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In the Vedic tradition, soma (Sanskrit: सोम, romanized: sóma) is a ritual drink[1][2] of importance among the early Vedic Indo-Aryans.[3] The Rigveda mentions it, particularly in the Soma Mandala. Gita mentions the drink in chapter 9.[4] It is equivalent to the Iranian haoma.[5][6]
The texts describe the preparation of soma by means of extracting the juice from a plant, the identity of which is now unknown and debated among scholars. Both in the ancient religions of Historical Vedic religion and Zoroastrianism, the name of the drink and the plant are not exactly the same.[7]
There has been much speculation about the most likely identity of the original plant. Traditional Indian accounts, such as those from practitioners of Ayurveda, Siddha medicine, and Somayajna called Somayajis, identify the plant as "Somalata" (Cynanchum acidum).[8] Non-Indian researchers have proposed candidates including Amanita muscaria, Psilocybin mushrooms, Peganum harmala and Ephedra sinica.
- ^ Monier Williams (1899), A Sanskrit–English Dictionary, Oxford, the Clarendon Press, OCLC 458052227, page 1249.
- ^ soma. CollinsDictionary.com. Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 11th Edition. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
- ^ Flood (1996), An Introduction to Hinduism, p.43
- ^ "Bhagavad Gita: The Song of God". www.holy-bhagavad-gita.org. Translated by Mukundananda. Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog. Chapter 9, Verse 20. ASIN B0747RJJNG. OL 28015595M. Wikidata Q108659922.
- ^ Toorn, Karel van der; Becking, Bob; Horst, Pieter Willem van der (1999). Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 384. ISBN 978-0-8028-2491-2. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ Guénon, René (2004). Symbols of Sacred Science. Sophia Perennis. p. 320. ISBN 978-0-900588-77-8. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ Victor Sarianidi, Viktor Sarianidi in The PBS Documentary The Story of India
- ^ Singh, N. P. (1988). Flora of Eastern Karnataka, Volume 1. Mittal Publications. p. 416. ISBN 9788170990673.