1. Balarama
Brahma Purana 90.5-7
Roaming about that spot Balarama inhaled the intensive odour of wine. After smelling it he experienced the delight that he previously used to have in wine. O sages, thereafter, Balarama saw a current of liquor suddenly falling form Kadamba. He derived great joy therefrom. He drank it joyously in the company of cowherds and cowherdesses while experts in songs and instrumental music sang elegantly.” (source)
Brahma Purana 100.11-14
Once Balarāma, the highly blessed Revatī and other excellent ladies were seated in the Raivata garden and engaged in drinking wine. Elegant ladies were singing in the midst of highly elegant and charming assembly. The chief and the most excellent among the descendants of Yadu sported like Kubera on the Mandara mountain.” (source)
Mahabharata 3.18.18
What will the elder brother of Kesava, the mighty-armed Baladeva, clad in blue and inebriate with wine, say, when he returns? ” (source)
2. Durga
Devi Bhagavatam Purana 5.18.54-70
Vyāsa said :– O King! Saying thus, the Devī, wrathful and eager to kill Mahiṣāsura, took up the golden cup filled with wine and drank again and again. When the Devī finished Her drink of the sweet grape juice, She pursued him with trident in Her hands, to the great joy of gladdening all the Devas.” (source)
Devi Bhagavatam Purana 5.9.41-48
Vyāsa said :– No sooner the messengers heard these words of Mahiṣa, than they at once went to the Devī and saw that Her body and the several parts thereof were all very beautiful; She had eighteen hands, She was decorated completely with various ornaments all over Her body, all the auspicious signs were being seen in Her body and that She was holding excellent divine weapons. That auspicious Goddess beautiful, was holding in Her hands, the cup and drinking wine again and again. Beholding Her this form, they were afraid and fled at once to the Mahiṣa and informed him the cause of that sound.” (source)
Garuda Purana 1.38.7
O deity fond of blood, flesh and wine…” (source)
Skanda Purana 5.3.186.6-15
After Mahadeva had gone, O king, the younger brother of Aruna propitiated Camunda embellished with skulls, the goddess who being the resident deity of cremation ground, was accompanied by many goblins. She was a Yogini, perfect in the practice of Yogic exercise. She was fond of suet, flesh and wine…” (source)
3. Hanuman
Mahabharata 3.145.86
The powerful Hanuman, however, opening his eyes partially looked at him (Bhima) with disregard, with eyes reddened with intoxication.” (source)
4. Indra
Devi Bhagavatam Purana 9.40.13-25
Nârâyana said :– In ancient days, Indra the Lord of the three worlds, intoxicated with wine and becoming lustful and shameless, began to enjoy Rambhâ in a lonely grove. After having enjoyed her, he became attracted to her; his mind being wholly drawn to her, he remained there in that forest, his mind becoming very passionate.” (source)
Padma Purana 2.25.11-20
Vrtra said: O you beautiful lady, I have sought your shelter. Protect me form the (disturbance caused by) sexual desire. O you of large eyes, resort to me, who am, O dear one, distressed by sexual desire. Rambha said: There is no doubt that today I shall submit myself to you; O hero, you should do whatever I tell you to do…Having thus established a relation with her, the very powerful best demon enjoyed in that very meritorious forest. The great demon was very much stupefied by her singing, dancing, charming smile and sexual intercourse (with her). She said to that noble and best demon: “(Please drink wine; (please) drink madhu- madhavi (a kind of intoxicating drink)… But that respectable lady Rambha lovingly gave wine to him against his will. Due to civility for her he drink wine at that time. When he was extremely stupefied by the wine, and lost his senses, just then Indra struck him with his thunderbolt. Then that killer of Vrtra (i.e. Indra) was tainted with such sins as killing a brahmana.” (source)
5. Kali
Mahabharata 4.6.18
Your eternal abode is on Vindhya—that foremost of mountains. O Kali, O Kali, you are the great Kali, ever fond of wine and meat and animal sacrifice.” (source)
Shiva Purana 2.5.38.1-3
Going to the battle ground, the goddess Kali roared like a lion. On hearing that the Danavas fainted. She laughed boisterously again and again boding ill to the Asuras. She drank the distilled grapewine and danced on the battle ground. The manifestations of Durga viz Ugradamstra (one with fierce fangs) Ugradanda (one with fierce baton) and Kotavi (the naked) danced on the battle ground and drank wine.” (source)
Shiva Purana 5.46.53-56
