320 VRTtCACWM 



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the plant possesses in its Eastern liome appear not to have been 

 discovered until a more recent date, but in the fifth chapter of 

 Menu, Brahmins are prohibited from using it, and in the sacred 

 boots of the Parsis the use of Eana for the purpose of procur* 

 ing abortion is forbidden. In Hindu mythology the hemp 

 plant is said to have sprung from the amrita produced whilst 

 the gods were churning the ocean with Mount Mandara, It is 

 called in Sanskrit Vijaya, *' giving success/' and the favourite 

 drink of Indra is said to be prepared from it. On festive 

 occasions^ in most parts of India, large quantities are consumed 

 by almost all classes of Hindus. The Brahmins sell Sherbet 



L 



prepared with Bhang at the temples, and religious mendicants 

 collect together and smoke Oanja. Shops for the sale of pre- 

 parations of hemp are to be found in every town, and are much 

 resorted to by the idle and vicious. Hemp is also used medi- 

 cinally ; in the Raja Nirghanta its sj^nonyms are Urjaya and 

 Jaya, names which mean promoter of success, Chdpala *'the 

 cause of a reeling gaitj " Ananda ^Hhe laughter moving," Har- 

 shini "the exciter of sexual desire"; among other synonyms 

 are Kashmiri ^'coming from Kashmir," Matiilani ''the mater- 

 nal uncle's wife," Mohini ''fascinating," &c. Its effects on man 

 are described as excitant, heating, astringent ; it destroys phlegm, 

 expels flatulence, induces costiveness, sharpens the memory, 

 excites appetite, &c. Susruta recommends the use of Bhang to 

 people suffering from catarrh. In the Rajavalahha, a recent 

 work in use in Bengal, we are informed that the gods through 

 compassion on the human jace sent hemp, so that mankind by 

 using it might attain delight, lose fear, and have sexual 

 desires. 



The seductive influences of hemp have led to the most extra- 

 vagant praise of the drug in the popular languages of India, 

 but in truth it is one of the curses of the country ; if its use is 

 persisted in, it leads to indigestion, wasting of the body, cough, 

 melancholy, impotence and dropsy. After a time its votary 



♦ Sabzi or Sahji, an infusioa of Bhang with black pepper, anise 

 »ugar. In Bengal milk, and cucumber and melon seeds are added. 



f. 



