Soma - Archaeological evidence

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

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

The Iranian peoples called the drink Haoma. In Persia, the early Aryan rituals were reformed by Zoroaster. Our knowledge is sketchy, but evidence of the formerly great importance of the ritual may be glimpsed from the Avesta (particularly in the Hōm Yast, Yasna 9–11), and Old Iranian *hauma also survived as Middle Persian hōm. The plant Haoma yielded the essential ingredient f ...

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 - Persian Haoma

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. ...

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 - Soma in Indian tradition