Religion & Beliefs (Q&A)

Answer:

There are various reason as to why bhang is consumed on 'Mahashivratri'. Some of these are:

• Bhang has intoxicating power in it and people take it so that they can centre their thoughts on the eternal without any disturbance on the auspicious day. In imitation of Shiva, many sadhus use Bhang to boost meditation and to achieve detachment from worldly emotions.

• It is also said that when there were lot of asuras, lord shiva drank bhang because it was actually the negativity of the whole world.

• Bhang is said to be an indication of the wild lifestyle of Lord Shiva.

• In the ancient text Atharvaveda, bhang is described as a beneficial herb that releases anxiety. One of Shiva's epithets is "Lord of Bhang" as he is said to have discovered the transcendental properties of the mixture.

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