Soma (सोमः)

CHAPTER V- SOMA-GAYATRI In the Vedas, Soma is mentioned as the Devata of Prithvi. In yagnas, the Somayagna is of superior quality. Soma has been described as anna (grain) by the devatas. This soma is also compared to a creeper. The Vedas describe Lord Indra, the king of the Devas, drinking Somarasa (Soma juice). Often it is described that Soma deva would reside but Garuda brought him to bhumi in the form of Gayatri. Soma is also addressed as Pavamana (wind) in the Vedas. Soma is called Samudra Raja (ocean king) as it is considered as the king of all rivers. Soma is addressed as the source of water as it provides rain and resides in water. It is said Whoever partakes of Soma, will become immortal and develop the capacity to perform superhuman activities. Therfore, it is compared to “amrith” (nectar) or even described as “amrith.” Sometimes, Soma is compared to the Sun as it is seen as the dispeller of darkness and provider of light, one who spreads his rays towards the earth and Sky. Soma is known for giving benediction of teja (), success, and eternality. Soma is the source of all aushadhi (medicine). He can cure all disease, restore vision to the blind and enable the lame to walk. He is all pervading and protects the human body. Soma essential dharma is to increase satya in us by removing our sins, which are ingrained in us.

Soma enhances our speech and pronunciation just as the boatman who plies the boat in the waters seamlessly, and is therefore known as Vacaspati (expert in the art of speech). It can invoke powerful feelings within our mind and directs us to Prarthana (prayers). He is the master amongst poets, Rishi amongst the brahamanas and the brahamanas worship him as the king. He is the heart of the Yagna and the distributor of knowledge. In the battle between Indra and Vritrasura, he was the cause of Indra’s victory as He is the thunder weapon (Vajra) of Indra, hence known as the soul of Indra. Or he a. He gave birth to Surya in the water, and he causes sunrise. e himself is warrior, he has never lost battle, those warriors who worship him, and he offers them anything they desire. Those Brahmanas who drink somarasa, have the power to burn their enemies simply by the glance. In earthly planet he resides in mountains. He has birds eyes view over every one. Anything, and any one has connection to soma is generally called as somya in vedic language.

The western Indologist, who are bereft of Vedic wisdom and Indians who have no pride in the Vedas go by the Whiteman’s version of सोम which is an intoxicating beverage. This is deeply revealing of their malicious intentions to portray our scriptures as and our sages in denigrating and frivolous terms. According to them “suktadarshi” is not rishi, they mention that the sage being intoxicated tends to thinl of himself as a Rishi. One Christian priest (Religion of Rig veda by H.D. Graiswald, page 214-215)) who may himself be under the influence of ordinar intoxicant rashly concludes that there is no difference between liquor and Soma rasa. The difference is one is used for Yagna and other is used for general purpose of consuming. He further comes up with the fanciful theory that Somarasa helps in increasing sexual appetite. His profound knowledge of our great culture is based merely on two incidents. Àt a camp, when he asked a drunk cobbler as to why he drank, the cobbler replied, “ if I do not drink, how will I produce children? In 1890, the same Christian priest met an Indian, who told this priest, if he did not drink whisky then he would have been dead long back. The equation of the sacred Soma to alcohol (introduced along with opium into India and China by the East India Company nations itself to destroy Bharat) and also that Indian were drunkards is not only vicious but false propaganda.This pathetic scholarship reveals the malafide intentions of the White traders to not only denigrate our knowledge systems but also impose falsehoods and non-existent discriminatory systems that were not part of our Vedic traditions. An example of this was the oppositional categories: gods-demons, fire-blood, man-woman, twice-born-shudra, purity-pollution, death-immortality.

In the introduction itself he clarifies that he does not comprehend the Vedas as he cannot understand the feeling of words or cannot explain the words, but has borrowed the meaning from elsewhere, mostly from secondary sources. Ironically, he indicates not only his ignorance of our systems but also his audacity at studying us from a position of superiority. But that this was accepted and has become the explanation for our knowledge systems indicates the hegemony of the West on our academic, health, and all our systems. And the most significant factor is that these conlusions reign till date and determine our discourse and actions. Also our glorious heritage has completely been blamked out leaving the people of Bharat completly without connection to their roots as we pursue systems that are not only dysfunctional but alien.

A logical question would be that if the dharmic rishis were Somarasa drunkards as insinuated by Western evangelists, the Rig veda (XI, all 114 suktas) would not eulogise Soma and the rishis would not have performed yagna while honouring Soma. If it was an alcoholic beverage, why would drinking it only be restricted to three times a day. Soma is not a ordinary beverage, it is the symbol of divinity and only the most qualified brahamanas were able to drink (तत्त्वपणा|tattvapana) it, this is the conclusion of vedas.

