{"id":4848,"date":"2019-04-11T06:28:20","date_gmt":"2019-04-11T06:28:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vedkabhed.com\/index.php\/2018\/08\/11\/intoxicant-consumption-in-hinduism\/"},"modified":"2026-03-28T06:41:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T06:41:18","slug":"intoxicant-consumption-in-hinduism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vedkabhed.com\/index.php\/2019\/04\/11\/intoxicant-consumption-in-hinduism\/","title":{"rendered":"Intoxicant Consumption in Hinduism"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Written by Sulaiman Razvi<\/span><\/p>\n

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Hinduism is perhaps unique in featuring a deity of liquor, Varuni, and a god such as Shiva who is closely associated with bhang, or cannabis. The consumption of intoxicants is therefore not unknown in Hindu society. In fact, substances such as bhang and liquor have become ceremonial drinks during festivals like Holi and Diwali. Bhang, prepared as a beverage from hemp, is widely consumed during Holi. Many sadhus are also known to smoke cannabis as an act of devotion to Shiva, even though such practices may conflict with modern legal restrictions under the NDPS Act.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, in his book Riddles in Hinduism, writes: \u201cThe ancient Aryans were also a race of drunkards. Wine formed a most essential part of their religion. The Vedic Gods drank wine. The divine wine was called Soma. Since the Gods of the Aryans drank <\/span>wine<\/span> the Aryans had no scruples in the matter of drinking. <\/span>Indeed<\/span> to drink it was a part of an Aryan’s religious duty… Who were denied Soma drank Sura which was ordinary, <\/span>unconsecrated<\/span> wine sold in the market. Not only the male Aryans were addicted to drinking but the females also indulged in drinking. The <\/span>Kaushitaki<\/span> Grihya<\/span> Sutra I.11-12 advises that four or eight women who are not widowed, after having been regaled with wine and food, should be called to dance four times on the night preceding the wedding ceremony.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The consumption of liquor is explicitly prohibited in many Hindu scriptures and is classified as a grave sin, or <\/span>mahapataka<\/span>. However, certain texts permit it under specific conditions. At the same time, numerous narratives depict gods, rishis, and even goddesses consuming liquor. Some texts also prescribe the use of alcohol as a libation offered to particular deities. This contrast reveals a noticeable tension between prescriptive prohibitions and mythological portrayals.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Hindu scriptures mention approximately eleven types of liquor. These include Sura, made from grains and likely the most common drink of the time; <\/span>Maireya<\/span>, a rum like beverage prepared from molasses; <\/span>Paista<\/span>, made from rice; <\/span>Madhvika<\/span>, derived from flowers; Madhuka, made from honey; <\/span>Panasa<\/span>, extracted from jackfruit; <\/span>Draksa<\/span>, produced from grapes; <\/span>Khajura<\/span> sambhava<\/span>, prepared from dates; <\/span>Nalikeraja<\/span>, made from coconut palm; Gaudi, derived from molasses; and Arista, a fermented drink made from soapberry. Wine is praised in certain contexts. Agni Purana 84.1<\/span>–<\/span>2 states that dreaming of wine on the night before a ceremony is considered highly auspicious. Similarly, <\/span>Srimad<\/span> Bhagavatam 5.1.32<\/span>–<\/span>33 describes one of the seven oceans surrounding the earth as an ocean of wine.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Kum<\/span>a<\/span>rila<\/span> Bhatta, an eighth century Hindu scholar and reformer, observes in Tantra Vartika I.III.4, \u201cAmong the people of modern days we find the Brahmana women of the countries of <\/span>Ahicchatra<\/span> and Mathura to be addicted to drinking.\u201d He appears to condemn this practice specifically among Brahmins, while permitting it for Kshatriya and Vaisya men and women, provided that the liquor was distilled from fruits or flowers, known as Madhvi, or from <\/span>molasses, known as Gaudi, rather than from grains, referred to as Sura. This distinction suggests a graded moral framework rather than an absolute prohibition.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Madhavacharya<\/span>, in his Sankara Dig Vijaya, Canto 15, verses 1 to 23, narrates that Adi Shankaracharya, accompanied by King Sudhanva, travelled to Karnataka, where they encountered Kapalikas, a Shaivite sect engaged in the ritual consumption of liquor, similar to certain <\/span>Saktas<\/span>. A debate reportedly followed on this issue, indicating that the use of intoxicants among ascetics was not uncommon in the eighth century. References to such practices are even older. Skanda Purana I.i.1.33 to 34 mentions <\/span>Kapalins<\/span> as being involved in the consumption of liquor. Within certain Shaivite traditions, the use of liquor or cannabis was not considered taboo, a stance that attracted criticism from Vaishnavite authors. The <\/span>Srimad<\/span> Bhagavatam, a Vaishnavite Purana, censures the <\/span>Kapalins<\/span> in the following manner:<\/span><\/p>\n

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Srimad<\/span> Bhagavatam 4.2.28-29 \u201cOne who takes a vow to satisfy Lord \u015aiva or who follows such principles will certainly become an atheist and be diverted from transcendental scriptural injunctions. Those who vow to worship Lord \u015aiva are so foolish that they imitate him by keeping long hair on their heads. <\/span>When initiated into worship of Lord \u015aiva, they prefer to live on wine, flesh and other such things<\/span>.\u201d Tr. Swami <\/span>Prabhupada<\/span> (<\/span>Source<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

Swami <\/span>Prabhupada<\/span> writes<\/span>: \u201cIt is sometimes seen that devotees of Lord \u015aiva imitate the characteristics of Lord \u015aiva. For example, Lord \u015aiva drank an ocean of poison, so some of the <\/span>followers of Lord \u015aiva imitate him and try to take intoxicants like <\/span>g\u0101\u00f1j\u0101<\/span> (marijuana)<\/span>. Here the curse is that if someone follows such <\/span>principles<\/span> he must become an infidel and turn against the principles of Vedic regulation. It is said that such devotees of Lord \u015aiva will be sac-<\/span>ch\u0101stra<\/span>–<\/span>paripanthina\u1e25<\/span>, which means \u201copposed to the conclusion of <\/span>\u015b\u0101stra<\/span>, or scripture.\u2019\u2026\u201d <\/span>Swami <\/span>Prabhupada<\/span> on <\/span>Srimad<\/span> Bhagavatam 4.2.28<\/span><\/strong> (<\/span>Source<\/span><\/a>) <\/span><\/p>\n

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