InSikhism, some Sikhs particularly of theNihang community useediblecannabis in a religious context. They make use ofcannabis by ingestion. It is used to make a drink calledShaheedi Degh which is meant to help Nihang Singhs become highly present in the moment.Nihang Singhs used marijuana in the early times of Sikh history during times of battle, it is believed to help them become more fierce warriors.
The first Sikh guru,Guru Nanak, stated that using any mind altering substance (without medical purposes) is a distraction from God. Guru Nanak was offeredbhang by the Mughal emperorBabur; Nanak however declined, and recited thisshabad:
Fear of Thee, o Lord, is my bhang, and my mind the pouch in which I carry it. Intoxicated with this bhang I have abandoned all interest in worldly concerns.[2]
TheSGPC has also added a section in theirrehait maryada (Sikh codes of conduct) that bans the Cannabis, opium and liquor for all Sikhs that follow its rehit maryada. The following is a translated quote from therehait maryada."A Sikh must not take hemp (cannabis), opium, liquor, tobacco, in short, any intoxicant. His only routine intake should be food."[3]
Bhang (hemp) was a wild-growth plant found in the jungles of Punjab and along river-banks.[4] An intoxicating drink can be produced by pounding the plant in a mortar and sifting it.[4]
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The Sikhs inherited the tradition of drinking originates from the sixth Sikh guru,Guru Hargobind Sahib who started it to give sikhs Bir Ras (warrior spirit) and to get them energized, as Sikhs used to get up early foramrit vela and not go back to sleep till after the evening prayers of Sohila Sahib.
ਬਿਦਿਹ ਸਾਕੀਯਾ ਸਾਗ਼ਰੇ ਸਬਜ਼ ਗੂੰ ॥
‘Oh! Saki Give me the cup full of green (liquid)
ਕਿ ਮਾਰਾ ਬਕਾਰਸਤ ਜੰਗ ਅੰਦਰੂੰ ॥੨੦॥
‘Which I need at the time of struggle(20)
ਲਬਾਲਬ ਬਕੁਨ ਦਮ ਬਦਮ ਨੋਸ਼ ਕੁਨ ॥
‘Fill it up to the brim so that I can drink it with every breath
ਗ਼ਮੇ ਹਰ ਦੁ ਆਲਮ ਫ਼ਰਾਮੋਸ਼ ਕੁਨ ॥੨੧॥੧੨॥
‘And forget the afflictions of both the worlds(21)(12)
(Dasam Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 1428)
TheBhangi Misl of theSikh Confederacy in the 18th century derived its name frombhang. Themisl received its name "Bhangi" because Chhajja Singh and his soldiers frequently used the herbal intoxicantbhang (drink made fromcannabis sativa).[5][6]
In the modern day, cannabis consumption (but not smoking) is commonly associated with theNihang Singhs, a sect who continue the orthodox Sikh warrior tradition, who consume drinks assukha orsukhnidhaan, or more commonlyshaheedi degha.[7][8] Shaheedi degh is mostly used in Panjab on the Sikh holidays ofHolla Mohalla andVaisakhi. At many Sikh temples, including Takht Sachkhand SriHazur Sahib Ji, theshaheedi degh is offered as a holy food.[9]
In 2001,Baba Santa Singh, the jathedar ofBudha Dal, along with 20 Nihangjathadars (leaders), refused to accept the ban on the consumption of bhang by theSGPC.[10] Baba Santa Singh was excommunicated for a different issue, and replaced with Balbir Singh, who agreed to shun the consumption of bhang.[11]
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.
