Everything You Need to Know About Somarasa

Most detractors of Eastern cultures have held the belief that the somaras (sacred nectar) drunk by the Vedic Rishis (sages) was alcohol. Bachchan's father, the elder Bachchan Sahib, has even penned an entire poem around this vile mindset.

Our ancestors drank Soma and Sura (liquor), which we today call Hala (wine),
What they called Dronakalash is today the exquisite Madhughat (wine-pot),
Do not abandon this altar-sanctioned custom, O contractors of the Vedas,
It has been worshipped for ages, the Madhushala (tavern) is nothing new.

The same Varuni that emerged from the churning of the ocean is now Hala,
The offspring of Rambha are known in this world as 'Sakibala' (cup-bearers),
That which Devas (deities) and Adevas brought forth, will saints and mahants destroy it?
Who holds how much strength, the Madhushala understands this very well.

Somaras is not 'alcohol'; the Rigveda, while vehemently condemning alcohol, states:

हृत्सु पीतासो युध्यन्ते दुर्मदासो न सुरायाम्।।  This means that those who consume Sura or intoxicating substances often engage in fights, violence, or create chaos.

It becomes clear from this Richa (Vedic verse) of the Rigveda that somaras is not an intoxicant but must be a sacred juice or medicine.

Lord Krishna Himself has said,

त्रैविद्या मां सोमपाः पूतपापा यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा स्वर्गतिं प्रार्थयन्ते | ते पुण्यमासाद्य सुरेन्द्रलोकमश्र्नन्ति दिव्यान्दिवि देवभोगान् || "Those who study the Vedas and drink somaras, seeking the path to heaven, worship Me indirectly. Purified of sins, they take birth in the sacred celestial realm of Indra, where they enjoy divine pleasures fit for the gods."

Some claim that Soma is a plant that grows in the hills of Afghanistan. For this, they quote this mantra (sacred chant) from Rigveda 10.34.1: “सोमस्येव मौजवतस्य भक्षः”. They make futile attempts to link Mount Maujavat to today's Hindukush, i.e., Afghanistan, whereas the truth is quite the contrary. In the Nirukta (etymological treatise), the reading is “मूजवान पर्वतः”, but there is doubt whether the Maujavat of the Veda and the Mujavan of the Nirukta are the same. This is because in the Sushruta Samhita, “Munjavan” is written as a synonym for Soma. Therefore, Maujavat, Mujavan, and Munjavan are proven to be distinct from one another.

Some scholars also link somaras to this shloka (verse) from the Matsya Purana. However, here 'Soma' refers to the Moon. The enumeration there is as follows:

Some describe somaras as bhang (cannabis); however, there are descriptions of somaras being mixed with curd, and bhang is never mixed with curd. In a Richa of the Rigveda, it is written that this pressed, pure somaras mixed with curd is offered to Lord Indra, who eagerly desires to drink it. In Rigveda 1.5.5, it is said:

O Vayudev (Lord of Wind)! This pressed somaras, being pungent, has been prepared by mixing it with milk. Come and drink it.

Rigveda 1.23.1 says:

शतं वा य: शुचीनां सहस्रं वा समाशिराम्। एदुनिम्नं न रीयते।। That is, may thousands of pitchers of milk mixed with hundreds of pitchers of somaras, flowing like water running downwards, reach Lord Indra.

Method of Preparing Somaras

A highly dramatic description of preparing somaras has been given by Amish Tripathi in his novel The Immortals of Meluha. However, a complete description of it exists in the Vedas. Rigveda, Sukta (hymn) 28, Mantra 9 says:

उच्छिष्टं चम्वोर्भर सोमं पवित्र आ सृज। नि धेहि गोरधि त्वचि।। Meaning, take the Soma crushed with a pestle out of the vessel, place it on a sacred seat of Kusha grass, and place it on the sacred hide for straining.

औषधि: सोम: सुनोते: पदेनमभिशुण्वन्ति।- निरुक्त शास्त्र (११-२-२)

Meaning, Soma is a medicinal herb from which juice is extracted by crushing and grinding. When Soma is mixed with cow's milk, it becomes 'Gavashiram', and in curd, it becomes 'Dadhyashiram'. It was also mixed with honey or ghee. The process of making somaras holds great importance in Vedic yajnas (sacrificial rituals). It has three stages: pressing, straining, and mixing. It is said that the Rishis and Munis (ascetics) offered this to the deities during rituals, and later consumed it themselves as prasad (sanctified offering).

The properties of Somaras are like the Sanjeevani herb

Somaras is a drink that acts like Sanjeevani (the herb of life). It keeps the body eternally youthful and strong.

