To Chill
Adesh, Adesh,
I too think the “chillum” refers to the straightpipe used to incinerate and inhale all type of oddments. Oddly the Sanskrit word, chilla means…bleary eyed. Perhaps there is some connection here.
Most of the chillums I’ve seen were made of fired and carved clay. A few carved stone and the odd wooden one. I think the ivory model might be a special deluxe edition.
Mahendranath was no “chillum baba” whatsoever, but if you hang with any of the Gorakshanath crowd in harmony you will get one passed to you in short order.
I remember doing a stint at the Gorakshanath ashram at the base of Mount Girnar. One day an old sadhu came over to me and started babbling at me in some unknown dialect. I’ll never forget this guy as I had never seen such a physical type…alive that is. He was about 5’3″, totally white long hair and beard. I would guess his weight to be about 70 pounds. He was more like an animated apparition. I raised my hands in the universal sign of “I don’t know what the heck you are talking about.” He then started dancing in front of me with hands joined in front of his mouth and blowing imaginary plumes of smoke. I laughed and said, “Sorry,” turning out my pockets to show that the cupboard was bare. He then made the “follow me” gesture. I did.
He led me to the Guru’s hut. I had already met and sat with Lokanath of Girnar on a few occasions. I liked the guy. His people respected and loved him and he ran a very functional and neat ashram. The tiny sadhu delivered a sing song oration. I don’t know what was said, but Lokanath picked up a big chillum and held it up with a questioning look in my direction. I nodded and in seconds a small box was pulled out of the cupboard.
The tiny sadhu could hardly contain his excitement. It was becoming clear he was manipulating my status as “really weird western drop-in” to get into Guruji’s “special stash.” Very amusing, but the chillum was loaded up and set to fire in record time.
Plumes of smoke and silence. Lokanath had a clock on the table but it was broken. Time it seemed stopped at 11:10. In other parts of the world it might have more obviously been broken at 4:20. But I digress… I was enjoying my smokey reveries and the energy exchanges. The odd part was, with eyes open there was an unusual superimposition of trishuls made of light in my visual field. Trishuls everywhere and a few other interesting things of note.
After a protracted silence, Lokanath leaned over towards me on one elbow and said in perfect English. “Do you like the effect?” I nodded in approval and gave my thanks. The tiny Sadhu and I then levitated out of the hut and into the sunlight. Trishuls everywhere. Thus ends the tale of the breath of Shiva and burning wonder bowls of Mount Girnar.
Not to leave others with an odd impression. In India, smoking “Shiva’s weed” or its many byproducts is not legal, but usually ignored or overlooked when Sadhus are inhaling. The general attitude is “let them have their fun and it helps keep them quiet.” In no way a rule, but perhaps a guideline, it should be remembered that such practices are not legal in the west either. Too much smoke also disturbs the memory and mental processes effectively dulling the “New Think” ideal of modern Naths.
I turn a blind eye to the occasional festive lung full, but if you carry it too far, don’t complain if you wander bleary eyed and forgetful or suffer harassment from the police or Establishment paranoia. You can’t smoke your way to the Great Awakening and I’m doubtful if “too much” is progressive on any level. Certainly nothing is gained by blabbing about it or being indiscreet.
As a side note, Lokanath the Girnar Guru had a chronic case of bronchitis from smoking too much. At his side was a spittoon in which he frequently offered large quantities of spit and phlegm. This loud process punctuated the silence at regular intervals and was a result of more tar than the lungs could clear.
Just Kapilji blowing smoke here and not intended to ignite a flame war. If you are an advocate of excess, let’s blow smoke rings off list. O-kay?
Jaya, Jaya ki Jai!
