This is not a passage, but it is the ancient tradition that is still done today.
If I happen upon a puran I will post the script as it describes the sacrament of the herb.
Shiva Ratri is the night of Shiva "when He himself was created by His own Divine Grace" . Shiva Ratri literally means ' the night consecrated to Shiva. This auspicious festival falls on the fourteenth day of the waning moon in the month of Falgun, (February - March in the Gregorian calendar ).Shiva Ratri is a much anticipated festival by all Hindus. Pilgrims and yogis from all over Southeast Asia come to Kathmandu. On this day people fast through out the day. At dawn, worshippers take a bath or dip in the river and go to the temple to worship.
Shiva Ratri; on this day devotees and non-devotees alike freely indulge in smoking marijuana and, it is the only day in the annual calendar when herb is legal. They smoke in the belief that it pleases Lord Shiva for he too is said to be fond of it. Thus herb is taken as prasad, holy food blessed by the Gods.
The Puran, is one of the many holy text of the Hindus, that tells of this, and that if you worship Shiva on this day all your sins will be forgiven. |