Published on February 26, 2025 , farmntrade

Datura: The Poisonous Yet Divine Offering to Lord Shiva on Mahashivratri

Mahashivratri, the great night of Lord Shiva, is the time of deep devotion, meditation, and spiritual awakening. As the world chants Har Har Mahadev, numerous devotees offer sacred items at the feet of Shiva: Bel Patra, milk, honey, and surprisingly, the toxic yet revered Datura flower and fruit.

On the surface, it appears strange to present something that is capable of bringing death to God. Yet Datura is in no way an ordinary plant. It carries layers of symbolism, mythology, and even medicinal significance. By decoding Datura offerings, one can decode much of what is in the Shiva mystery itself.

The Symbolism of Datura in Shiva Worship

Datura represents surrender and purification. Just as Shiva drank the cosmic poison to protect the universe, devotees offer Datura as a way of surrendering their own inner toxins—hatred, jealousy, anger, and negativity.

Offering Datura reminds us that toxicity, whether in nature or within, could become divine when placed in the hands of the right forces.

Datura: The Unholy but Divine

Yes, it is poisonous. The alkaloids contained in this plant are potent. They work by affecting the nervous system. In Ayurvedic and folk medicine, it has also been used (in a careful and controlled way) for its analgesic properties—for asthma and other ails.

In many respects, Datura is a reflection of Shiva’s own personality; he is the destroyer and giver of life. Like he swallowed the cosmic poison to save the world, Datura reminds us that even poison can be a great thing if wisely processed.

Origin and Distribution

Datura may have originated in Central America and Mexico, but now it is distributed across Asia, Africa, and some parts of Europe.

In India, it spreads throughout Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Himachal Pradesh.

Climate and Soil Conditions

Datura is a hardier plant that is adaptable to warm tropical and temperate climates.

• It grows at altitudes of up to 2,000 meters (approximately 6,500 feet) above sea level.
• Soil with good drainage such as sand or loam is preferred, with a ph between 5.5 and 7.5.

Cultivation and Growth Cycle

Although apparently self-propagating, Datura can be quite easily grown and maintained with little human intervention. The length of time taken from planting until 50% of flowers are opened is about 90-120 days, depending on the climate and soil conditions.

It is grown there as a wild herb, but it is cultivated in many instances as well for medicinal purposes.

Global Production and Export

While India supplies the maximum quantity of Datura, they are also processed for medicinal uses, chiefly by exporting seeds and extracts.

Other countries such as China, the USA, and Germany import Datura for its use in herbal medicine and medicine-related research work. The international market for medicinal herbs, including Datura, is worth $120 billion and continues to flourish with an increasing demand in Ayurveda and alternate medication.

Medicinal and Industrial Uses

Though toxic, Datura has been used, in controlled doses:

• To relieve asthma, muscle spasms, and other neurological diseases.
• To make herbal painkillers and sedatives.
• To produce natural insecticides which contain alkaloids.

Datura in Ancient Scriptures and Medicine

The use of Datura goes back thousands of years, woven into both spiritual and medicinal traditions:

1. Datura in Hindu Scriptures

• Shiva Purana, mentions Datura as an offering symbolizing the surrender of negativity.
• In Tantric Traditions it is used in controlled rituals by ascetics to induce meditative states.

2. Datura in Ayurveda

• Sushruta Samhita & Charaka Samhita (600 BCE – 200 CE) – Describes Datura as a medicinal plant with pain-relieving and sedative properties.
• Traditionally used for asthma, fever, and wound healing—but always with extreme caution.

3. Datura in Other Cultures

• China – Known as Yang Jin Hua, used in traditional medicine for pain relief.
• Ancient Greece & Rome – Mentioned by Dioscorides (1st century CE) for its psychoactive effects.

Why Is a Datura Offered to Lord Shiva?

As Lord Shiva indeed drank the poison of Halahala during the Samudra Manthan to save the world from destruction, Datura represents the negativities when surrendered at His feet.

The poison Datura is the mental impurity that devotees want to remove from themselves by offering it to the Lord. Offering Datura helps devotees in quelling conflict, cleansing the ego, and surrendering desires, leading to blissful surrender.

So, the next time you see a Datura flower near a Shiva temple, remember: It’s not just a poisonous plant—it’s a symbol of transformation, surrender, and divine grace.