KASHMIRIS AND DATURA OR DEVIL’S WEED

                                                                               

DATURA  OR DEVIL'S TRUMPET OR  JIMSONWEED  

To curse somebody , Kashmiris would say this  :-

“Tse lagun datur “

“ Let Datura take it's toll on  you "           

  Or 

“ Sakh ajiz onnnus .  Paen chhim daalaan yeli ti zaanh bronthkaen  peyom.Amiss loga datur “

“ He has incapacitated me . I get confused when he comes in front of me .  Let  Datura take its toll on him . “

In Kashmir we have seen this plant growing of its own near dampness  or under shady places  . Quite often,  it grows close to filth and drains . It was detested in Kashmir on account of its foul smell. This green plant that spread  its branches and leaves gave a white coloured flower and this flower too had somewhat foul smell. A green fruit with thorns grows finally that gives black seeds . Like the leaves and the flowers, its  seeds are also toxic . 

 In olden days, the  Datura fruit and seeds were put to maximum usage as medicine by Hakeems of Kashmir. The  Datura   plant  contains atropine, stramonium  , scopolamine and hyosoamine . These have a marked effect on  central  nervous system and a little excess dose could prove fatal. Hakeems and Vaids  used its seeds  and oil for many diseases in highly  measured quantity  as the difference between medical dose and toxic dose was always  extremely  small. Hakeems  In  the valley recommended the oil extracted from Datura seeds   to treat hair fall and dandruff ( Kuff in Kashmiri ) and the juice from Datura leaves and branches  for treatment of asthma . They also prescribed paste of roasted  Datura leaves to treat pain. Datura was  also  used as antidote in  Kashmir since centuries especially to treat snake and scorpion bites . 

  During the holy Amaranth Ji Yatra , I am told that a sect of  Sadhus would use small quantity of crushed Datura seeds powder mixed with some eatable . By this they would   slip into  recreational delirium . And for sure  a little quantity taken extra could prove fatal . Atropine derived from this plant is used in  eye drops for dilation of pupils. The plant is hated on account of many  negative side effects of Datura juice or oil . For this reason , it is also known as Devil’s weed.

Datura  is also associated with Shiva ( Rudra ) . Thorn fruit  of  Datura plant  finds mention in  Susruta Samhita, as  a favourite of Lord Shiva. Datura flowers and fruits are  accordingly offered to Lord Shiva.

( Avtar Mota )

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