Lord Shiva is one of the most important deities in Hinduism. He is known by many names including Mahadeva, Pashupati, Nataraja, and Bholenath. Shiva is often depicted as living an ascetic life on Mount Kailash in the Himalayas. He is the supreme being within Shaivism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism.
Shiva is known for his unique attributes and preferences when it comes to food. His favorite foods provide insights into his spiritual powers and penchant for asceticism. Understanding what Lord Shiva likes to eat can help devotees feel closer to him and align their own diets with Shiva’s values.
What Does Lord Shiva Like to Eat?
Lord Shiva is often depicted as having a preference for simple, natural foods that have mystical powers. His favorite foods include:
Bhang
Bhang is made from the leaves and flowers of the female cannabis plant. Consuming bhang is believed to have spiritual and medicinal benefits. According to legend, bhang first appeared when Lord Shiva rubbed his hands over the cannabis plant. The residue that came off his hands formed bhang.
Shiva is believed to regularly consume bhang for focus during meditation and to heighten his spiritual energies. Devotees of Shiva often consume bhang during religious festivals to come closer to experiencing the same mental state as Lord Shiva.
Dhatura
Dhatura is a plant with hallucinogenic properties. The flowers and seeds are used to make special beverages consumed by Lord Shiva. It is believed that dhatura helps Shiva tune into higher levels of consciousness during deep meditation.
Consuming dhatura is risky for most people. But Shiva’s divine abilities allow him to experience theplant’s mystical effects without any harmful side effects. His followers will occasionally consume small amounts of dhatura as prasad or religious offering blessed by Lord Shiva.
Milk
Lord Shiva has a strong liking for milk. On the festival of Shivaratri, devotees pour milk over the Shiva lingam as an offering. Milk has symbolic importance representing purity and the nourishing of life.
Shiva’s affinity for milk may come from his role as an ascetic. Simple foods like milk represent his spiritual, non-materialistic nature. Milk also has mythical connections to the origins of the universe during the Samudra Manthan or “churning of the ocean.”
Fruits, Grains, Nuts and Vegetables
In addition to the more unique foods above, Lord Shiva is often depicted as eating simple vegetarian and vegan foods. His ascetic lifestyle revolves around fruits, grains, nuts, roots and vegetables harvested from the mountains around his abode. These foods provide enough nourishment to sustain his meditations and spiritual practices.
Important plant offerings to Lord Shiva include bilva or wood-apple leaves, nuts such as almonds, coconuts and pistachios, and seasonal fruits like raspberries and bananas. These are made as prasad during rituals and festivals.
The Symbolic Meaning Behind Lord Shiva’s Favorite Foods
Most of Shiva’s favorite foods have deeper symbolic meanings relating to Hindu spiritual beliefs and mythology:
Ascetic Values
Shiva’s simple vegetarian diet reflects his ascetic lifestyle and renunciation of worldly pleasures. Consuming only what he needs for survival allows him to meditate for eternity. His diet provides a model for balance and restraint.
Mystical Plant Properties
Plants like cannabis, dhatura and wood-apple have spiritual and meditative properties for Shiva. Consuming these unique plants allows him to unlock higher mystical states not accessible to ordinary humans.
Oneness with Nature
Shiva’s foods come directly from the mountains and forests around his abode. Eating simple, natural foods connects him to the natural realm and Temples harmony with the environment and all living things.
Samudra Manthan Origins
Foods like milk have their origins in the Samudra Manthan story involving the gods and demons churning the cosmic ocean. Shiva’s fondness for milk pays homage to its mythical beginnings.
Nourishment of Body and Soul
While plant foods nourish Shiva’s physical form, their properties also nourish and awaken his spiritual energies. His diet represents a bridge between sustaining the body and enlightening the soul.
Blessings to Devotees
When devotees receive prasad of Shiva’s favorite foods, they are symbolically receiving his blessings. These foods connect them to Shiva’s mystical energies.
What Foods are Prohibited for Lord Shiva?
Lord Shiva avoids certain foods in line with his ascetic values and spiritual powers:
Meat and Seafood
Shiva abstains from meat, fish and any seafood. As a divine being, he wishes to avoid harming other living creatures. His compassion aligns with vegetarian principles.
Cooking with Fire
Shiva traditionally avoids cooked foods prepared over flame. He only eats fruits, vegetables and offerings just as they appear in nature.
Salt and Spices
Shiva prefers foods in their natural state, without any added flavors from salt, spices, oil or sugar. He shuns processed seasonings.
Grains
Though depictions show Shiva consuming various grains, some texts state he avoids all cereals and grains. This may be due to their association with material existence and cultivated agriculture.
Alcohol
Despite his fondness for bhang and dhatura, Lord Shiva does not drink alcohol or other similar intoxicants. He relies on natural plant medicines to alter consciousness.
Certain Plants
Shiva avoids plants like garlic and onion which are considered rajasic foods that can excite passions and material entanglements. As an ascetic, he favors sattvic foods that promote purity.
Comparison of Lord Shiva’s Diet to Modern Nutrition Standards
| Dietary Component | Lord Shiva’s Diet | Modern Nutrition Guidelines |
|---|---|---|
| Fruits and Vegetables | Primary foods including bilva leaves, nuts, raspberries | 5+ servings recommended daily |
| Grains | Limited due to ascetic values | Make up substantial part of diet |
| Protein | Only from nuts and legumes | Includes animal products |
| Fat | Mainly from nuts and seeds | Balance of unsaturated fats recommended |
| Dairy | Consumes milk; avoids butter and cheese | 2-3 servings recommended |
| Sodium | Avoids added salt | Limited to 1500-2300 mg/day |
| Food Processing | Avoids any processed or cooked foods | Many daily foods involve processing and cooking |
This comparison shows that Lord Shiva’s diet aligns with modern advice to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. However, his avoidance of grains, proteins, fats and salt make his diet highly restrictive. The lack of cooking and food processing also sets Shiva’s diet apart from standard nutrition guidelines. His unique needs as an ascetic deity lead to an unusual diet focused on mystic energies rather than physical health.
Conclusion
Lord Shiva’s favorite foods provide insight into his divine powers and deep spirituality. Simple foods like milk, fruits, nuts and visionary plants sustain Shiva’s meditations and connect him to the natural world. The symbolic meanings behind his diet represent Hindu principles of enlightenment, compassion for life, and the mystical energies contained in natural foods. While Shiva’s ascetic diet differs from everyday nutrition advice, his food choices impart important spiritual lessons for devotees seeking to follow a yogic path. Gaining awareness of Shiva’s dietary likes and dislikes allows followers to feel closer to him and align their eating habits with his values of self-restraint and transcendence of material needs.