The Spiritual Meaning is Different

From a spiritual perspective, it is believed that Soma is the nectar produced in the body during the higher stages of spiritual practice. For this, it is said:

सोमं मन्यते पपिवान् यत् संविषन्त्योषधिम्। सोमं यं ब्रह्माणो विदुर्न तस्याश्नाति कश्चन।। (ऋग्वेद-१०-८५-३))

Meaning, many believe that what is consumed merely in the form of medicine is Soma, but that is not so. There is a somaras within us as well, which is the supreme element in the form of Amrita (nectar of immortality). It is not eaten or drunk, but can only be realized by the wise.

Let us understand its spiritual meaning through a poem,

O Soma!

 

You are the essence of vegetation, the nourishment of the body!

You alone satiate the fire of the body!

You are the strength of the body, the food of the living being!

You are the milk flowing from the cow's udders!

You are the flesh, marrow, and blood of the bones!

 

You are bliss, sweetness, 'Raso Vai Sah' (He is indeed the essence)!

The mind is from you, you are the mind; water is from you, you are water!

You are the path traversed by the sun's rays!

The golden sky is from you, you are the dark-hued Krishna!

And raining down from the celestial moon, you are that cool Amrita!

 

Your hunger is the hunger of the fire!

This Rudra-form fire, you are its weeping!

If you unite with it, it becomes peaceful, it becomes Shiva!

You are the oblation to the fire, you are the Arghya (water offering) to the Sun!

You are the Havishya (sacrificial offering) reaching the deities!

 

You are that lost herb of the mountain,

For which civilizations have searched!

You are the life-giving power of herbs!

You are the secret of Lakshmana's Sanjeevani!

You are the essence of milk, ghee, honey, and Amrita!

 

O 'Vedavid' (knower of Vedas) of Kaliyuga!

In what sense is Soma used in the Vedic Richas,

Can you tell us?

In botany and Ayurveda, a creeper is described which is called Somavalli. It is also known by names such as Mahasoma, Anshuman, Rajatprabha, Kaniyan, Kanakprabha, Pratapvan, Swayamprabh, Swetan, Chandrama, Gayatri, Pavata, Jagata, Sakara, etc.

Its scientific name is Sarcostemma acidum, and it is a member of the Apocynaceae family, which is found with difficulty in the subtropical Himalayas.

Ayurvedic texts provide information about Somaras:

In Rasendrachudamani 6.6-9, it is said:

पञ्चांगयुक्पञ्चदशच्छदाढ्या सर्पाकृतिः शोणितपर्वदेशा।
सा सोमवल्ली रसबन्धकर्म करोति एकादिवसोपनीता।।
करोति सोमवृक्षोऽपि रसबन्धवधादिकम्।
पूर्णिमादिवसानीतस्तयोर्वल्ली गुणाधिका।।
कृष्ण पक्षे प्रगलति दलं प्रत्यहं चैकमेकं शुक्लेऽप्येकं प्रभवति पुनर्लम्बमाना लताः स्युः।
तस्याः कन्द: कलयतितरां पूर्णिमायां गृहीतो बद्ध्वा सूतं कनकसहितं देहलोहं विधत्ते।।
इयं सोमकला नाम वल्ली परमदुर्लभा।
अनया बद्धसूतेन्द्रो लक्षवेधी प्रजायते।

That Somavalli, which has fifteen leaves, whose shape is like a serpent, and whose joints from where the leaves emerge are red, when gathered on the full moon day along with its panchanga (five parts: root, stem, leaves, flower, and fruit), binds mercury. The Soma tree, gathered on the full moon day along with its panchanga, also performs tasks such as binding mercury and making bhasma (calcined ash) of mercury. However, between the Somavalli and the Soma tree, the Somavalli possesses superior qualities.

In the Krishna paksha (dark fortnight), one leaf of this Somavalli falls off every day, and in the Shukla paksha (bright fortnight), one leaf emerges again daily. In this manner, this creeper continues to grow. If the bulbous root of this creeper is extracted on the full moon day, it is highly potent. Mercury bound with this root along with Dhatura makes the body as strong as iron. And mercury bound with this becomes Lakshavedhi (capable of transmuting a hundred thousand fold), meaning one part of bound mercury can turn a hundred thousand parts of iron into gold. This creeper named Soma is extremely rare. At least in today's times, Somavalli is nothing short of a divine Somalata.

 – Dr. Madhusudan Upadhyay, the author is a deep connoisseur of Indian culture, history, art, dharma (righteous order), and spirituality.

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