In Sikhism, the Nihang community uniquely use edible cannabis, claiming religious context. They make use of cannabis by ingestion. It is used to make a drink called Shaheedi Degh which they purport to have been used medically in Sikh military history, to numb battle injuries. Nihang Singhs used marijuana in periods of Sikh history after the tenth Guru's death during times of battle, when it is believed to have helped them recover from injuries and live to fight another day.
Prohibition The first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak, stated that using any mind altering substance (without medical purposes) is a distraction from God. Guru Nanak was offered bhang by the Mughal emperor Babur; Nanak however declined, and recited this shabad:
The official Sikh Rehat Maryada (Sikh codes of conduct) bans the Cannabis, opium and liquor for all Sikhs that follow its rehit maryada. The following is a translated quote from the rehait maryada. "A Sikh must not take hemp (cannabis), opium, liquor, tobacco, in short, any intoxicant. His only routine intake should be food." An Amritdhari Sikh (one initiated via the Amrit Sanchar) is required to appear before the Panj Pyaare at their local Gurdwara, fully confess their lapse to the watching congregation and complete punishment to redeem their mistake, such as consuming intoxicants. The Panj Pyare are also empowered to re-order the Sikh to retake Amrit if they believe one of the 4 cardinal Sins have been committed, of which consuming intoxicants such as tobacco, alcohol and cannabis is one. The Sikh must fully complete whatever corrective punishment they are given in this process, which is required to be a form of service done with the hands, alongside retaking Amrit, although this is only if it is deemed necessary by the Panj Pyaare.
Usage Nihang Sikhs
In the modern day, cannabis consumption (but not smoking) is commonly associated with the Nihang Singhs, a sect who claim to continue the orthodox Sikh warrior tradition. They consume drinks as sukha or sukhnidhaan, or more commonly shaheedi degha. Shaheedi degh is mostly used in Panjab on the Sikh holidays of Holla Mohalla and Vaisakhi. At many Sikh temples, including Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib Ji, the shaheedi degh is offered as a holy food.
In 2001, Baba Santa Singh, the jathedar of Budha Dal, along with 20 Nihang jathadars (leaders), refused to accept the ban on the consumption of bhang by the SGPC.Nihangs ‘not to accept’ ban on bhang . The Tribune. March 26, 2001. Baba Santa Singh was excommunicated for a different issue, and replaced with Balbir Singh, who agreed to shun the consumption of bhang.No ‘bhang’ at Hola Mohalla . The Tribune. March 10, 2001.
Some Nihang groups consume cannabis or shaheedi degh (ਭੰਗ), purportedly to help in meditation. Sukhaa-parsaad (ਸੁੱਖਾਪ੍ਰਰਸਾਦ), "dry-sweet", is the term Nihang use to refer to it. It was traditionally crushed and taken as a liquid, especially during festivals like Hola Mohalla.
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