• This article delves into the practice of urine consumption in Hinduism, tracing its origins to the Damar Tantra—a Sanskrit text in which “Lord Shiva” prescribed the ritual.
• It also explores what medical professionals have to say about the practice, highlighting scientific and clinical concerns.
Bollywood actor Paresh Rawal stirred headlines this week after revealing in an interview that he drank his own urine for 15 consecutive days to recover from a knee injury. He credited the practice, commonly referred to as urine therapy or urophagia, with aiding his recovery, and even joked, “I will sip it like a beer because if I have to follow through, I will do so properly.”
Rawal said he adopted the regimen on the advice of the late stunt director Veeru Devgan, who reportedly told him, “All fighters do this. Just drink urine first thing in the morning. You will never face any problem.”
The practice he refers to is known in certain Hindu health circles such as Shivambu Kalpa Vidhi, or Shivambu, meaning ‘Water of Shiva.’ Rooted in particular “naturopathic traditions”, this concept is linked to ancient Hindu texts and yogic practices. The Damar Tantra, a Sanskrit scripture framed as a dialogue between “Lord Shiva” and “Goddess Parvati,” contains verses in which Shiva, as the teacher, explains the benefits and procedures of urine therapy to Parvati, who asks him about ways to attain health, longevity, and spiritual advancement. In the verses, “Lord Shiva” explains to “Goddess Parvati” how ‘Shivambu Kalpa Vidhi’ should be used as a means to cleanse the body, cure disease, and support yogic practices. Although the text draws from Hindu cosmology and deities, the practice itself sits on the margins of Hindu religious orthodoxy and is more closely associated with yogic or tantric healing systems within Hinduism.
In addition, texts such as the Bhrigu Samhita reference urine therapy for chronic ailments.
In India today, the practice is advocated by many to cure asthma, arthritis, allergies, acne, cancer, indigestion, migraines and even wrinkles.
Medical professionals, meanwhile, remain unequivocal in their warnings. Dr. Debra Rose Wilson of Walden University, who is a professor and holistic health practitioner with a background in integrative health and clinical hypnotherapy says, “There’s no evidence to support claims that drinking urine is beneficial. Research suggests it can introduce bacteria, toxins, and other harmful substances into your blood, as well as stress your kidneys.
Dr. Michael Aziz an internal medicine Physician in New York City says, “Urine is mostly water and salt, which dehydrates you. Your kidneys are trying to get rid of the toxins, and if you drink urine, you’re putting the toxins back into the body.”
Dr Prakash, Consultant Urologist at DHEE Hospitals in Hyderabad warns, “Even in extreme survival situations, the risks generally outweigh any potential benefit. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, infections, and long-term kidney damage are all potential consequences of repeated urine consumption,” he cautions.
