Does Hinduism Support Intoxicants?
Many Hindus hear this question from people of other religions: Is Shiva, the most adored deity of Hindus, addicted to Marijuana? Or does Hinduism support Intoxicants? And due to the lack of proper religious knowledge among the Hindus, they have to fall into many confusions. Not only this, but we also see the present generation getting addicted to drugs, even they often continue to do drugs in the name of Lord Shiva, which is a very deadly crime. Intoxication is of course bad but when it is associated with religion it is very bad to hear even to heathen people when the message goes that Hindu Gods are addicted to intoxicants they laugh at our religion. So, we must know the correct explanation why ganja is offered as Prasad to Lord Shiva.
To get the answer we have to go back to the time when gods and demons were churning the ocean together. churning ocean Just as some good things came out of the ocean, some bad things also came out of the sea, while gods and demons both wanted a share of the good things, but no one wanted a share of the bad things. For example, when the poison was brought up by the churning of the ocean, the gods and demons became very anxious as to who would take it, because whoever took it was sure to die. Then Lord Mahadev contained that poison in his own voice so that all creatures were saved from the wrath of that poison. We all know what happened after that.
When Mahadev was suffering from that fatal poison, a special medicine was prepared to relieve his suffering. Just as there was honey as an ingredient for making that medicine, there were also some intoxicating ingredients, but they were made only for making medicine. If we want to understand it in the context of present time, then we have to understand that snake venom is often used as an ingredient in making allopathic medicines. But it is true that we can drink snake venom as a medicine but if someone just wants to drink snake venom then no one can stop his death for sure.
When a medicine is made from a toxic substance, its quantity is fixed, and it is in very small quantity so that it does not have any negative effect on the human body. But if someone eats snake poison, he will not live, he will die. So, it is understood that there is a big difference between knowing and understanding so we may misunderstand what we see and therefore sometimes make wrong decisions. But the present generation is taking all these intoxicants saying that when our Lord can drink such intoxicants why can’t we? In fact, it is nothing but their stupidity. If this is the case, then the question can be put before them that if Lord Shiva drank the world at the same time, would they agree to drink poison?
People who take intoxicants have many excuses to say it’s just an excuse for them. They say these things even though they have no idea about religion because these are the things they like to say. Maybe they don’t know how much they are insulting Sanatan i.e. Hinduism to other religions by saying these shots. Even you will not find anywhere in the Hindu religion Shashi that Lord Shiva is intoxicated. Even in ancient times such intoxicating things were not offered to Lord Shiva but nowadays people do it without knowing the real explanation. I have read many Hindu scriptures and discussed with many learned people and have come to know that Lord Shiva never indulged in intoxicants, nor did he ever ask his devotees to intoxicate. If someone takes intoxicants it is his personal matter and has nothing to do with Hinduism.
In Hinduism and Sanatan religion, it is advised to refrain from any kind of intoxication. This is because addiction makes a person weak from inside and increases the attack of various diseases on his body. As a result, the life expectancy of people decreases. So, abstain from all kinds of intoxicants and religion never encourages you to promote such intoxicating things. Religion is the path that guides you to reach God. Dharma always wishes good health to you including your family and never wishes you harm so first know Dharma well then explain it.