Somam manyate papivana yat sam pimashanti aushadhim Somam yam brahamanyo viduh natasyashnati kaschana (X-85-3)

The Sayana Bhashya claims that those who desire sexual appetite, should consider Somarasa as an intoxication and extract its juice thrugh the chemical method and drink it. Such persons consider Somarasa as ordinary juice, but the wise Brahamanas (brahmagyaani) and the ritvigyjyamanaas understood the real essence of सोम. In other words, the soma is not some ordinary juice extracted from the creeper as explained in the Vedas. Those who have actually honored the Soma, the brahamvadini, mahajnanis, those who are immersed in Brahman, explained the Soma differently;

Apama somamamrta abhumaganma jyotir vidama devan Kim nunamasman krnavadaratih kimdhurtiramrta martyasya

“We have honored soma rasa, we have become immortal, achieved the param jyoti (highest light), have understand all the devas, what can the enemies do to us? Hey Soma, what can the enemies who are wicked to do me, even though I am mortal? (VIII-48-3 Rik samhita).

Such people who are ignorant and demean Soma are ignorant of the Vedas and its profound wisdom and false keepers of our knowledge systems.

Similarly, the great Vamadeva Rishi, who drank the Soma, says, “I have realised the secret behind the birth of Indra and others, previously my body which was like iron shackles did not allow me, to experience Brahman, because of being bound. Since i who took the dress of Garuda, I was split open the covering of body (since I drank soma rasa). Even though this body binds me, but I am not covered with ignorance, illusion, even the pain of being in the womb has been overcome by my power of wisdom. The ईश्वर|Isvara, who is in the form of Soma) has helped me to conquer my enemies of the womb, he helped me to cross all the layers of air in the womb, that Isvara, is complete, and the source and inspirer of the entire cosmos. One who speak such profound words, Vamadeva, should he be considered insane or a great brahma jnani?

Even small children can understand this in India. One more thing is expressed by Wamadeva; to prove his complete surrender, he compares himself to body and the supreme being as the soul, hence it shows the paramatama’s complete body. (this is explained in the brahamasutras in regards to indrapranadhikaran “shastra dhristhyatu upadesha wamadevatah” Vedavyasa explained exactly in the above fashion) “ I was Manu, Sun god, Rishi Kashikavana, Arjuna,Kutsa and also krantadarshi, who is rishi named, Ushanasa. Hey all humans, please understand me who is very wonder. i gave earth to Manu, I was the one who gave rain to man who is engaged in yagna. I am the originator of rivers. All the devas follow my sankalpa(resolve) I was the one who became Indra, and gave protectin to Divodasa rishi, who was from royal family. By my power he destroyed 99 towns of demon Shambarasura,and settled in 100th town. In this way(one who provided energy to me and divodasa) Garuda who brought the grain of devatas who are personified in Soma, from the planet brahma loka, in the fomr of “suparna,” for this reason let it become elevated( Rik sam VI- 26-27)

Then who is the soma, we will see this in the future pages.

Garuda, who was in the sauparna form(bird?) brought madhu( Soma) who was in the third position of Trivikrama, this story is there in the many part of Vedas, indicating symbolic meaning. This story specifically mentioned in Rigveda's aitarey brahmana, 13th chapter. It can be summarised; Once upon time soma resided only in other word(para Loka). The devas and Rishis, who were always loyal to the principle of Yagna were contemplating to bring Soma to lower planets, they decided some plan; chandasas vmcan bring him down(Chandas are the language which are used to cover the essential meaning of the Vedas) since the Veda aphorism have the power to reveal Param brahma to the world, hence the devas and Rishis decided to use Chandas is clearly delineated. Hence they prayed to Chandasas. The Chandasas agreed to undertake this endeavour. Since Param pada was very high, they decided to choose those being who had strong wings and very able,,hence they chose few chandasas who disguised as birds. They were Jagati, Trishtuoa and Gayatri. First Jagati tried to steal soma but being only four words for every pada, therefore had come back being exhausted. In this adventure Jagati lost three of its letters and when retuned with only one of his letter, the wealth of Tapasya was transformed into animal prosperity. Hence it is called as" Jagata hi pashavah" the Trishtapu was this capable to only produce cattle prosperity.

