🌿 Sacred Smoke: Cannabis in Ancient India

If ancient China gave the world hemp as industry and medicine, India gave cannabis its sacred, spiritual voice. In the land of the Vedas, rivers, and gods, cannabis was never just a plant — it was a bridge between humanity and the divine.

Cannabis In Ancient India

The Atharva Veda: A Sacred Gift

Over 3,000 years ago, the Atharva Veda — one of Hinduism’s oldest sacred texts — listed cannabis as one of the five most sacred plants. It was called a source of happiness, a liberator, and a gift from the gods. The Sanskrit word “bhang” still echoes this reverence today.

“A guardian angel resides in the bhang leaf. It releases us from anxiety and brings us closer to joy.” — Ancient Hindu text

Bhang: Ritual, Festival, and Medicine

Bhang — a drink made of cannabis leaves, milk, and spices — has been part of Indian culture for centuries. Even today, it’s offered during Holi and Shivaratri festivals, when devotees drink bhang to honor Lord Shiva, who is said to have discovered the plant’s powers while meditating in the Himalayas.

But bhang wasn’t just ritual. Ayurveda, India’s ancient system of medicine, prescribed cannabis for digestion, sleep, and pain relief. It was considered both a spiritual aid and a practical medicine.

From Sacred to Stigmatized

For thousands of years, cannabis was part of daily life — spiritual, medical, and social. But during British colonial rule, the view began to shift. In the late 19th century, the British launched a commission to study cannabis use in India, worried it was “dangerous.” The result? Even their own report admitted moderate use was harmless, yet the seeds of stigma were planted.

In the modern era, India — like much of the world — came under international pressure. Cannabis was officially outlawed in 1985 under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. A plant once revered in sacred texts was pushed into the shadows.

Reflection: The Return of the Sacred Plant?

• If cannabis was sacred in India’s oldest scriptures, what does its modern ban say about cultural memory?
• Could the wisdom of Ayurveda and ritual use guide today’s medical cannabis research?
• And will India, like China, rediscover the plant it once celebrated as divine?

India’s story shows us that cannabis is more than medicine or fiber — it is memory, spirit, and culture. To understand cannabis, we must look not only to science, but also to the sacred.

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