Ancient Psychedelia: Alien Gods & Mushroom Goddesses
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| The Kingdom of Bhutan The kingdom of Bhutan, which is located in the eastern Himalayas, contains a rich story of the history of its King Lingpa, who, while out searching for mushrooms one morning, fell asleep and had a vision of a monk who gave him a scroll and told him to “look well” and “get me some food.” When Pema Lingpa was done preparing the food, he went outside, and the monk had disappeared. He looked at the scroll and it read, at the foot of the valley he would find his sought-after wealth. After this event a number of scrolls were presented to him during a series of “visions.” (4) Coincidently, the head of state is the King of Bhutan, known as the “Dragon King.” The people there are known as the “Dragon People,” and Bhutan itself is known as the “Land of the Thunder Dragon.” Bhutan officially adopted Buddhism in the 7th century AD. Most people the world over are aware of the love and fondness which the Asiatic people have for dragons. They pervade the culture throughout Asia. They are always considered positive or bringing good fortune, and never considered as the devil or demonic in any way. The Asian people have long maintained a friendly relationship with the dragon. In the case of artifacts. During the Han Dynasty, c. 200 BC-200 AD, there are granary jars with dragon guardians with familiar mushroom cap ridging all around their neck (29f). During the Jin Dynasty, c. 1115-1234 AD, there exist monochrome glazed ceramic serpent lords (29l), and at Angkor Wat, Cambodia, c. 1100-1150 AD, we see serpent lords which take on the mushroom appearance as well with the cobra hood accentuated head shape and upper body (29j). Cobra goddesses made of Mongolian jade also exist (29k). Not too far away, in Candi Sukuh, Indonesia, there are statues of bird-like serpent rulers with mushroom cap headdresses (27e). We’ve seen how the Indian Soma and the Persian Haoma were known to grow on the side of high holy mountains and how the A. muscaria has been described as “fire.” A wise sage long ago, speaking to a large audience, was heard to say: “There's a dragon with matches that's loose on the town. Takes a whole pail of water just to cool him down.” |
  (29f) Han dynasty granary jar with dragon guardian c. 200 BC-200 AD L: (29l) China, Jin Dynasty. Monochrome Glazed Ceramic c. 1115-1234 AD   R: (29k) Mongolian Jade Cobra Goddess L: (29j) Angkor Wat, Cambodia c. 1100-1150 AD   R: (27e) Candi Sukuh, Indonesia c. 1400-1500 AD (4) Secret Drugs of Buddhism, p. 221-22 |
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