He then agitated three worlds including the mobile and immobile beings. Then, Candika of great honour and exploit became infuriated. She drank the beverage again and again. With eyes rolling she laughed aloud…With her face reddened as a result of the inebriation after drinking wine, and with her senses excited, she spoke in a tone as majestic as the rumbling of the clouds.” (source)
Devi Bhagavatam Purana 9.22.1-75
Bhadrakâlî shouted aloud inauspicious peals after peals of laughter. Then She drank Madhu and danced in the battlefield. Ugra Damstrâ, Ugrachandâ, Kotavî, the Yoginîs, Dâkinîs, and the Devas all drank Madhu (wine).” (source)
6. Krishna
Mahabharata 4.72.19-28
And Krishna gave unto each of the illustrious sons of Pandu numerous female slaves, and gems and robes. And then the nuptial festival set in between the families of the Matsya king and the Pandavas. And then conchs and cymbals and horns and drums and other musical instruments appointed by the Pandavas, began to play in the palace of Virata. And deer of various kinds and clean animals by hundreds were slain. And wines of various kinds and intoxicating juices of trees were profusely collected.” (source)
Mahabharata 5.59.2-5
’Listen, O king, as I tell you the state in which I found Krishna and Dhananjaya. I will also, O Bharata, tell you what those heroes said; O king, with looks bent down and hands joined together, and with senses well restrained, I entered the inner apartments for conferring with those gods among men. Neither Abhimanyu nor the Twins can repair to that place where are the two Krishnas and Draupadi and lady Satyabhama. There I beheld those chastisers of foes, exhilarated with Bassia wine, their bodies adorned with garlands of flowers.” (source)
Padma Purana 5.83.53-59a
Then the two, O brahmana, being tired due to many pastimes proper for the times in the groves endowed with vernal breezes on all sides, resort, with their attendants, to the root of a tree, and sitting on a divine seat, drink liquor, O best sage. Then the two, intoxicated due to the liquor, with their eyes closed due to sleep, holding each other’s hands, being under the influence of Cupid’s arrows, and desiring to sport, enter, with their words and mind stumbling on the path. There they sport like a female elephant and (the male elephant) the lord of the herd. All the friends also, intoxicated by wine, and with their eyes troubled by sleep (i.e. drowsy) sleep all around in the charming bowers. Again and again incited by his beloved, Krsna, the lord, would go near all, with a separate body (for each) and simultaneously. Having satisfied all of them as a lord of elephants satisfies the female elephants, he would, along with his beloved and with them, go to the lake to sport.” (source)
Skanda Purana 7.1.101.17
On that day the Lord was engaged in drinking liquor after enjoying aquatic sports along with all the members of his Antaḥpura (inner apartment). They were in a secluded place.” (source)
In the verse provided below, Krishna is referred to as Rama.
Skanda Purana 7.1.202.31-32
The Brahmanas assembled there, were well-versed in the Puranas and were glad to listen to the stories and conducts of the primordial celestial sages. On seeing Rama with eyes reddened due to drinking wine they thought, ‘He is thoroughly drunk’, and hurriedly got up and began to honour and adore Halayudha excepting Suta who continued to sit.” (source)
7. Aniruddha (Grandson of Krishna)
Shiva Purana 2.5.52.50-53
Then taking leave of her friend, and knowing him to be the grandson of Kṛṣṇa, Citralekhā got ready to go to Dvārakā with the velocity of the mind. When the third day after the fourteenth day in the dark half of the month of Jyeṣṭha elapsed, a Muhūrta before the dawn, she reached the city of Dvārakā within a moment by the aerial path because she was a Yoginī. Then in the park of the harem the son of Pradyumna was seen by her playing with women and drinking wine. He was dark-complexioned but beautiful in every limb, smiling and in the prime of youth.” (source)
8. Ram and Sita
It is recounted that Rama, revered as the embodiment of virtue (Maryada Purushottam), is said to have offered wine to his wife Sita and taken pleasure in the dance of women,
Valmiki Ramayana 7.42.18-23
Taking Sita by the hand, Kakutstha gave her delicious wine made of distilled honey to drink, as formerly Purandara had offered to Saci. Thereafter pure viands and fruits of every kind were brought by servants, whilst lovely Apsaras, skilled in the arts of singing and dancing, began to perform in the Prince’s presence and troops of Nymphs and Uragas, surrounded by the Kinneris intoxicated with wine, danced before Kakutstha, and the virtuous Rama, the most captivating of warriors, delighted those ravishing and charming women.” (source)
