Category Indian Philosophy

Opium,Marijuana Hinduism Aghoris

There were two types of Drinks.

One is Soma Bana and the other is Sura Bana.

The Soma Bana or the Nectar of the Plant Soma was used for Homas and drinking Soma Bana was sanctioned as it is not an Intoxicant.

The other is Sura Bana which induces intoxication and it was classified as a Sin to drink it......Those who perform Aabhichara Pooja( the performance of worship where corpses are used often quote this mantra from the Lalita Sahasra Nama.

"947 Pancha pretha manchadhi sayini – She who sleeps on the cot made of five corpses".

This is literal translation.

Why Offer Betel Leaves Nut Fruits in Temples

It represents the Female principle, The Potent and Latent One(Prakruthi, loosely translated as Nature )

Nuts represent Experience , the taste a mixture of sweet and bitterness....

Another explanation is Saiva Siddhanta postulates Three Fundamental Entities.

Pasu(பசு ), Pathi ( பதி) and Paasam ( பாசம்)

Here Pathi is Siva in Saiva Siddhanta, (corresponds to Brahman),Pasu (Jivatman) and Paasam(Bondage)

Once the chain in transcended one becomes the One of which he is a part(rather he reverts to the Original State)