In Sikhism, some Sikhs particularly of the Nihang community use ediblecannabis in a religious context. They make use of cannabis by ingestion. It is used to make a drink called "Shaheedi Degh" which is meant to help Nihang Singhs become highly present in the moment. Nihang Singhs used marijuana in the early times of Sikh history during times of battle, it is believed to help them become more fierce warriors.
Process of making Shaheedi degh in a Sikh village in Punjab, India. On the Sikh army training day called Hola Moholla it is a customary tradition.[1]
Mural of two Nihang Sikhs making Bhang or Sukh Nidhan.
The first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak, stated that using any mind altering substance (without medical purposes) is a distraction from God. Guru Nanak was offered bhang by the Mughal emperor Babur; Nanak however declined, and recited this shabad:
Fear of Thee, o Lord, is my bhang, and my mind the pouch in which I carry it. Intoxicated with this bhang I have abandoned all interest in worldly concerns.[2]
The SGPC has also added a section in their rehait maryada (Sikh codes of conduct) that bans the Cannabis, opium and liquor for all Sikhs that follow its rehit maryada. The following is a translated quote from the rehait maryada. "A Sikh must not take hemp (cannabis), opium, liquor, tobacco, in short, any intoxicant. His only routine intake should be food."[3]
Usageedit
Gouache by an Amritsar artist depicting the preparation and consumption of Indian hemp (bhang), circa 1870.
The Sikhs inherited the tradition of drinking originates from the sixth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji who started it to give sikhs Bir Ras (warrior spirit) and to get them energized, as sikhs used to get up at around 12 am for armit vela and not go back to sleep till after the evening prayers of Sohila Sahib.[citation needed]
Nihang Sikhsedit
In the modern day, cannabis consumption (but not smoking) is commonly associated with the Nihang Singhs, a sect who continue the orthodox Sikh warrior tradition, who consume drinks as sukha or sukhnidhaan, or more commonly known shaheedi degha.[4][5]shaheedi degh is mostly used in Panjab on the Sikh holidays of Holla Mohalla and Vaisakhi. At many Sikh temples, including Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib Ji, the shaheedi degh is offered as a holy food.[6]
In 2001, Baba Santa Singh, the jathedar of Budha Dal, along with 20 Nihang jathadars (leaders), refused to accept the ban on the consumption of bhang by the SGPC.[7] Baba Santa Singh was excommunicated for a different issue, and replaced with Balbir Singh (who isn't accepted to be a nihang leader by most nihang singhs), who agreed to shun the consumption of bhang.[8]
Some Nihang groups consume cannabis or shaheedi degh (ਭੰਗ), purportedly to help in meditation. Sukhaa-parsaad (ਸੁੱਖਾਪ੍ਰਰਸਾਦ), "dry-sweet", is the term Nihang use to refer to it. It was traditionally crushed and taken as a liquid, especially during festivals like Hola Mohalla.
^Ayyagari S (2007). ""Hori Hai": A Festival of Colours!! (review)". Asian Music. Johns Hopkins University Press. 38 (2): 151–153. doi:10.1353/amu.2007.0029. S2CID 192201145.
^McLeod (4 March 2004). Sikhs and Sikhism: Comprising Guru Nanak and the Sikh Religion, Early Sikh Tradition, The Evolution of the Sikh Community, Who is a Sikh?. OUP India. pp. 74–75. ISBN978-0-19-566892-6.
^Pashaura Singh; Louis E. Fenech (March 2014). The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies. OUP Oxford. pp. 378–. ISBN978-0-19-969930-8.
^Pashaura Singh; Michael Hawley (7 December 2012). Re-imagining South Asian Religions: Essays in Honour of Professors Harold G. Coward and Ronald W. Neufeldt. BRILL. pp. 34–. ISBN978-90-04-24236-4.
^"The 'Sukhnidhaan' or 'Bhang' (cannabis)". Amrit World. 28 February 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
^Nihangs ‘not to accept’ ban on bhang. The Tribune. March 26, 2001.
^No ‘bhang’ at Hola Mohalla. The Tribune. March 10, 2001.
