“Alcohol may be man’s worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy.”
Frank Sinatra
Nectar of the Gods
It’s not just the Bible that lays down rituals associated with alcohol, Hindu Gods’ have their own tryst with alcohol. That brings us to one of the holiest cities in India for Hindus, Ujjain. The city of the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the twelve holy sites of the self-manifested Linga. The above image is from Kaal Bhairav temple, famed for its unusual custom.
This 6000-year-old temple, maintained by Ujjain’s royalty, stands on the banks of Shipra river. This structure dates from the 18th century, although historians have recovered 9th to 13th century statues and other artefacts from the site.
The story
Kaal Bhairav, the aggressive manifestation of Shiva is the guardian of Ujjain city and one of the five temples one visits to complete a pilgrimage of Ujjain. Followers of the Tantric cult worship Bhairav. This worship involves five offerings of parched grain, animal sacrifice, fish, sexual intercourse, and liquor. Over time, though, regular people also offer prayers here, Sans the sacrifices. But the temple gives alcohol as Prasad (Nectar of the Gods) to everyone.
Commensurate with the custom, shops selling liquor bottles ranging from 90 ml to a litre dot the area around the temple. From cheap hooch to scotch, one can choose the offering to suit their pocket! Government sources show hundreds of litres of daily liquor sales around the temple.
Devotees take these to the temple within, and the priest offers some blessed liquor to everyone who wishes to have it. No compulsion there! Another important custom here is to get the holy thread tied to their wrists. So, the offering basket has liquor, some coloured threads, and flowers.
Heady custom, isn’t it? Even if you are not the religious sort, I’m sure the cultural influence would take you to Ujjain soon.
