Origin of Cannabis

Where Did Cannabis Originated?

Many different religions from all around the world have claims of origin of cannabis use  for medical or some other purpose since thearliest of mankind till today. Marijuana industry is itself one of the best grossing industry and is expected to reach  USD 146.4 billion globally by the end of 2025.

It must have occured to you many times that how does this plant came to existence or who was that brilliant mind who discovered this plant . Well just to brake your curuosity the oldest record found mentioning the usage of marijuana comes from Chinise dinesty in 10,000 B.C used for making clothes( NOT A VERY SATISFYING USAGE THOUGH). Still there are some even older mentions of this drug in hindu mythology which originated in India a way back.

Soma In Vedas
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India being the most ethical diverse country in the world and a home to one of the oldest religion on earth related to  ritual intake of a psychedelic drug has the longest history with this plant with mention in many ancient legends. In Vedas(Sacred Hindu Text composed between 1000-4000 B.C ) Cannabis is considered as one of the the 5 Sacred Plants and guardian angel lived in its leaves. In vedas the cannabis is referred often as source of joy and happiness , a liberator that was given to people to help them attain delight or to overcome there fear. It is believed that it was Cannabis(often known as soma or bhangdu in vedas) that gave Vedic worshippers a ephemeral taste of divinity

पञ्च राज्यानि वीरुधां सोमश्रेष्ठानि ब्रूमः।
दर्भो भङ्गो यवः सह ते नो मुञ्चन्त्व् अंहसः॥
“To the five kingdoms of the plants which Soma rules as Lord we speak.
Darbha, hemp, barley, mighty power: may these deliver us from woe.”   -  Atharva Veda

In Vedas Soma (cannabis) was praised by people and was considered  sacred amrit as it gave relief to Lord shiva after he consumed the poison which was a result of samundra manthan. Many scientists claimed cannabis to be the oldest cultivated crop by men but has been still a controversy till date.


Gods Favorite Food
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origin of cannabis sativa

The Great Lord Shiva who is also known to be the first God in Hindu mythology had Cannabis as his favourite food. well, how cannabis became Lord Shiva's favorite food is from very old tale of Lord Shiva when one day after a fight with his wife Goddess Parvati he was sitting under a cannabis tree trying to enter the Alpha state of mind but was unable to. After being very frustrated he decided to consume these cannabis leaves and it helped Shiva enter the alpha state of mind while meditating instantly and Cannabis became his favourite food
Cannabis is also mentioned in a very old tale of Lord Shiva which you must have heard of "The Churning Of Cosmic Ocean"

 A very long time back when the hindu Gods churned the cosmic  ocean which resulted in amrit (elixor of immortality)
and a by product poison Halahala, most venomous poison in the whole universe, which was capable of ending entire cosmos with its power.

 Lord shiva drank the whole poison turning his throat blue giving him a new name NEELKANTH. The agony of the poison was to much for Lord shiva to handle and he consumed cannabis to give relief to his body. In tribute for great doing of Lord shiva for humanity people in India celebrate MAHASHIVRATRI and consume cannabis in form of thandai(milkshake) as Oblation.

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