This year Maha Shivratri will be celebrated on 1st March 2022. Let us find out why Bhang also known as Bhang is a quintessential part of the offerings made to Lord Shiva and what makes it so essential in worship.
What exactly is cannabis?
Bhang is basically a drink made from edible cannabis. It is made by grinding hemp leaves, hemp seeds and mixing them with milk, dry fruits, dry fruits and aromatic mild spices. However, cannabis is still a narcotic drug and possession of this drug is considered an offense under the Narcotics Act, 1985. However, due to the religious importance of this medicine it is allowed to be consumed during festivals like Maha Shivratri and Holi. , But what makes bhang an inseparable part of these festivals? let’s find out!
Religious Importance of Bhangi
According to Indian culture, cannabis finds mention in books of mythology and Vedic scriptures, in which it is considered a sacred plant, the source of connection with the divine power of Lord Shiva and often associated with nirvana and salvation. ,
There are many stories that refer to the relationship of cannabis with Lord Shiva, but according to mythology, it is believed that the story of cannabis is associated with ‘Samudra Manthan’, where the ocean was churned to obtain the drink of immortality. Was. Known as Amrita. However, during the process of churning, a poison was released, which had extreme heat and had the potential to destroy the entire universe. Lord Shiva drank poison to save the universe, hence he is also called Neekantha.
He put the poison in his throat, which turned his throat blue and created a lot of heat inside. It is believed that soon after drinking the poison Shiva became restless and the gods and goddesses tried to pacify him. It is believed that to pacify Lord Shiva, the moon god Moon stayed in the hair (jata) of Lord Shiva, it is believed that after consuming Halahal, Lord Shiva returned to Kailash to reduce his body temperature. Came and popular beliefs also claim that they were given. Bhang which was a coolant to reduce the heat caused by the consumption of venom (poison). This is the reason why bhang is an essential offering in Maha Shivratri puja.