Soma (Sanskrit), or Haoma (Avestan) (from Proto-Indo-Iranian *Sauma) was a ritual drink of importance among the early Indo-Iranians, and the later Vedic and Iranian cultures. It is frequently mentioned in the Rigveda, which contains many hymns praising its energizing or intoxicating qualities. It is described as prepared by pressing juice from the stalks of a certain mountain plant, which has been variously hypothesized to be a psychedelic mushroom, cannabis, or ephedra. In both Indian and Iranian tradition, the drink is ...

Including:

• Soma - Etymology
• Soma - Soma in Indian tradition
• Soma - Vedas
• Soma - Other Hindu texts
• Soma - Hinduism
• Soma - Persian Haoma
• Soma - Candidates for the Soma plant
• Soma - Hallucinogenic
• Soma - Ephedra
• Soma - Archaeological evidence

Read more here: » Soma: Encyclopedia - Soma

soma

The juice of a sacred plant, offered in the more elaborate Vedic sacrifices to the principal demigods. The performers of these sacrifices who are entitled to drink the soma juice gain elevation to heaven.

(See also: soma, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Soma - Vedas. In the Vedas, or Vedic scriptures, Soma is portrayed as sacred and as a god (deva). The god is the plant and the drink; there is no difference. The plant is the god and the drink is the god and the plant is the drink — they are all three the same. Soma is similar to Greek ambrosia (cognate to amrita); it is what the gods drink, and what made them deities. Indra and Agni are known for drinking massive amounts of Soma. Mortals also drink it, giving access to the divine. The Rigveda (8. ...

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Soma, Soma - Etymology, Soma - Soma in Indian tradition, Soma - Vedas, Soma - Other Hindu texts, Soma - Hinduism, Soma - Persian Haoma, Soma - Candidates for the Soma plant, Soma - Hallucinogenic, Soma - Ephedra, Soma - Archaeological evidence

Read more here: » Soma: Encyclopedia II - Soma - Soma in Indian tradition

Soma and Ananda

The Vedic ritual reaches its climax in the Soma offering, in which specially prepared plant juices are offered into the sacred fire (Agni) as the drink of the Gods. But this ancient ritual reflects a deeper internal ritual or alchemy of awareness that is its real import. In exploring this process, we will discover many secrets of the practice of Yoga, including the path of Self-inquiry or Jnana Yoga.

Read more here: » Soma and Ananda: The Flow of Soma

Even in the Rigveda, Soma is described as growing far away, in the mountains, and has to be purchased from travelling traders. This is connected with the Indo-Aryan migration model, i.e. the plant supposedly grew in the homeland of the Indo-Iranians, probably the Hindukush, but the migration of the Aryans into the Punjab removed them from the area of its occurrence, and it had to be imported. Later, knowledge of the plant was lost altogether, and Indian ritual reflects this, in expiatory prayers apologizing to the gods for the use of a substitute pla ...

See also:

Soma, Soma - Etymology, Soma - Soma in Indian tradition, Soma - Vedas, Soma - Other Hindu texts, Soma - Hinduism, Soma - Persian Haoma, Soma - Candidates for the Soma plant, Soma - Hallucinogenic, Soma - Ephedra, Soma - Archaeological evidence

Read more here: » Soma: Encyclopedia II - Soma - Candidates for the Soma plant

Hindu Quotes: Enjoy Celestial Pleasures

Those who follow the rituals given in the Vedas, who offer sacrifices and take soma, free themselves from evil and attain the vast heaven of the gods, where they enjoy celestial pleasures.

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elixir: Hypothetical substance that would change any metal into gold or prolong life indefinitely.

An English term for soma, a magical beverage celebrated in ancient Vedic hymns and which played an important role in worship rites.

See: amrita.

(See also: Elixir, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

In Hindu mythology and Buddhist mythology, Amrita is the drink of the gods, which grants them immortality. The word itself literally means "without death" In Yogic Philosophy (see yoga) amrita is a fluid that can flow from the pineal gland down the throat in deep states of meditation. It is considered quite a boon: some yogic texts say that one drop is enough to conquer death. It is also a common first name in India and Nepal, as the masculine "Amrit" and the feminine "Amrita." More recently, Amrita has become a eup ...

