LORD SHIVA AND THE CANNABIS

Whenever I think of Mahadev Shiva (lord of the lords), I imagine him as an eternal power, an in-charge who takes care of people on earth and a problem solver when a conflict arises between gods.
Shiva is considered as one of the supreme forms of gods who can save nearly everything from falling apart. Being regarded as a ‘destroyer’ symbolizes his massive power, he is one of the three in ‘Trimurti’. I see him as a yogi who lives a simple life in mount Kailash very well known as Kailash Parvat. He is called by several names like Neelkanth, Gangadhar, Aghod, Gauri Nath, Rudra, and thousands more. He dislikes greed, arrogance, and hypocrisy. He is an undemanding God that anybody around this globe can please him just by chanting his name with a pure heart and can make Shiva answer his/her prayers. He is the complex amalgamation of all the qualities:

. He is ascetic as well as a family person.
. Beautiful but terrifying as well.
. He is the dancer (Natraj) but can be absolutely still.
. God worships him, but demons & negative energies are also devoted to him.
. He lives in a green forest but meditates in burial ground & burning bodies.

Unfortunately, some people mislead Lord Shiva by picturizing him as smoking pot and consuming a Bhang (cannabis). I entirely agree with people associating Shiva with a Bhang, but the question is why he is related to it? Cannabis is one of the most sacred plants, and it is written in the fourth Veda that relieves anxiety. Thus, being a sacred plant, it is used as a spiritual and religious plant.

Moreover, during the ‘Samundra Manthan’, a lethal poison named ‘Halahal’ was released, which was so poisonous that it could end the entire creation. To avoid that to happen, Lord Shiva consumed whole poison on his own, and later to cool him down, gods offered him Bhang (cannabis). So, if you are consuming it over his name then always remember he also exemplifies a trademark of qualities as well, be it giving utmost respect to his wife (Shakti/Parvati Maa), generosity, mellowed, wearing a tiger skin (not precious pieces of jewelry as other gods are depicted in mythological books) implies his simplicity, and whatnot.

So, if you are a true Lord Shiva disciple, and want him to show you the right path, then admire & follow his positivism as well. Then you will see, he will do immeasurably more than what you had wanted or imagined. And no matter how hard the time gets, always look up to him with pure intentions, and he will do the rest. Lastly, I would request you to be a ‘Shivaholic’ not an ‘Alcoholic’.