Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan has been sensitizing lakhs of citizens across the nation about the various myths associated to the celebration of Mahashivratri from past 4 years. Highlighting the core issue of what Lord Shiva stands for, through references from scriptures and various of his teachings, the organization is pushing forward the idea of celebrating drug free Mahashivratri.
Mahashivratri is a matter of pride for the fervent devotees, the day of fasting for women, the day that witnesses serpentine queues of pilgrims heading towards the temples of Lord Shiva, the day when thousands throng around the bathing ghats and take holy dip in rivers and the day when everything seems chock-full with the ‘Shiva Tatva’, the ultimate divine. But, today though we are approaching the half past 21st century, one long standing deformed thought has ruined the glory of this day. On one hand, people stand on long queues to offer their venerations in the temples of Lord Shiva and on the other, many of them are seen queuing up or often observed fighting to secure packets of ‘bhang’ which is popularly known as cannabis, the second largest drug consumed globally. In the name of lord Shiva, they drench themselves into the effect of cannabis and are often found indulged in accidents, crime, violence, abuses, loss of character and many more during the time of Mahashivratri.
Surprisingly, all this is justifiably accounted to one and the only myth that “Lord Shiva also takes Bhaang/Cannabis' and which further directly questions the mindsets of those who boast about themselves as his followers. And, because of this myth alone, at every nook and corner, stalls are exhibited offering beverages constituting cannabis/bhang into them. Because of its association with the Hindu religion, its' reach is insurmountable and people distributing and consuming bhang do so boastfully in the name of Lord Shiva, the destroyer of every wrong action in the society.
In order to combat and tone down the blazing acceptance of this myth by the society, Bodh the Drug Abuse Eradication Program under the divine stewardship of His Holiness Ashutosh Maharaj Ji, the head and founder of Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan organizes awareness programs at pan India level every year around this time period. Keeping the reality against the myth in focus, we educate people regarding the reason behind lord Shiva’s ecstasy. Lord Shiva, one amongst the trinity, always dwells in the name of the lord, not because he consumes bhang. Stating the various facts from scriptures, Bodh with scientific approach, addresses masses on this myth and saves lakhs in stopping to continue or even start with this malady on this day.
The organization was invited at Radison Blue Hotel in East Delhi to organize a one day program in order to give a message on ‘drug is not a solution for distressing’ one’s life. The program was very well appreciated by the participants.
