can Improve Meditation Rituals