Valmiki Ramayana 2.55.19-20
Having arrived at the middle of Yamuna river, Seetha offered salutation to the river and prayed as follows: “Oh, goddess of Yamuna! Adieu! I am crossing you! May my husband complete his vow! When Rama safely comes back again towards the city of Ayodhya, ruled by Ikshvaku kings I shall propitiate you by offering a thousand cows and a hundred drinking vessels.” (source)
9. Varuna
Brahmanda Purana 4b.33.64-66
To the north of it (i.e. in the west) in between the two gateways, Varuṇa stays permanently resorting to the Vāruṇa world. He is excited and inebriated by tasting spirituous liquor. His limbs are fair and pure.” (source)
10. Shiva and Parvati
In folk tradition, Shiva is often associated with cannabis, Sadhus imitates him by smoking weed,
Brahmanda Purana 4b.9.73
Then the gem named Kaustubha came up. Janardhana took it. Thereafter, the great medicinal herb named Vijaya (Hemp), that caused intoxication through the smell of its leaves, was born. Bhairava accepted it.” (source)
Shiva and Parvati were addicted to drinking wine,
Vayu Purana 1.30.265-268
You are a holder of the rod (of chastisement), the wielder of a staff, adorned with staff, and tonsured head. You are imbiber of poison, drinker of nectar, drinker of wine, drinker of milk and Soma juice… O Siva, neither Brahma nor Visnu nor the ancient sages can understand your greatness precisely.” (source)
Brahmanda Purana 4b.35.45-46
Martanda Bhairava is present there, O sage, in twelve different forms. He is accompanied by Saktis of fiery refulgence numbering crores. He is Mahaprakasarupa (having the form of great radiance). His eyes are pink due to inebriation…” (source)
Shiva Purana 7.2.31.62-64
Mahakala of great arms is like another Mahadeva unto those who seek refuge in him…He is fond of honey, meat and wine…” (source)
Shiva Purana 7.2.31.89-90
Kausiki is the daughter of Parvati. She rides on a lion. She is the great Maya, the slumber of Visnu. She is the suppressor of the demon Mahisa. She destroyed Sumbha and Nisumbha. She is fond of wine and meat…” (source)
11. Sage Dattatreya
According to the Markandeya Purana, when the gods faced defeat by demons in a battle, they sought assistance from Brihaspati. He directed them to Muni Dattatreya, the offspring of Rishi Atri. Approaching Dattatreya, the gods discovered him indulging in wine alongside Lakshmi, engaging in sexual intimacy with her. Despite these actions, the gods entreated his aid. Dattatreya, however, highlighted his own imperfections, involving drinking, attachment, fondness, and relations with women. The gods, in response, acknowledged his inherent purity, asserting that he remained untainted by these deeds,
Markandeya Purana 18.23-32
Thus addressed the celestials then repaired to -the hermitage of Dattatreya and saw the high-Routed (ascetic) in company with Lakshmi hymned by the Gandharvas and engaged in drinking wine, Going there they bowing prayed to him for effecting what ought to be done. They sang his praises and provided meat; drinks and garlands for him. The celestials waited when he waited and ‘moved when he moved. And when he sat on the cushion they worshipped him, having seated themselves below, Dattatreya then said to the celestials who bowed to him ”What do you expect of me that you are serving me thus”. The deities said :—”O foremost of ascetics, by the demons headed by Jambha invading the three worlds we have been deprived of Bhur, Bhuva &c , and of all our shafes in sacrifices. We pray for your grace; concert some plan, 0 god, for their destruction and our safety so that we may regain the celestial region”, Dattatreya said. — “I am addicted to drink and am impure—”! sin not master of myself. Why do you, 0 celestials, expect from me a defeat of you enemies”, The deities said :— ”0 sinless one, thou art the lord of one universe-n0 impurity can attach to thee whose mind has been washed and purified by learning resplendent with the rays of knowledge. Dattatreya said:— “True it is 0 celestials, that I, looking upon all things with impartiality, have kn0wledge-—but associating with this woman I have been sullied. The association with a woman being bent on enjoyment leads to inquity.” Thus addressed the deities again said- foremost, of the twice-born, this sinless mother of the universe is never polluted like the rays of the sun equally touching a twice-born one and a Chandala.” (source)