November 11, 2023
cannabis, sikhism, sikhism, some, sikhs, particularly, nihang, community, edible, cannabis, religious, context, they, make, cannabis, ingestion, used, make, drink, called, shaheedi, degh, which, meant, help, nihang, singhs, become, highly, present, moment, nih. In Sikhism some Sikhs particularly of the Nihang community use edible cannabis in a religious context They make use of cannabis by ingestion It is used to make a drink called Shaheedi Degh which is meant to help Nihang Singhs become highly present in the moment Nihang Singhs used marijuana in the early times of Sikh history during times of battle it is believed to help them become more fierce warriors Process of making Shaheedi degh in a Sikh village in Punjab India On the Sikh army training day called Hola Moholla it is a customary tradition 1 Contents 1 Prohibition 2 Usage 2 1 Nihang Sikhs 3 See also 4 ReferencesProhibition edit nbsp Mural of two Nihang Sikhs making Bhang or Sukh Nidhan The first Sikh guru Guru Nanak stated that using any mind altering substance without medical purposes is a distraction from God Guru Nanak was offered bhang by the Mughal emperor Babur Nanak however declined and recited this shabad Fear of Thee o Lord is my bhang and my mind the pouch in which I carry it Intoxicated with this bhang I have abandoned all interest in worldly concerns 2 The SGPC has also added a section in their rehait maryada Sikh codes of conduct that bans the Cannabis opium and liquor for all Sikhs that follow its rehit maryada The following is a translated quote from the rehait maryada A Sikh must not take hemp cannabis opium liquor tobacco in short any intoxicant His only routine intake should be food 3 Usage edit nbsp Gouache by an Amritsar artist depicting the preparation and consumption of Indian hemp bhang circa 1870 The Sikhs inherited the tradition of drinking originates from the sixth Sikh Guru Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji who started it to give sikhs Bir Ras warrior spirit and to get them energized as sikhs used to get up at around 12 am for armit vela and not go back to sleep till after the evening prayers of Sohila Sahib citation needed Nihang Sikhs edit In the modern day cannabis consumption but not smoking is commonly associated with the Nihang Singhs a sect who continue the orthodox Sikh warrior tradition who consume drinks as sukha or sukhnidhaan or more commonly known shaheedi degha 4 5 shaheedi degh is mostly used in Panjab on the Sikh holidays of Holla Mohalla and Vaisakhi At many Sikh temples including Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib Ji the shaheedi degh is offered as a holy food 6 In 2001 Baba Santa Singh the jathedar of Budha Dal along with 20 Nihang jathadars leaders refused to accept the ban on the consumption of bhang by the SGPC 7 Baba Santa Singh was excommunicated for a different issue and replaced with Balbir Singh who isn t accepted to be a nihang leader by most nihang singhs who agreed to shun the consumption of bhang 8 Some Nihang groups consume cannabis or shaheedi degh ਭ ਗ purportedly to help in meditation Sukhaa parsaad ਸ ਖ ਪ ਰਰਸ ਦ dry sweet is the term Nihang use to refer to it It was traditionally crushed and taken as a liquid especially during festivals like Hola Mohalla See also editRehat Diet in Sikhism Jhatka Meat consumption among Sikhs Prohibitions in Sikhism Bhangi MislReferences edit Ayyagari S 2007 Hori Hai A Festival of Colours review Asian Music Johns Hopkins University Press 38 2 151 153 doi 10 1353 amu 2007 0029 S2CID 192201145 McLeod 4 March 2004 Sikhs and Sikhism Comprising Guru Nanak and the Sikh Religion Early Sikh Tradition The Evolution of the Sikh Community Who is a Sikh OUP India pp 74 75 ISBN 978 0 19 566892 6 SikhiToTheMax www sikhitothemax org Retrieved 2022 11 05 Pashaura Singh Louis E Fenech March 2014 The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies OUP Oxford pp 378 ISBN 978 0 19 969930 8 Pashaura Singh Michael Hawley 7 December 2012 Re imagining South Asian Religions Essays in Honour of Professors Harold G Coward and Ronald W Neufeldt BRILL pp 34 ISBN 978 90 04 24236 4 The Sukhnidhaan or Bhang cannabis Amrit World 28 February 2008 Retrieved 19 November 2015 Nihangs not to accept ban on bhang The Tribune March 26 2001 No bhang at Hola Mohalla The Tribune March 10 2001 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cannabis and Sikhism amp oldid 1168399406, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
