Article ID: CBB001551739

Soma, an Enigmatic, Mysterious Plant of the Vedic Aryas: An Appraisal (2015)

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Soma plant has been a mystery since a long time. A number of plants were proposed as Soma in the past by various authorities. Wasson (1968) proposed and claimed with a specific approach that Amanita muscaria, a mushroom was the Soma of the gveda. The juice of it was used as Soma drink. The Vedic rya s (earlier called `Vedic ryans'), were the composer of gveda. They used to compose hymns(mantras)to record their day to day experiences, their cultural life and adoration of their deities including Soma. It is speculated, when, Soma became rare and was difficult to find, then yena, the Falcon (a kind of bird) was used to collect and bring to their masters and it is well recorded in the gvedic hymns. Perhaps, Wasson did not give any importance to this fact, which actually well supports his findings. Nothing is known about the origin or migration of Vedic ryas. They used ephedra, cannabis and poppy in preparation of Soma drink and is supported by an archaeological finding by Sarianidi, in 2003 AD. Sarianidi called the Vedic ryas as Zorastrians settled in Bactria and India. It is not certainwhat ingredients were used to prepare the Soma drink. In India, when they were in the mountainous region of Afghanistan and Kashmir, they used ephedra, which was plentifully available for preparation of Soma drink. With their work as they migrated in the Indian plains eastwards and southwards they had to use other locally growing plants as substitute or surrogates like: Sarcostemma spp., Ceropegiaspp.,Periploca aphylla,etc. because ephedra was not available. The paper deals with the story as to how Wasson came to the conclusion that Amanita muscaria is the Soma of the gveda and the plants used as Soma in different periods of time with the movements of the Vedic ryas. Lastly, the present status of Soma in Indian religion & culture is briefly discussed, where it is worshipped and only mentioned in the hand books of daily worship used by the Hindu br hmins (priests).

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Authors & Contributors
Weber, Steven A.
Turner, Nancy J
Claudia Jeanne Ford
Nath, Madhumita
Bell, Karen L.
Thomas, Kenneth D.
Concepts
Ethnobotany
Botany
India, civilization and culture
Plants
Agriculture
Archaeology
Time Periods
Prehistory
Ancient
20th century
18th century
Neolithic period
Medieval
Places
India
Pakistan
South Asia
Australia
Arabian peninsula
Atlantic Ocean
Institutions
Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab
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