Lakshmi being present, Dattatreya candidly confesses to the gods that he had engaged in intimate relations with the woman (implicitly Lakshmi). While the Padma Purana doesn’t explicitly mention Lakshmi, the earlier mentioned verse substantiates the assertion that Dattatreya had sexual interactions with her,
Padma Purana 2.103.110-113
”Atri’s son Dattatreya, the high-souled brahmana, the great sage, with his eyes red due to (having drunk) spirituous liquor, was sporting with a woman. The virtuous one, intoxicated by wine, having seated a young, auspicious woman, best of all women, on his lap, sang, danced and heavily drank liquor…” (source)
In another verse, it is depicted that Dattatreya requested a king to procure meat and wine for him, and the king promptly provided these items,
Padma Purana 2.103.124-128
When a long time of many days passed, Dattatreya, in an intoxicated condition, said to the best king: ‘Do as I tell you. Give me wine in a cup; and the meal of flesh that is got cooked.’ Hearing those words of him, that Ayu, the lord of the earth, being eager, speedily got wine in a cup, and quickly cut off well-cooked flesh with his hand, and, O best one, the best king, gave these to Dattatreya. That best sage became happy in mind…” (source)
11. Sage Kashyap
Vayu Purana 2.4.114-116
Kasyapa was the knower of the sun (?) Hence he was on a par with Brahma. In every Manvantara, he is born through a part of Brahma. The subjects were angered by Daksa, it is said (?) for the sake of (his) daughters. Then he drank wine. The word ‘Kasya’ means wine. Hascekasa should be known as Brahma’s Kasya. Kasya is remembered by Brahmanas as wine. Because he drank Kasya (wiine) he is called Kasyapa.” (source)
Brahmanda Purana 3.1.120-121
When Daksa was over-bearing in his speech in regard to his daughters, the holy lord became angry. Then he drank Kasya. Liquor is called by the name Kasya. The word Kasi should be understood to have the sense of Hasya (Humour, wit). The speech and mind are mentioned by the word Kasya. Liquor is remembered by Brahmanas by means of the word Kasya. The sage is called Kasyapa due to his drinking liquor.” (source)
12. Sage Vashistha
Valmiki Ramayana 1.53
Thus addressed by Vasistha, that bestower of all that was desired, Savala, O destroyer of thy foes, brought forth everything that was desired by everyone. And she produced sugarcanes, and honey, and fried rice, and excellent Maireya, and costly drinks, and various viands, and heaps of warm rice resembling hills, and other kinds of edibles, and soups, and Dadhikulyas, together with silver plates by thousands filled with meats of diverse tastes.” (source)
13. Sage Bharadwaja
Rishi Bharadwaja is mentioned to have invoked Vishwakarma and provided both wine and 7-8 women to every soldier in Prince Bharat’s army,
Ramayana of Valmiki, Ayodhya Kanda 2, Sarga 91, verses 10-15
Thereafter Bharata, having been commanded by that great sage to bring the army there, allowed the army’s arrival to the hermitage…I wish to offer hospitality to the guest I summon vishvakarma who is also the divine carpenter. Let arrangements be made in that connection for me…Let some rivers flow with Maireya (a kind of wine made from date palms etc) some others flow with highly refined spirituous liquor and some others flow with cool water with a taste of sugarcane. [52-54] O, wine-bibbers! Drink the wine, however much you desire! O troops stricken with hunger! Let milk thickened with rice and the meats which are very much fresh, be eaten (as you will). Seven or eight young women bathed every single man on the beautiful river-banks, after massaging their body with oil. [84] The soldiers, intoxicated with spirituous liquor, were likewise excited with joy. Likewise, the men were drenched in charming aloes and sandal paste. Various kinds of excellent and charming garlands were there, crushed and garlands were there, crushed and scattered at distances, likewise.” (source)
14. Sage Vishwarupa
Shrimad Bhagavatam 6.9.1
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Viśvarūpa, who was engaged as the priest of the demigods, had three heads. He used one to drink the beverage soma-rasa, another to drink wine and the third to eat food. O King Parīkṣit, thus I have heard from authorities.” (source)
15. Other Kings
Mahabharata 15.1
Pandu’s son, collected costly robes and garlands of diverse kinds and duly offered them to Dhritarashtra. Maireya wines, fish of various kinds, and sherbets and honey, and many delightful kinds of food prepared by modifications (of diverse articles), were caused to be made for the old king as in his days of prosperity…” (source)
