SAD SAD SAD...........WHAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT SHIVA IS A SHEAR MISUNDERSTANDING !!!
1. Firstly, Shiva is not a person. Stop seeing Shiva as a HUMAN-GOD. that's the saddest interpretation of Lord. Shiva is not a Human-God, he is described in the scriptures as Nirgun Brahmman. To elaborate further the Shwetashwatara Upanishadh tells us that Shiva is :
1.Nirgun (In this state he is formless and the whole universe and creation lie in the pervasiveness of Shiva)
2.Saguna (In the Saguna state Shiva is the entire universe and his "ansh" is present in the tree, the insect, the, animal, male, female and the whole creation. In this state though all forms arise out of him yet no form can describe him. He remains the causeless cause of all causes)
3.Nirgun-Sagun (In this state through the intellect, knowledge, senses that are made of gunas we try to explain Shiva in terms of gunas and material forms yet our explanation can not do justice to him as he is all that we explain yet he is not all of it that we explain.....he is beyond thought, intellect and senses)
In the Nirgun-Sagun state Shiva is worshiped as the Shivalingam (Contrary to the rumors spread by our Islamic brothers that Shivalingam is the male genital the fact is that Shivalingam has a deep and scientific theory and philosophy. The word Shivalingam has been derived from sanskrit roots Shiva (Lord) + Lingam (Mark/Chinha/Symbol). Hence, Shivalingam is the mark of lord within its creation. Everything in the world arises out of a dome/a ball/ a pindi......be it a tree which comes from a seed which is round, a child which comes from a cell which is round, all heavenly bodies are round, the minutest of cells are round and our very earth is round. Every thing being round is a mark of the Lord/Shiva. Since Shiva cant be comprehended, we worship his mark or we worshib the whole Brahmman in a Shivalingam.
Besides, the Philosophical explanation of Shivalingam, it also has a deep scientific explanation. It explains the atomic and cellular theory.
COMING TO THE QUESTION THAT SHIVA IS SHOWN HAVING A CHILLUM IS BASELESS AS NO PURAN, VEDA OR SCRIPTURES TALK OF CHILLUMS ASSOCIATION WITH SHIVA. THE PICTURES ARE A CREATION OF HUMANS OWN MIND.
Many people take BHANG as prasad of Shiva. This is a total misconception. When we offer the following to Shiva, it has a deep philosophy and meaning
BHANG- offering bhang to Shiva is symbolically saying that "Oh Mahadev!! I offer all intoxication within me to you in the form of Bhang. I offer you my intoxication related to maya, women, fame and all bad habits. Just as u consumed the halahal during samudramanthan, be gracious enough to accept my intoxications and bless me with purity, knowledge and humanity ". NOTE-Shiva Shastras are completely against Tamsic and Rajsic foods and drinks. A true Shiva devotee stays away from Non-Vegetarian food as he can not kill or be the cause of Pashupatinath's loved creatures. Shiva devotees also stay away from alcohol, smoking and onion/Garlic. As for Nagas.....their Aghor shastra is highly misunderstood (will talk of this later sometime). It also must be noted that the whole universe is associated with Shiva but Bhang is associated because of highly efficient Ayurvedic properties. Bhang is used in ayurveda to treat epilepsy, skin issues, digestion, depression, mental issues, muscle pain etc. However, ayurveda prohibits the overdose of bhang. Our society, has again abused bhang. Bhang contains no alcohol and is a safer drug than even cough mixtures which contain alcohol. Also this Bhang pratha is followed in north majorly. South Indians still do not call bhang as "Bholay ka prasad and get high on it". Too much of anything is bad be it bhang, salt, sugar or excessive love.
https://www.quora.com/Why-is-Lord-Shiva-often-depicted-as-smoking-chillum-weed-What-could-be-a-proper-significance-of-it
There is beautiful Bhajan:
Kisne dekhi theri surut Kaun baneye theri Murat, Too nirakar hi bhagvan
Bana mandir alishan.
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