Including:

• Amrita - Reference

Read more here: » Amrita: Encyclopedia - Amrita

The Andronovo culture is a cover term for a group of Bronze Age cultures of southern Siberia and Central Asia, ca. 2300–1000 BCE. It is probably better termed an archaeological complex or archaeological horizon. The name derives from the village of Andronovo (55°53′N 55°42′E), where in 1914, several graves were discovered, with skeletons in crouched positions, buried with richly decorated pottery. At least four sub-cultures have been since distinguished, during which the culture expands towards the south and the east:Including:

• Andronovo culture - Successors
• Andronovo culture - External link

Read more here: » Andronovo culture: Encyclopedia - Andronovo culture

The Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex (or BMAC, also known as the Oxus civilization) the modern archaeological designation for a Bronze Age culture of Central Asia, dated to ca. 2200–1700 BC, located in present day Turkmenistan, northern Afghanistan, southern Uzbekistan and western Tajikistan, centered on the upper Amu Darya (Oxus). Its sites were discovered and named by Victor Sarianidi (1976). Bactria was the Greek name for the area of Bactra (modern Balkh), in what is now northern Afghanistan, an ...

Including:

• Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex - Overview
• Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex - A previously unknown civilization?
• Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex - The Indo-Iranian hypothesis
• Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex - Notes:

Read more here: » Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex: Encyclopedia - Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex

In Hinduism, Daksha is an ancient creator god, one of the Prajapatis, the Rishis and the Adityas, and a son of Aditi and Brahma. With his wife Prasuti, he is the father of many daughters, twenty-seven of whom were married to Soma. Daksha found that Soma overly favored one daughter (Rohini) over the others, thus neglecting their needs and flouting his responsibilities. For this, Daksha cursed him to wither and die. The daughters intervened and made his death periodic, sym ...

Including:

• Daksha - Story of Sati and Shiva
• Daksha - Other daughters

Read more here: » Daksha: Encyclopedia - Daksha

In Hinduism, the Gandharvas (Sanskrit: गंधर्व, gandharva) are male nature spirits, husbands of the Apsaras. They are part animal, usually a bird or horse. They have superb musical skills. They guarded the Soma and made beautiful music for the gods in their palaces. Their name may be cognate with that of the Greek centaurs. The Gandharvas is a Canadian rock band. Gandharva ( ...

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Club Universe (also known as Pleasuredome on Sundays) was a trend-setting SOMA gay nightclub in San Francisco from the early 1990s to 2002 begun by Ty Dakota and Audrey Josephy. Other related archives1990s, San Francisco, gay, nightclub

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In Hinduism, Chandra is a lunar deity. Chandra is sometimes identified with Soma. He is white and rides his chariot (the moon) across the sky every night, pulled by ten white horses. He is connected with dew, and as such, is one of the gods of fertility. He is the father of Budha, (planet Mercury) the mother being either Tara or Rohini. He is also married to Anuradha and Bharani, both daughters of Daksha. Chandra - Other meanings. Chandra is also the word in Sanskrit, Hindi and other Indian language ...

Including:

• Chandra - Other meanings

Read more here: » Chandra: Encyclopedia - Chandra

Soma:  bliss of pleasure, principle at work behind the mind and senses

(See also: Soma, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

soma:

vedic god of bliss or equated also with a potent hallucinogenic drink

(See also: soma, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Soma:

Soma. Nectar of Ecstasy. Lunar deity. Any of 24 types of psychoactive plants given in the Vedas.

(See also: Soma, Tantra, Tantra Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Soma: Vedic God of bliss

(See also: Soma, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

SOMA

The ancient Hindu drink of the Gods made of the climbing plant known as sarcostema viminalis or asclepias acida found in the mountains of Indo-Irania.

(See also: SOMA, Magick, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul, )

Soma (Sanskrit). The moon, and also the juice of the plant of that name used in the temples for trance purposes; a sacred beverage. Soma, the moon, is the symbol of the Secret Wisdom. In the Upanishads the word is used to denote gross matter (with an association of moisture) capable of producing life under the action of heat. (See " Soma-drink ".)

(See also: Soma, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )