Soma & Vaisnavism

[Guest guest]

Dear Thakuraseva Prabho and all assembled Vaisnavas, please accept my humble

obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

 

If you're further interested in the topic of soma, the following sources

might be of interest:

 

- A. Hillebrandt: Vedische Mythologie, p. 193-247

- W. Caland: Altindisches Zauberritual, p. 188

- J. Eggeling: SBE XXVI, p. XXIV

- R.G. Wasson: Soma. Divine Mushroom of Immortality == Ethnomycological

Studies #1, New York 1968, 1973

- U. Schneider: Der Somaraub des Manu. Mythus und Ritual == Freiburger

Beiträge zur Indologie Bd. 4, Wiesbaden 1971, p. 29

- H. Falk: Soma I & II, in: Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African

Studies vol. LII, pt. 1, London 1989, p. 77-90

- A. A. Macdonell & A.B. Keith: Vedic Indes, vol. II, p. 476-478

 

> That is true; as far as my understanding goes soma is not manifest during

> Kaliyuga (although I am not able to back this up from scripture).

Well, when it is mentioned so often in the Vedas, as it is esp. Rgveda, it

should still have been available 2k5-3k years ago, which means in Kaliyuga.

 

> However, there was a time when soma was manifest and identified and at

> that time there were also vaisnavas present.

This is a rigid assumption. One may assume Vaisnavas throughout the ages,

but not always were they necessarily dominant. And when the three daily

pressings of soma are connected with Agni, Indra and the Rbhus resp. for at

morning, midday and evening, it is doubtful wether Vaisnavas at that time

would use this substance for the worship of Vishnutattva, though not exactly

impossible.

 

> The Supreme Lord says in the Bhagavad-gita (9.20) that "Those who study

> the Vedas and drink the soma juice, seeking the heavenly planets, worship

> me indirectly." Here soma is strongly linked with karma-kanda and thus

> not in line with vaisnava philosophy

Well, be careful. The sanskrit also says "traividya" (those who study the

Vedas) and "yajnair istva" (worshiping with yajnas) in the same line. Thus

your statement would imply that studying the Vedas and performing yajnas

were also karma-kanda. Srikrsna also says that He is Yajnesvara, and all the

Vedas are revealed by Him. I don't think there's anything per se wrong for

Vaisnavas in these activities.

 

> > plucking the leaves of that plant [...]

> Do you have a reference that it is the leaves they pick?

No, I don't. I heard it from a person who worked on soma a couple of years

ago, in the light of Avesta. I may ask him end of October, when the next

term starts, if you're still interested. He might have concrete references.

But please do remind me then.

 

> I am asking because the Rg Veda describes that it is the stalk which is

> pressed during the soma sacrifice: (Rg Veda 9.62.4)

You cannot say "the Rgveda describes", as there are too many references. If

there is a reference at 9.62.4 to the stalk alone, it doesn't means that's

all there is to it. The Vedic Index notes: "It is not possible to describe

exactly the details of the process of pressing the Soma as practiced in the

Rigveda. It was certainly purified by being pressed through a sieve

(Pavitra)."

 

> Well, I guess ultimately any Deity does not really need anything.

Sorry, I meant to say, why should Srikrsna accept it as an offering? Does He

also accept other hallucinatory substances (apart from betel;-)?

 

Thank-you for alowing me to further investigate on this topic. I hope it was

of any use.

Ys, Bh Eduard.