Second was the turn of Tristhupa chandas, it was tired half way through the journey and lost one of its letter and when it came back, it brought the Yagna ingredient, Dakshina alone with it. Devatas then requested Gayatri to bring soma. They also chanted some mantras called " svastyayana" which consisted of " Pra" and "cha" So that Gayatri's journey would be free from obstacles. Eventually Gayatri was able to being Soma, first by reaching there and by lifting him by her feet and mouth. Gayatri also brought back the four letter which were lost by other two chandasas while scaring the the protectors of soma named Somapla. The somapalas who were 7 in number and one of the Krshaan, cut of the left feet's nail, this became the porcupine's thorn and porcupine itself. The blood which came for the feet became dried that became cow. bones became (;??)snakes. The soma which was captured from Gayatri's right foot became pratah savan( morning oblation?). It is the most prosperous in all the shavanas. One who understand this is the best amongst the Yajna performers. Soma's part which was captured by the left foot became "madyandin savan". But because it slipped it was not as great as " pratah savana". That part of Soma which was captured by Gayatri in the mouth became " tritiya savan". Because it was drunk while flying in the form of Garuda hence it was less powerful than other two "savan".

Upanishads describe Brahma vastu as "Rasa" and the one who enjoys it is called ‘Anandi’ from the same perspective. || raso vai sah, rasaggam hevayam labdhva Nandi bhavati||

The Vedas attach great importance to Soma, Garuda and Gayatri. Paramatma is called as Anandamaya (full of bliss) in the language of the Vedas. Indra, the King of the Gods (?) partakes of Soma rasa. Being central to the Vedas, the Soma tattva is relished by the Brahmanas at three times in the form of Gayatri is not surprising. Hence Soma is called as "Pavamana" the purifier. Being representation of brahmana nda, the Brahmanas are offering the prayer to this soma Deva, " Oh pavamana Soma, please place me in the land where there is the brightness of Sun, light is eternal, to that nectar and inexhaustible land. That place where Vivaswanta's son and the pure water of Ganga and other water reside, there I would desire to be immortal. The place where the Paramatma, traverse with his three Pada( feet) and best amongst them, the place of Son god's light eminates without any hindrance or freedom, the place where all the planets are established brightly, in those places make me immortal. Where all the desires are fulfilled, where all the ambitions are attained, the action place of Aditya, full of purity, the place where satisfaction and Anna is there to that place you settle me. The place where there is ceaseless brahmananda, happiness, satisfaction, As much as we desire, please place me there. ( ix-11-;3) with such background prayer, one should accept Soma rasa as he is. This Soma was born Trivijrama's third foot. Puranas extols how the shiva by carrying in his jatha and made him " somashelhar". This very significant. Soma has been described as king for the Brahmanas, in this way the soma tattva is famous for giving. giving spiritual import.

Once Gayatri came back from getting Soma, the Trishthupa and Jagati, requested Gayatri to returned their letters. Gayatri argued that it belongs to her. The devas sided Gayatri. In this way Gayatri became "astaksharmtaka( 8 lettered) Trishthupa became "trysksharatmaka( three lettered) and Jagati became ekaksharatmaka( one lettered). At the end other two chandasas became qualified in taking part in the Savanas. One who understand these tattva( concepts) he or she will attain glory and power and with grace of Chandasas one will attain all prosperity.

The same story is also narrated in Taittiriya samhita's 6 kanda ( section) here is the summary.

Kashyapa and his two wives kadru and suparna these two had competition in regards their beauty. This is basically a symbol of conflict between the iha( in this world) and para( higher realm) to prove who is greater. This is an eternal transaction. Vedas illustrates it very beautifully. The earth is kadru, antariksha( higher realm) is Suparna. Chandasas are the children of suparna. Suparna lost in the competition. Kadru made Suparna her servant. Kadru put some condition to free Suparna. She wanted the Soma from the heaven's third division. The sons of Suparna, Chandasasa decided to help and free their mother's woe. The Jagati and Trishthupa failed in their attempt( the letters are different from the previous story. But at last Gayatri was able to accomplish with the help of "Aja" who was in the shape or form of jyoti(light). Who flew along with Gayatri to get soma. Gayatri brought Soma and other letters which were left behind by two other Chandasas. Even though Gayatri is the smallest amongst the Chandasas but because he brought the soma which main oblation for Yagna, he attained superior position amongst the Chandasas. This the opinion of the brahma dais. The most part of Rigveda is in the Gayatri, Trishthupa and Jagati chandasas, in other words they are complied with these Chandasas. There are also other thirteen Chandasas. But Gayatri has primary position. ( almost 2500 are in this Chandasas). This story is very famous and symbolically indicates enmity between Garuda and snakes. Hose who have brhamabhuti can understand the import of this story as the conflict between mundane and divine consciousness and their reject the conclusion of those who claim it is only clash between two race. In this way Gayatri has been considered as Garuda, in the Vedas and pancharatra sastras. It makes clear indication that the Lord Narayana who is carried by Garuda is the( pratipadya) and Param brahma vastu. The faithful has to understand whatever had been compiled in the Vedas, Puranas is the same principle but defined in different ways. The story of Garuda bringing nectar is nothing but Gayatri brining soma. Soma is indicated as brahma experience. Soma creeper is physical self and the squeezing the creeper to stone is the suffering of this world.