A chillum is a conical pipe used to smoke opium, tobacco, cannabis, etc. and is usually made out of a cow’s horn and comes in large and small sizes. It has been used by Jamaican Rastas and Indian Sadhus who believe that smoking with a chillum is much better than cigarette smoking. For Indian Sadhus, a chillum is a ritual pipe used to imbibe charas and Jamaican Rastas use it in reasoning sessions; both groups believe that the ritual smoking facilitates meditation. Generally, the smoke of a chillum is too strong to take alone.

At their rituals, the chillum is prepared with a combination of charas (herbs) and tobacco. Through a Hindu ceremony, the Hindu god Shiva was called upon, the Sadhus believing that Shiva would enter into the smoker. In the ceremony, a wet Safi cloth is used, a stone inserted, and the mixture placed into the chillum. The chillum’s mouth piece is cupped in two hands and forms a closed prism, as the smoker inhales the smoke without the lips touching the pipe. He puffs violently to light the chillum sufficiently to be passed to the person to the right. In the ceremony of the Jamaican Rastas, the chillum used is made of a cow’s horn and wood.

There is a full range of Chillums here at Shiva to suit any smoker.

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