Soma Essay

1.6 Soma Drink – Its Characteristics
Soma consumption gives a feel of one becoming immortal, gives a blissful experience with it nature of sweetness. This drink was sacred and special as it was not entitled for a common man but was ritual oriented and was offered only to God. Soma drinks is specially characterized for contentment (Ssukra- RV.IV.27.5), beautifulness (Ssubhra- RV.IX.62.5), for its nectar like sweetness (Madhu- RV.I.13.4), was alcoholic (Madhya- RV.VIII.92.1), free from excreta (Gorjika-RV.VII.21.5), it was praised for its aestheticness (Vivakshwasa - RV.VIII.1.25), enriches the cheerfulness in the consumer (Maneeshinah - RV.II.19.1), considered to be the cream of the food (Sudaksha- RV.VIII.92.4) (Singh, Ramprasad, Mishra,

Here Soma does not refer to any intoxicant or alcohol as Soma is said to be a creator of universe, stars, life, objects etc. Soma is referred to the Supreme Lord – the Ishwar or God. Soma refers to something intellectual and spiritual.

śatapata brāhmaṇam: VI.1.3.10:

सथ्यं वै श्रे ज्योथिः षोमः अन्रुथ पाप्म तमः षुरैथे sathyaṁ vai śree jyothiḥ ṣomaḥ anrutha pāpma tamaḥ ṣuraithe
Soma is a conceptual beverage of Gods, which is described as Truth (Sathyam), Auspiciousness( Sri:) , light / radiance (Jyothi:) . Sura in contrast is untruth (anrutham), misery (Paapmaa) and darkness ( tama:).
Soma is not inert, Drinking Soma, the whole territory of the body becomes enriched, the whole territory of the mind becomes enriched. is a living force that enhances intellect ,so enriched that the mind is capable of holding on to the Infinity at the same time when it 's holding on to the finite.
2.1.7 Soma Rasā as described in Classical Texts
यामिमां पुश्पितां वाचं प्रवदन्रि न पण्दितः वेदवाद् रथाह् पार्थ नान्यदस्तीति वादिनः। २-४२
कामाचर्स्वर्गपरा जन्मकर्म फलप्रदां क्रियाविशेशबहुलां भोश्वर्य गतिम् प्रति॥ २-४३ yāmimāṁ puśpitāṁ vācaṁ pravadanri na paṇditaḥ vedavād rathāh pārtha nānyadastīti vādinaḥ| kāmācarsvargaparā janmakarma phalapradāṁ kriyāviśeśabahulāṁ bhoaiśvarya gatim prati

Some men are busy engaged in trade, industry, economic development, political supremacy, etc., and some of them are engaged in fruitive work to become happy in the next life by attaining higher planets. It is said that on the moon the inhabitants are fit for greater sense enjoyment by drinking somarasā, and the Pitṛloka is obtained by good charitable work. So there are various programs for sense enjoyment, either during this life or in the life after death. Some are trying to reach the moon or other planets by some mechanical arrangement, for they are very anxious to get into such planets without doing good work. But it is not to happen. By the law of the Supreme, different places are meant for different grades of living beings according to the work they have performed. By good work only, as prescribed in the scriptures, one can obtain birth in a good family, opulence, good education and good bodily features. We see also that even in this life one obtains a good education or money by good work. Similarly, in our next birth we get such desirable positions only by good work. Otherwise, it would not so happen that two persons born in the same place at the same time are seen differently placed according to previous work. But all such material positions are impermanent. The positions in the topmost Brahmaloka and in the lowest Pātāla are also changeable according to our own work.