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HINDU GOD - SOMA
GOD OF THE MOON
Soma is a very difficult deity for
many outside of India to comprehend. He
works on numerous levels, all of which
are tied together rather strangely. Soma
is firstly a plant. He is also an
intoxicating drink which was brewed from
that plant. As the blood of animals and
the sap of plants, Soma courses through
all living things. He is Inspiration to
those who seek it, and so is the god of
poets. He is also the god of the moon.
He is the dwelling place of the
venerated dead, as well as the divine
cure for evil. The ancient Hindus did
not differentiate between these
divergent aspects; all were the god
Soma.
Soma was one of the more important gods in the Rig Veda;
120 hymns and one entire book are dedicated to him. He has
many different forms. He is seen as a celestial bull, a
bird, a giant rising from the waters, the lord of plants,
and as an embryo. He rarely is seen as a fully grown human.
As a drink, Soma is the ambrosia of the gods. It was due to
this influence that they could rise above all obstacles to
achieve their goals. Indra was a great drinker of the
substance; before his confrontation with Vritra, he
drank rivers of it to gain the strength needed to overcome
the fearsome dragon. |
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Agni also consumed it in large amounts. Soma was
what gave the Vedic gods their immortality. It was also a drink for
mortals, a golden-hued nectar which was derived from the Soma plant,
which may be a species known as ephedra vulgaris to botanists. This
drink brought hallucinations and ecstasy to those who consumed it.
It helped warriors to overcome their fears in battle, and it helped
poets to become inspired to create. Soma was a bridge between the
mortal world and that of the gods. This drink is the same as Haoma
in Persian mythology.
As the moon, Soma became equated with the god Chandra, who
originally was the moon deity. The moon was considered the cup which
held the drink Soma for the gods, and one reason that the moon waxed
and waned was due to this fact. When the moon waned, it was because
the gods were drinking down all the Soma; as it waxed, the god was
re-creating himself, only to be consumed again once the cup was
again full. As the Vedic age ended and the Brahmans asserted
themselves, the power of the gods no longer came from Soma but
instead from sacrifices made by humans; Soma came more and more to
be just a god of the moon. In later times, the waxing and waning of
the moon was due to a curse put on Soma. Soma had twenty-seven wives
(who correspond to the twenty-seven stations of the moon). They were
all the daughters of Daksha. Daksha felt that Soma was paying
too much attention to one of his daughters, thereby neglecting the
rest. He cursed Soma to die a withering death. But Soma's wives
intervened, and so the death became only periodic; during half the
month, the moon slowly dies away, but is reborn and comes around
again to full vigor.
Though he is never depicted in human form, Soma obviously did not
want for lovers; poets rarely do. In one episode, his desires caused
a war. He had grown arrogant due to the glory that was offered him.
Because of this, he let his lust overcome him; he kidnapped and
carried off Tara, the wife of the god Brihaspati. After
refusing to give her up, the gods made war on him to force her
release, and Soma called on the Asuras to aid him. Finally
Brahma interceded and compelled Soma to let Tara go. But she was
with child, and it ended up that this child was Soma's. The child
was born and named Budha (not to be confused with the Buddha).
This Soma is a god; he cures
The sharpest ills that man endures.
He heals the sick, the sad he cheers,
He nerves the weak, dispels their fears.
Vedic Hymns
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