SADHUS, PASHUPATINATH TEMPLE AND SHIVA BOOTY

Photo credit: Anil Blon

The Baba at the Pashupatinath told me "If you take 'Shiva Buty' during the Shiva Ratri, all the sins you have committed in the past and present will be purged. Take one shot my boy and you will feel as if heaven has come on earth" Oh, really. Is it possible, I said.

By LB THAPA

In the last Shiva Ratri, I was in Kathmandu. Well, my intention was not to go to the Pashupatinath temple, but the hotel owner where I was staying advised me to visit the temple as I could meet some incredible sadhus there. Being a freelance writer and journalist, I am always hungry for a story or two.  I was really thrilled by the idea of seeing those naked naga babas and holy babas together. 

Every year Hindu believers and sadhus from across the country thronged over the premises of lord Pashupatinath temple to mark auspicious Shiva Ratri with agog and excitement. Sadhus, tangled hair and ash smeared on their forehead, made their magnificent presence to witness the holy Shiva Ratri. Spending much of their time on meditation, smoking marijuana, and resting in both sunny and shady places, these sadhus became the cynosure of all eyes. 

Sadhus and their lifestyle have always been mystifying the people. These ascetic sadhus give up worldly pleasure and lead a spiritual life. This way they make an effort to attain enlightenment, realizing the almighty. Meanwhile, some sadhus don't mind displaying powers they have attained through years of meditation and penance while others remain reticent. 

The Shiva Ratri celebrations had provided an opportunity for many Nepali devotees to meet several sadhus face to face. Their appearance may have largely varied but still shared many common characteristics with each other. This is the reason why all sadhus are revered in our society. 

These sadhus burn incense alongside flagrant flowers and little fire in the middle. As night spreads its blanket, sadhus begin singing melodious bhajans in a group and bring life even on the coldest night. Bhajans play an important role in their lives as it takes them closer to the almighty god. 

But what is this! Why this sadhu is surrounded by the young boys. I didn't wait long to get the answer. The sadhu was selling Shiva booty (Marijuana) to young boys. 'Jai Bom, Bom, Bhole' and the boys smoke marijuana with a chilim in their hands. Soon the boys got high on marijuana. Hardly had I spent half an hour there the sadhu sold out all marijuana he had. I heard him saying the boys for coming the next day for more marijuana. The boys left the scene contented. I saw more boys sitting around other sadhus. In the meantime, I saw two cops coming there. The boys walked away briskly with marijuana in their pockets. 

This gave me an opportunity to have a few words with the sadhu. I straight forward blamed the baba for derailing the youths by encouraging them to take drugs. He quickly retorted. "This is not a drug but Shiva booty! If you take it during the Shiva Ratri, all the sins you have committed in the past and present will be purged. Give a try and you will feel as if heaven has come on earth!" I bitterly objected and once again blamed the sadhu for encouraging drug addiction among the youths. Now he too became stern, perhaps tinged with little anger, and spoke bitterly. 

"We sadhus are not respected and cared for by your government. We come all the way from India and other places to attend Shiva Ratri. But there is no proper arrangement for our stay. We need money to return to our destinations but get no financial assistance. In a situation like this, we have no other way but to sell marijuana". 

These sadhus may have some problems as they described, but still in the name of such a pious festival like Shiva Ratri nobody can be allowed to get involved in drug addiction. Under the pretext of poor financial support, no person, even the sadhus, should be permitted to sell drugs to the public. If this trend is not nipped in the bud soon, the auspicious festival of Shiva Ratri might lose its religious significance. 

It would be a wise decision if the government put a ban on the consumption and selling of narcotics around the Pashupatinath Temple premises in particular and all temples across the country in general. 

LB Thapa is a Pokhara-based freelance writer and author. Photo: Goma Gurung

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