164 REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. [CH. IX.
cannot be considered as essential, but is only a practice observed in very rare
cases. Such practice is not followed by many people, and it is not injurious.'
Others allude to the offering of ganja to Karuppannam, Kali, Mathuraveeran,
Muniappan, Karuannaswami, and Aiyaswami, more particularly in the south
of the Presidency. Mr. Azizuddin, Sahib Bahadur, Deputy Collector, says:
" Neither the Musalman nor the Hindu religion requires the use of these drugs
on religious occasions. On the other hand, it is prohibited. Nevertheless, in the
maths of bairagis, such as at Tripati, and of Muhammadan saints, such as at
Nagore, Conjeveram, Arcot, and other places, the manager of the shrine distri-
butes ganja to all the fakirs who assemble during the festival. In none of these
places, religiously speaking, ganja should be distributed, but, according to
custom among the fakirs, its distribution is essential." The Rev. Mr. Campbell
says that ganja is used in connection with the funeral ceremonies observed by
certain classes, but that the use is not essential. Mr. Merriman alludes to a
custom of offering and consuming bhang at the funeral of bhang consumers.
Bombay.
443. An interesting note, entitled " The Religion of Hemp," by Mr. J. M.
Campbell, C.I.E., will be found in Vol. III Appen-
dices. In the Bombay Presidency the use of hemp in,
connection with the worship of Siva, Mahadev or Shankar appears to be very
common. It is referred to by many witnesses. The following description of
this custom as prevailing in part of Gujarat, Kaira, and probably Ahmedabad
has been furnished to the Excise Commissioner by Mr. B. E. Modi, Deputy
Collector:—
" On the Shivratri day (the last day but one of the month of Magh),
sacred to the god Mahadev or Shankar, bhang water is freely poured over the
lingam. Mahadev is an ascetic, and is fond of bhang, and on this day it is
considered a religious duty to offer him his favourite drink. From this day to
the nth day of Ashad, on which day gods go to sleep, water is kept constantly
dripping upon the lingam of Mahadev from an earthen pot kept above it."
Somewhat similar accounts varying in detail are given by many witnesses
coming from different parts of the province, of whom some also refer to the
habit which ganja smokers have of invoking the deity before placing the pipe
to their lips. Others also refer to hemp as required in the worship of Baldeo
and to its use at the Shimga or Holi festival. The Marwaris and some other
classes appear to use bhang at marriages and other festivities. Mr. Charles,
Collector of Belgaum, says that among Musalmans and Marathas the ganja
plant is offered to dead relatives who used it in their lifetime at the time of the
anniversary ceremonies of their death. There appears to be no special custom of
worshipping the hemp plant itself. R. K. Kothavale, of Satara district, says
the hemp plant is worshipped by one sect only, namely, by people from Northern
India and Nepal, while Mr. Lamb, Collector of Alibag, remarks that some of
the Kunbis who make offerings to the local divinities of their fields at the
harvest season include a small quantity of ganja in the offerings.
Sind.
444. In Sind the customs, both religious and social, appear to be much the
same as in Bombay. In Karachi and some other
places bhang is generally offered to all comers on
occasions of marriages, panchayats, and other gatherings; and the custom of