252
24. Up-country darwans generally drink or
swallow pastes of bhang prepared with other in
gredients according to taste.
26. As for bhang or siddhi, few are excessive
consumers. I have, however, heard of one or two
hard drunkards having left the bottle to take to
massive doses of siddhi every day. Most people
who drink siddhi for exhilaration do so occasionally
and in moderate quantities. Ganja smokers are
generally regular consumers, and many are exces
sive smokers. Of charas consumers I have no
information. They are believed to be habitual
consumers.
27. It is company and association that lead
to the practice of taking ganja and charas.
Another cause of these two drugs being in use
among the poorer classes and amongst ascetics
(sanyasis) is the cheapness of the drugs. Their
effect in producing intoxication being almost in
stantaneous, may be another reason for their use.
The sanyasis regard the use of ganja as essential
to preserve health. It may be that it temporarily
wards off the effects of exposure to wind, rain
and sun. Habitual drinkers of siddhi take it as a
mild and inexpensive intoxicating drug.
29. Sugar, spices and fragrant leaves, such as
rose leaves and sometimes rose water also are
mixed with bhang. Ganja is generally smoked
alone or with tobacco leaves. Dhatura is some
times mixed.
31. I believe that the habit of smoking ganja
and charas cannot be easily shaken off. I know of
a man who was a ganja smoker, and whose father,
being apprised of the fact, kept watch over him.
On the second day the man felt very unwell, and
was only relieved by ganja being given to him.
32. Siddhi is drunk in Bengal on the Bijaya day,
on which the goddess Durga's image is thrown in
to the river. This seems to be a social custom.
I
have not met with any weighty religious authority
in the matter. Siddhi is also offered to Bisweswar
(the most sacred image of Siva) at Benares daily,
and may be offered to Siva by his worshippers.
Siddhi is drunk generally very moderately on the
Bijaya day. Many people merely touch it, and
some merely apply a drop to their lips. This
custom does not seem to lead to the formation of
the habit of drinking siddhi.
Bits of dry leaves of siddhi are taken by people
starting on a journey, as being of good auspices.
33. Taking siddhi is not considered as objection
able as drinking wine. A Sanskrit verse says
that "(in kali-yuga) siddhi (should be) preferred
to wine." It runs
thus:—Samvidāsavāyārmadhye
samvidaiva garīyasī.
Ganja smokers are held in
disrepute; sanyasis are, however, excused, and
they often would beg a pice or two to enable them
to smoke ganja. Charas smokers are detested.
34. It may be hard for confirmed smokers of
ganja and charas to discontinue the practice all of
a sudden.
35. In so far as these drugs are cheap and easily
procurable ingredients for intoxication, it may be
hard to prohibit altogether their use. Their
prohibition is likely, among the lower classes, to
lead to the use of alcoholic stimulants or other
drugs. But I do not for a moment wish it to be
understood that I support the use of ganja and
charas. I believe the use of these drugs accounts
for many cases of insanity and idiocy.
40. Yes, siddhi is often prescribed for men and
horses. One of its effects is that it stimulates
appetite. It has many other medicinal properties.
In prescribing siddhi other drugs are also prescrib
ed along with it.
41. (a) Siddhi is believed to be such.
Ganja may temporarily serve to have a staying-
power against exposure, etc.; but I believe it has
very bad effects also upon the system. I have
already given it as my opinion that sanyasis may
have taken to the practice of smoking ganja as a
preventive against the effects of cold, rain and
privations. The Tantras require the Tantriks to
have some sort of intoxicating drug or other.
44. Siddhi induces laughter and exhilaration.
In large doses the consumer does not feel quite at
ease and must go to sleep. In such cases the
effect lasts for twenty-four to forty-eight hours.
In small doses it induces hunger.
Ganja smokers are generally lean; but I have
heard that those, who can take sufficient cooling
and nourishing substances, preserve a good constitu
tion. Whether ganja induces appetite or destroys
it, I cannot say. In the long run ganja is very
injurious to the human system.
45. I have known of cases in which ganja in
duced dysentery.
Yes, most certainly ganja has a most deleterious
effect on the brain. I believe that many cases of
insanity can be traced to its use. I know of one
or two instances among juvenile smokers.
Further statement put in by MAHAMAHO-
PADHYA MAHESA CHANDRA NAYARATNA.
Since sending in my answers, I had opportuni
ties of adding to my knowledge about hemp
drugs. The additional information I have
to
give is given below:—
24. In Behar, the North-Western Provinces
and Oudh, bhang is largely in use amongst mem
bers of the upper castes, Brahmans, Khatriyas and
Vaishas; and amongst the priestly class, in par
ticular in places of pilgrimage, such as Baidya-
nath, Gaya, Benares, Prayag, Mathura, Brinda-
ban and Haridwar. Of up-country people residing
in Calcutta and other places in Bengal, many take
bhang.
27. Some take to siddhi or bhang as a medicine
for bowel and nervous complaints; some take it
as a brain tonic. There is a common saying
Siddhi khele buddhi bare, ganja khele lakhi chare,
which means "taking siddhi adds to the intellec
tual power, smoking ganja brings on poverty."
32. Siddhi is offered to the image of Siva at
Benares named jvara haresvar (fever destroyer) in
the belief that such offering has the effect of
curing the person (on whose behalf the offering
is made) of fever. Siddhi is likewise offered to
other images of Siva at Benares and elsewhere,
such as Baidyanath, Tarakeswar, etc. Ganja also
is offered to some images of Siva, such as the
image of Tarakeswar. In the Tantras I find
there is a distinct religious sanction in regard to
the use of siddhi. The Mahanirvan Tantra,
the Bijaya Kalpa, the Rudrayamalokta Kali-
puja Paddhati, enjoin that before commencing the
worship of Devi, siddhi must be taken. The
Tarabhakti Sudharnava exempts Brahmans from